Low-Calorie European Recipes

Find healthy, delicious low-calorie European recipes, from the food and nutrition experts at EatingWell.

Staff Picks

Summer Vegetable Tian

Rating: 4.33 stars
3
This pretty vegan layered casserole is so simple to make. Its only seasonings are salt and garlic-infused olive oil, which you make by sizzling a clove of garlic in olive oil for about a minute. This dish is lovely warm or room temperature. Serve with crusty bread as a vegetarian entree or alongside roasted meats as a side dish--don't forget a glass of chilled rosé.
By Emily Monaco

Creamy Cucumber Soup

Rating: 4.24 stars
14
There's no reason to only use cucumbers raw--they are wonderful sautéed then pureed with avocado for a silken-textured soup that's good warm or cold.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Muesli with Raspberries

Rating: 4.5 stars
1
Unlike granola, muesli isn't baked with sweeteners or oil. Make your own or find your favorite brand in most supermarkets--we like Bob's Red Mill.
By Breana Killeen

Greek Roasted Fish with Vegetables

Rating: 4.57 stars
5
This dish is packed with flavor and fits perfectly into a Mediterranean diet.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

EatingWell's Eggplant Parmesan

Rating: 4.87 stars
21
Here we bake breaded eggplant for crispy results with fewer calories to boot. This makeover of the classic recipe was originally developed by our Test Kitchen in 1995 and got an update in 2020 for our 30th anniversary issue.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Mozzarella, Basil & Zucchini Frittata

Rating: 4.77 stars
10
This vegetable-studded frittata recipe is one of the quickest meals you can make. Make it for breakfast, or serve for lunch or dinner with a tossed salad and a slice of olive oil-drizzled crusty baguette.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Easy Tomato Gazpacho

Rating: 5 stars
2
Many gazpacho recipes are thickened with bread, but this one uses just vegetables, making it a gluten-free refresher for a hot summer day. The key to any flavorful gazpacho is giving it time to rest. The flavors meld and become cohesive when the soup is allowed to sit a bit before serving.
By Carolyn Casner

Grilled Pork Loin with White Bean Puree & Lemon Herb Vinaigrette

Rating: 4.8 stars
2
This easy grilled pork loin recipe served with a white bean puree gets a pop of fresh flavor from the lemony, fresh herb vinaigrette. Make it a complete healthy dinner with steamed green beans and a green salad tossed with Italian dressing.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Garlic-Parmesan Hasselback Zucchini

Rating: 5 stars
3
Using the hasselback technique--cutting partially into a whole fruit or vegetable every 1/2 inch or so--gives you an easy way to sneak lots of flavor into this healthy zucchini recipe. To bake the zucchini instead of grilling, place in a foil-lined 8-inch-square baking pan and bake at 425°F until tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
By Breana Killeen

Baked Penne Florentine

Rating: 2.33 stars
2
This comforting and flavorful vegetarian dish is packed with protein.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Baked Vegetable Soup

Rating: 3.73 stars
10
Originally prepared in the wood-burning hearths of Italian homes, this peasant-style healthy vegetable soup recipe is simple to make in a modern oven. Brimming with artichokes, mushrooms, zucchini and leeks, this easy soup heats up the house as it becomes the perfect warming meal.
By Jane Black

Lemon & Dill Chicken

Rating: 4.33 stars
26
Fresh lemon and dill create a quick Greek-inspired pan sauce for simple sautéed chicken breasts. Make it a meal: Serve with roasted broccoli and whole-wheat orzo.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen
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Inspiration and Ideas

25 Authentic Recipes That Will Transport You to Italy

25 Authentic Recipes That Will Transport You to Italy
These authentic Italian recipes are mouth-wateringly delicious and true to the classics. Whether it’s a seafood stew, a hearty pasta dish or a sweet dessert, these recipes come from Italian chefs like Fabio Viviani, Domenica Marchetti, Lidia Bastianich and more. Recipes like Macaroni with Sausage & Ricotta and Italian Rice & Peas (Risi e Bisi) are hearty and flavorful.
32 Italian-Inspired Dinner Recipes That Aren’t Pasta

32 Italian-Inspired Dinner Recipes That Aren’t Pasta
These Italian-inspired recipes are a delicious option for dinner tonight. Whether it’s a hearty soup, a stuffed vegetable or a filling sandwich, these recipes will keep you full and satisfied. Dinners like Meatballs with Roasted Green Beans & Potatoes and Chicken Cacciatore Hoagies are healthy, mouth-watering and packed with plenty of vegetables for a nutritious meal.
23 Italian Dinner Recipes for Weight Loss

23 Italian Dinner Recipes for Weight Loss
22 Italian Recipes for Sunday Dinners

22 Italian Recipes for Sunday Dinners
28 Impressive Seafood Recipes to Make for the Feast of the Seven Fishes

28 Impressive Seafood Recipes to Make for the Feast of the Seven Fishes
22 Italian-Inspired Recipes You Can Make in a Slow Cooker

22 Italian-Inspired Recipes You Can Make in a Slow Cooker

Kielbasa & Cabbage Soup

Rating: 4.67 stars
11

This Eastern European soup (called kapusniak in Polish) is traditionally made with sauerkraut. To keep the sodium in check in this healthy recipe, we use fresh cabbage and save the sauerkraut for a deliciously salty-sour garnish.

All Low-Calorie European Recipes

Seared Salmon with Pesto Fettuccine for Two

Rating: 5 stars
1
The brightness of basil pesto is a nice match for the buttery flavor of salmon in this quick and healthy dinner recipe. Refrigerated pesto, found near fresh sauces and salsas at most stores, is prettier and has a better taste than jarred varieties.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Garlic Chicken

Rating: 4.32 stars
10
Whole garlic cloves are mild when simmered with chicken in a simple white wine-mustard sauce in this garlic chicken recipe. Serve with smashed potatoes with buttermilk and sautéed green beans.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Green Salad with Peaches, Feta & Mint Vinaigrette

Rating: 5 stars
2
This healthy side salad recipe follows one of the essential formulas for great salads: tossing bitter greens with sweet fruit, crunchy toasted nuts and salty cheese. Melons are a good alternative to the stone fruit later in the summer, or try dried apricots during the winter months.
By Joyce Goldstein

Tortellini Salad

Rating: 5 stars
2
A tomato-rich dressing boosts the flavor and lowers calories and fat in this tortellini salad (the dressing is also great on green salads or grilled fish). Roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes add a good dose of vitamins A, C and fiber.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Italian Vegetable Hoagies

Rating: 4.88 stars
15
This delightfully easy, and somewhat messy, sandwich packs a punch with sweet balsamic vinegar, artichoke hearts, red onion, provolone cheese and zesty pepperoncini. We love it for dinner as well as lunch. If you're packing the hoagies to take along, keep the ingredients separate and assemble right before eating to avoid soggy bread. Serve with tomato and cucumber salad.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Creamy Pesto Chicken Salad with Greens

Rating: 3.86 stars
4
For a healthy variation on creamy chicken salad, we've replaced half the mayonnaise with basil pesto. Serve over greens or make it into a sandwich for a healthy lunch.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Spaghetti Squash Lasagna with Broccolini

Rating: 4.39 stars
32
In this low-carb spaghetti squash lasagna recipe, garlicky broccolini, spaghetti squash and cheese are combined for a healthy take on a favorite casserole. This bakes right in the squash shells for a fun presentation. Serve with a big Caesar salad and some warm and crusty whole-grain bread.
By Breana Killeen

Smoked Salmon Salad Nicoise

Rating: 5 stars
3
This twist on a classic salade Niçoise uses smoked salmon in place of tuna and adds extra vegetables in place of hard-boiled eggs and olives. Lovely served as an untraditional brunch, special weekend lunch or light supper.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Avocado Pesto

Rating: 4.73 stars
10
Avocados add a silky consistency and cheese-like richness to this dairy-free pesto recipe. Toss it with pasta, spread it on baguette slices to make bruschetta, or use it for a healthy mayo substitute on your sandwich.
By Jason Mraz

Chicken Tetrazzini

Rating: 4.64 stars
7
This retro dish will please kids and adults alike.
By Ruth Cousineau

Peanut Butter & Chia Berry Jam English Muffin

Rating: 5 stars
2
The addition of chia seeds in the quick “jam” topping adds heart-healthy omega-3s to this healthy breakfast recipe.
By Sara Haas, R.D.N., L.D.N.

Slow-Cooker Chicken & White Bean Stew

Rating: 4.2 stars
10
This load-and-go slow-cooker chicken recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. Serve this Tuscan-inspired dish with crusty bread, a glass of Chianti and a salad.
By Adam Dolge

Yellow Gazpacho

Rating: 5 stars
1
The yellow vegetables of summer--fresh corn, yellow tomatoes and yellow peppers--make this slightly sweet gazpacho soup recipe a beautiful and delicious alternative to red gazpacho.
By Carolyn Casner

Creamy Fettuccine with Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms

Rating: 4.02 stars
20
Sliced Brussels sprouts and mushrooms cook quickly and cling to the pasta in our fall version of pasta primavera. Look for presliced mushrooms to cut prep time. Serve with a tossed salad.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Cucumber-Almond Gazpacho

Rating: 5 stars
1
Not all gazpachos are red. In this healthy white gazpacho recipe, we use cucumbers, yellow bell pepper and unsweetened almond milk for more savory results.
By Breana Killeen

Spaghetti with Quick Meat Sauce

Rating: 4.2 stars
9
Instead of opening a jar of sauce, try this easy spaghetti with meat sauce on a weeknight. Serve with steamed broccoli and garlic bread. The recipe makes enough for 8 servings. If you're serving only four for dinner, cook 8 ounces of spaghetti and freeze the leftover sauce.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Chicken & White Bean Soup

Rating: 4.41 stars
15
Once again, rotisserie chickens can really relieve the dinner-rush pressure-especially in this Italian-inspired soup that cries out for a piece of crusty bread and a glass of red wine.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Chocolate Banana Oatmeal

Rating: 5 stars
2
Have your fruit and a little luxury too with this kid-friendly healthy chocolate and banana oatmeal recipe. Short on time in the morning? Try our overnight oatmeal variation.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Rhubarb-Raspberry Crumble

Rating: 5 stars
1
Rhubarb is a tangy counterpart for sweet raspberries in this fruit crumble recipe. For a nutty flavor and a boost of nutrition, this healthy dessert uses whole-grain rye flour and toasted pecans. Serve the crumble with your favorite vanilla frozen yogurt or a dollop of whipped cream.
By April McGreger

Mac & Cheese with Collards

Rating: 5 stars
4
Dark leafy collards add bold flavor and boost the calcium in this healthy skillet mac and cheese recipe with a crispy topping. If you don't have collards, kale, Swiss chard and spinach are delicious substitutes.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Swordfish with Olives, Capers & Tomatoes over Polenta

Rating: 5 stars
1
Dive deliciously into the Mediterranean diet with this healthy fish recipe, which takes its inspiration from southern Italy. In Sicily and Calabria, the ghiotta style of cooking involves simmering fish or meat with celery, olives, capers, basil and tomatoes. Serve the fish and sauce over creamy polenta for an easy dinner recipe that requires just 20 minutes of active prep time.
By Amy Riolo

Skillet Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp

Rating: 5 stars
1
Fresh strawberries and rhubarb meld together under a crisp oat crumble in this gluten-free dessert recipe made in just one skillet. If you're not gluten-sensitive, regular rolled oats will work too. Top with a dollop of whipped cream for an extra-special treat.
By Breana Killeen

Turkish Spice Mix

Make a big batch of this Turkish spice mix to have on hand when you need to whip up a quick vegetable dip or flavorful, easy salad dressing. Or try it as a rub for grilled or roasted meat or vegetables. The spice mix is also perfect to give as a hostess gift along with a recipe card for turning it into a dip or vinaigrette (see Tips, below). For the freshest, most economical spices, head to a store that has a large, well-stocked bulk spice department.
By Hilary Meyer

Mint Vinaigrette

Rating: 5 stars
1
This brightly flavored lemon-mint vinaigrette recipe is an ideal dressing for mixed green salads or grain salads, such a quinoa or freekah, topped with fresh fruit.
By Joyce Goldstein
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