Yossy Arefi

For this meatball recipe, ground chicken is leaner than other meats, but less fat doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor—these meatballs are loaded with aromatics like scallions, ginger and garlic, and served alongside delicious Chinese broccoli.

Heart-healthy coconut oil adds delightfully nutty, aromatic flavor to this creamy, sweet soup. If you can't find harissa to garnish with, drizzle it with hot sauce or sprinkle with a pinch of chili flakes instead.

Finishing chicken thighs in a quick pear and turnip compote creates a rich, sweet and savory sauce.

In addition to being deliciously nutty, quinoa is a complete protein—but you knew that already, right? If you can’t find red, the white variety will work just as well in this tangy, wilted salad.

Savoy cabbage is a bright green, hearty member of the brassica family. Lightly braised with chickpeas and mustard, it becomes a vegetable worthy of a main course.

Mujadarra is a popular Middle Eastern side dish comprised of lentils and rice. Here, it's perfumed with cumin and finished with yogurt. Serve along side roasted chicken or with a fried egg as a meal on its own.

Seasoning the chicken with a bit of apple cider vinegar beforehand helps tenderize the chicken before roasting.

You have a can of beans? You’ve got a meal. In this kale soup recipe, they take the place of traditional dried beans.

Hot-smoked salmon would also work well in this crunchy, surprisingly light fall salad.

Serve this flatbread-style pizza as an appetizer for six, or with a few fried eggs as a main course for four.

Store-bought rotisserie chicken makes it easy to create a meal without having to cook a whole bird.

The classic roasted sausage and cabbage recipe combo is lightened up with some apples and red wine vinegar. Use any sausage you like—we like a spicy turkey for this dish.

This spinach is great on its own, but paired with a quick-cooking protein like flounder, you have dinner in about 20 minutes.

Asian pears are worth seeking out if you can find them—their crunch is unparalleled. Regular apples will do as a substitute in a pinch.

Toasting the barley before cooking it adds another nutty dimension to the grain. This technique also works great with things like farro, spelt, and couscous.

Whole grain mustard and olive oil take the place of traditional mayonnaise in this lightened version of potato salad. It’s an ideal complement to roast chicken for serving at any early fall picnic or casual Sunday supper.

A clean, well-oiled grate makes grilling tomatoes a cinch.

Sardines are one of the ocean’s most sustainable superfoods. Because they tend to fall apart, save half for topping the dish just before serving.

Substitute pine nuts for the walnuts if you'd like. To serve with pasta, stir in ½ cup pasta cooking liquid to the pesto until smooth and toss to coat, or serve as a topping for chicken.

Serve these spicy shrimp over greens or on their own as a pre-dinner snack.