26 recipes with less than 500 calories

26 recipes under 500 calories -- like lasagna and red velvet cupcakes

1/23

This recipe for chocolate-y, red velvet cupcakes actually clocks in at less than 150 calories, for those watching their figure. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

2/23

Yes, this lasagna is less than 500 calories per serving. Dig in. (Bryan Chan / Los Angeles Times)

3/23

It may take a little work prepping the ingredients, but Ciopinot’s take on the classic cioppino contains a lot of flavor in just a few simple steps.
Recipe: Ciopinot’s no work cioppino
(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

4/23

Cured pork tenderloin with rosemary, bay laurel and roasted shallot broth. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

5/23

Poached Kurobuta tenderloin with pickled plum, shiitake mushrooms and potatoes. (Bryan Chan / Los Angeles Times)

6/23

Sole with Beluga lentils and rosemary cream. (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

7/23

Lentil and barley stew (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

8/23

Grilled romaine lettuce with walnuts, Parmesan and anchovy dressing

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

9/23

Rex sole baked with mushrooms and cream. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

10/23

Philly cheesesteak lettuce cups comes in at just under 200 calories per serving. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

11/23

Thinly sliced wild mushrooms with tangy crème fraîche, Pecorino Romano, sliced garlic and shallot, and fresh herbs.
Recipe: Wild mushroom frittata

(Eric Boyd/Los Angeles Times)

12/23

Daube de Boeuf Provencale. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

13/23

Pan-crisped duck breasts with turnip pickles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

14/23

Caesar salad sandwiches with chicken. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

15/23

Pork chops with sage cream. (Bryan Chan / Los Angeles Times)

16/23

Gigot de sept heures d’hiver (winter seven-hour leg of lamb). (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

17/23

Pork tenderloin roasted in rosemary salt with with fingerling potatoes. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

18/23

Prosciutto roasted bass with autumn vegetables (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

19/23

Baked apple crunch. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

20/23

Recipe: Roast chicken with preserved lemon.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

21/23

If you’re looking for easy, it doesn’t get much better than oven-steamed salmon with dill mayonnaise.
Recipe: Steamed salmon with dill mayonnaise
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

22/23

Red wine adds depth to this soup. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

23/23

Grilled Dungeness crabs (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

By Jenn HarrisColumnist

Jan. 2, 2015 6 AM PT

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If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to eat better, you may be relieved to know that you don’t necessarily have to jump into a no-carb, all-salad diet — or cut out dessert.

We have 26 satisfying meals and desserts, each dish with fewer than 500 calories. And some of them might surprise you. Among these are recipes for pumpkin lasagna, hearty stews, Caesar salad sandwiches and even red velvet cupcakes. Yes, cupcakes.

Happy New Year, everyone! And please keep up the good eats.

We’ll start you off with a recipe for warm Caesar salad sandwiches with chicken, and you can view all 26 recipes here.

WARM CAESAR SALAD SANDWICHES WITH CHICKEN

Nonstick cooking spray

1 small clove garlic, pressed

1/4 cup light mayonnaise

1/2 tablespoon anchovy paste

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 1 pound

Salt

8 slices French bread

2 cups sliced romaine leaves

1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

4 round slices red onion

1. Heat a grill or stovetop grill pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Combine the pressed garlic, mayonnaise, anchovy paste and lemon juice. Set aside.

3. Lightly season the chicken breasts with salt. Cut 1 garlic clove in half; rub the chicken breasts with both halves. Spray the chicken with nonstick cooking spray, then grill it about 10 minutes. Turn the chicken and grill until the chicken breasts are browned and no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes. Place the chicken on a platter and keep it warm.

4. Cut the remaining garlic clove in half and rub it on the bread slices. Lightly spray one side of the slices with nonstick cooking spray and place the bread sprayed-side down on the grill until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Turn, spray the other sides with cooking spray, and grill until lightly browned.

5. Toss together the romaine and Parmesan, then set aside.

6. Spread the grilled bread with the mayonnaise mixture. Slice the chicken breasts into 1/2-inch thick slices and arrange one sliced chicken breast on each of 4 slices of bread.

7. Divide the romaine among the sandwiches, placing it on top of the chicken. Top each piece of chicken with an onion round, separating it into pieces, then top with the second slice bread. Cut the sandwiches in half and serve.

Each serving: 398 calories; 709 mg. sodium; 92 mg. cholesterol; 11 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 35 grams carbohydrates; 38 grams protein; 2.74 grams fiber.

There’s always room for cupcakes. Follow me on Twitter @Jenn_Harris_