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  6. 17 Low-Calorie Vegetarian Dinners You'll Want to Make This Summer

17 Low-Calorie Vegetarian Dinners You'll Want to Make This Summer

Leah Goggins headshot
Leah Goggins Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD May 05, 2022
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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Grilled Halloumi & Summer Vegetable Tacos
Credit: Jason Donnelly

Keep your evening light and fresh with these seasonal dinners. Featuring bright summer flavors from ingredients like citrus, zucchini, eggplant and sweet corn, these meatless meals are low in calories but sure to satisfy your craving for something tasty. Recipes like our Grilled Halloumi & Summer Vegetable Tacos and Cheesy Spinach-Zucchini Lasagna are exactly the kind of healthy meals you'll want to make on repeat this summer.

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Summer Vegetable Gnocchi Salad

a plate with vegetables and a fork
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This riff on pasta salad is best served warm while the gnocchi are nice and tender. Plus, the grilled veggies taste extra-good fresh off the fire in this easy gnocchi recipe.

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Cheesy Spinach-Zucchini Lasagna

Cheesy Spinach-Zucchini Lasagna
Credit: Greg DuPree
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Thanks to jarred marinara sauce and oven-ready lasagna noodles, this labor-of-love kind of meal can be ready in about an hour.

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Eggplant Tortilla Casserole

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This layered casserole is inspired by classic cheese enchiladas, minus the fuss of rolling and stuffing individual tortillas. You'd never guess that within this comforting Tex-Mex casserole hides a layer of thinly sliced eggplant. The thin slices become tender when roasted and add a subtle savory note.

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Lemony Lentil & Chard Soup

Lemony Lentil & Chard Soup
Credit: Photography / Nico Schinco, Food Styling / Frances Boswell, Prop Stylist / Paige Hicks
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This satisfying lemony bowlful was inspired by the lentil soup served at the now-closed Lebanese restaurant La Shish in West Bloomfield, Michigan. It keeps well but will thicken, so you may want to thin it with a bit of water or broth when reheating. Serve with warm whole-wheat pita.

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Grilled Halloumi & Summer Vegetable Tacos

Grilled Halloumi & Summer Vegetable Tacos
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Because of its semi-firm texture, halloumi is prone to sticking to the grill. Be sure to oil the grill grates well before adding the brined Cypriot cheese.

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Orange-Mint Freekeh Salad with Lima Beans

Orange-Mint Freekeh Salad with Lima Beans
Credit: Jacob Fox
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This salad is loaded with colorful produce: fresh mint, snap peas, radishes and oranges. For pretty snap pea slices, cut them into long, thin strips.

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Grilled Eggplant & Tomato Pasta

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The combination of slightly smoky grilled eggplant and sweet tomatoes is delightful. The eggplant-tomato mixture served over whole-wheat pasta with fresh basil and a bit of salty cheese makes an easy, healthy weeknight dinner.

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Zucchini-Chickpea Veggie Burgers with Tahini-Ranch Sauce

Zucchini-Chickpea Veggie Burgers with Tahini-Ranch Sauce
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This vegan burger recipe is one you'll want to make again and again. Savory chickpea and zucchini patties are topped with a creamy, herb-flecked tahini ranch sauce, juicy tomato slices and peppery arugula for a satisfying and healthy homemade veggie burger. Serve them on buns or stuff them in pitas. We recommend making extra sauce--it's a great dip for veggie sticks and, thinned with a little water, it makes a wonderful salad dressing.

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Cherry Tomato & Garlic Pasta

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This easy and healthy cherry tomato pasta recipe takes just 20 minutes to prep, so it's a perfect weeknight dinner. Cooking garlic cloves whole and then mashing them into the sauce not only saves time, it creates a mellow garlic flavor that melds seamlessly into the silky burst cherry tomatoes.

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Jackfruit Barbacoa Burrito Bowls

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Jackfruit, a tropical fruit with a dense, chewy texture, is a blank canvas that takes on flavors well. In these vegan burrito bowls, the jackfruit is simmered in a warm and spicy chile sauce that's so good you'll never know you're eating a plant-based protein instead of pork or beef.

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Tomato Ricotta Tart

Tomato Ricotta Tart
Credit: Jacob Fox
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This simple tart showcases gorgeous, multicolored heirloom tomatoes. Aged balsamic vinegar has a beautiful syrupy texture because the longer it ages, the more evaporation takes place. Balsamic glaze can be used in its place, but keep in mind it often has added sugar.

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Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce
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To avoid a watery sauce, choose tomatoes that are fleshy and have few seeds. Romas (aka plum tomatoes) fit the bill, but there are plenty of heirlooms with a similar flesh-to-seed ratio. The addition of cherry tomatoes brings a burst of sweetness to the dish.

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Zucchini & Corn Enchiladas

Zucchini & Corn Enchiladas
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Skip rolling and just layer these quick and easy enchiladas. This recipe uses a quick blender sauce, but if you're short on time, pick up a can of your favorite red enchilada sauce in the international aisle of your grocery store--you'll need about 3 cups.

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Falafel Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing

falafel salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing
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Deep-fried falafel can be a total grease bomb. But these pan-seared falafel still get crispy in just a few tablespoons of oil with equally satisfying results. Be sure to use dried, instead of canned, chickpeas in this healthy recipe--canned chickpeas add too much moisture.

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Eggplant & Chickpea Baked Pasta

Eggplant & Chickpea Baked Pasta
Credit: Photography / Fred Hardy, Styling / Ruth Blackburn / Audrey Davis
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Turn leftover Eggplant & Chickpea Stew into a comforting vegetarian baked-pasta dish. We love the taste of mint with the other Mediterranean-inspired flavors, but you can use parsley or basil if you prefer.

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Rainbow Veggie Wraps

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There's definitely a sushi vibe to these kid-friendly wraps, which are stuffed with vegetables, cheese and hummus and then rolled and sliced. Serve them with store-bought green goddess, a creamy herb-filled dressing, to take it up a notch with ease. They look impressive but they're easy enough for kids to assemble themselves for an easy lunch or dinner.

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Cilantro Bean Burgers with Creamy Avocado-Lime Slaw

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Lighten up your burger! Bean patties have less saturated fat and more fiber than beef patties. They're also cheaper and easier to cook indoors--and we promise they're just as satisfying, especially with the mouthwatering creamy slaw on top.

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    1 of 17 Summer Vegetable Gnocchi Salad
    2 of 17 Cheesy Spinach-Zucchini Lasagna
    3 of 17 Eggplant Tortilla Casserole
    4 of 17 Lemony Lentil & Chard Soup
    5 of 17 Grilled Halloumi & Summer Vegetable Tacos
    6 of 17 Orange-Mint Freekeh Salad with Lima Beans
    7 of 17 Grilled Eggplant & Tomato Pasta
    8 of 17 Zucchini-Chickpea Veggie Burgers with Tahini-Ranch Sauce
    9 of 17 Cherry Tomato & Garlic Pasta
    10 of 17 Jackfruit Barbacoa Burrito Bowls
    11 of 17 Tomato Ricotta Tart
    12 of 17 Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce
    13 of 17 Zucchini & Corn Enchiladas
    14 of 17 Falafel Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing
    15 of 17 Eggplant & Chickpea Baked Pasta
    16 of 17 Rainbow Veggie Wraps
    17 of 17 Cilantro Bean Burgers with Creamy Avocado-Lime Slaw

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    17 Low-Calorie Vegetarian Dinners You'll Want to Make This Summer
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