From plain old oatmeal to oysters and oxtail, foods that start with ‘O’ bring great curiosity to your palate and stomach. Enjoy the 16 popular foods beginning with the letter O!

Alright, put your hand up right now if you knew olives were a fruit! Or if you’ve ever used okra in a dish at home?

Well, you’re about to learn about both, and then if you’re still hungry – sticking with the letter ‘O’ – you can finish off your night with an Oreo, and not just orange!

Foods that Start with Letter O

1. Oats

Most often thought of as a bland ingredient that that average person may avoid, however, once you read the uses and benefits you may reconsider your avoidance. High in antioxidants that can lower cholesterol, can improve blood sugar levels, and overall aid in fighting diabetes! Need I say more? Well, oats are also filling so if you’re looking to lose a few pounds, eat some oats!

2. Oatmeal

And from oats, we essentially produce oatmeal. Hulled oats, old-fashioned oats, or rolled oats create this fulfilling dish – becoming a staple for breakfast across the world. Oatmeal contains fiber which is fantastic for digestive health, but if you really want to step it up a notch then try adding some fruit or cinnamon to your oatmeal. You can alternatively opt for the prepackaged instant oatmeal, which of course contains higher amounts of sugars in them unless you stay on track and purchase the unsweetened kinds.

3. Oat Milk

Looking for another way to use those oats kicking around your house? Try your hand at some oat milk! Dairy-free and gluten-free, oat milk is a great milk alternative that is easy to make at home. All you need is a blender, ice water, and some oats-strain it through a nut towel or a thin kitchen towel and you will have successfully made some deliciously healthy oat milk. If you like things on the sweeter side, try adding in some cinnamon and vanilla extract.

4. Octopus

Rubbery, smooth, slimy-are these words that make you hungry? Or make you think of any type of dish that you’ll want to try? These are all words that describe what you’ll experience when you bite into a piece of octopus. Prepared raw or typically boiled to perfection.  Either way, prepare yourself to experience a taste much similar to lobster but a smell much similar to the ocean.

5. Okra

Very commonly known as ladyfingers, okra is a flowering plant that produces green pods and white edible seeds. Very easily prepared similar to the steps you would follow with asparagus-pickled or sauteed. It also makes a great ingredient in stews and gumbos, containing an ingredient called mucilage that aids in thickening up stews, gumbos, and soups.

6. Olives

A fruit or a vegetable? What would be your first guess? Well, olives are in fact fruits that are described as a fruit with a large stone in the middle, which is better known as the pit. The most common olive is the green olive however there are a couple of other varieties that range in taste from woodsy to crisp to juicy and apple flavor. Overall one thing to keep in mind is that olives are great for protecting against cancer and osteoporosis.

7. Olive Oil

Simply the liquid fat from pressing olives and squeezing the oil out of them. Olive oil is one of the healthier options to use when frying meats and as a healthy substitute for oils in baking. Much like olives, olive oil aids in heart health, lowering blood pressure, and helps with Alzheimer’s disease.

8. Omelets

Are eggs becoming a boring or repetitive option for your breakfasts? Try getting a bit more creative and grab that whisk, pan and spatula and get to cooking an omelet. They are a great way to sneak in some meats and vegetables into your breakfast. All you have to do is whisk together some eggs, water (or milk) and some salt and pepper, cook until eggs are almost set on the top, toss in your favorite fillings and fold the omelet in half.

9. Onion

Green onion or yellow onion, you have probably come across one of those options in any of your dishes. They vary in shape and size, but also come in a variety of types which also include red and white that range in taste from spicy and sharp. Not only do they provide that extra bit of flavor to your dishes but help in cancer prevention, healthy skin and hair, and blood pressure moderation. Fun tip, to reduce those tears when you’re cutting up an onion, try chilling it in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

10. Opera Cake

Opera Cake is a French dessert consisting of layers that include being soaked in coffee syrup, espresso flavored buttercream and chocolate ganache. It all begins with an almond sponge cake. Not a baker? You may have to go on a little hunt, but next time you’re in your local bakery be sure to ask!

11. Oregano

If you make your own pasta sauce then you have probably added in a bit of oregano for taste. With a powerful flavor and smell, oregano is an herb that belongs to the mint family and best used fresh. Said to help in heart health, cancer-fighting and reducing your chances of viral infections, oregano is an herb that not only adds flavor to your dishes but is also used to make medicine for respiratory infections, asthma, croup, and bronchitis.

12. Oreos

How do you eat your Oreos? The cookie first, the icing first or do you dip the whole thing in milk?  Or do you have it crumbled up into Blizzard treat? The ways for eating an oreo are endless but whatever the way, Oreos are one of the most popular cookies you can eat.  Made in 1912, Oreos have become the best selling cookie brand in the United States. So next time you want to tell your kids not to play with their food, grab some Oreos and join in.

13. Orzo

The Italian word for Orzo is barley. Orzo is also known as risoni, and is a short-cut form of pasta. Orzo can be served alone or in soup. salads, as a pilaf or baked in a casserole.

You can also, perhaps surprisingly, fry this form of pasta.

14. Oysters

Shuck’um, grill’em or slurp’em, oysters are a delicacy that, if you can acquire a taste for them you may never turn back.  Serving up oysters is becoming a dish that people are trying their hands at cooking at home more and more. All it takes is a bit of patience, a bit of muscle and a bit of an open mind to prepare oysters in a way that will satisfy your palate and your family’s too.

15. Oxtail

Oxtail originally referred exclusively to the tail of an ox, but is now also known as the tail of cattle. It is gelatin-rich meat, which is usually slow cooked or used as stew.

Interesting tidbit, oxtail is a popular flavor for powdered, instant and premade canned soups in both the United Kingdom and Ireland.

16. Orange

Need a little vitamin C in your life? Or simply craving that juicy fruit during those hot summer days? Grab an orange. High in Vitamin C, oranges provide about 92 % of a female’s daily required Vitamin C intake and about 77% of males. They also help to provide that beautiful glow in your skin, aid in preventing cancer and help to lower blood pressure. Oranges also help in providing that mid-day boost!

Summary

There are plenty of fruits, dishes, spices and vegetables that start with the letter ‘O’, but simply reading some of the ones listed here can provide you with a great insight into the benefits of each option and the different ways that you can use them.

Foods By the Alphabet

Foods that start with A	Foods that start with B
Foods that start with C	Foods that start with D
Foods that start with E	Foods that start with F
Foods that start with G	Foods that start with H
Foods that start with I	Foods that start with J
Foods that start with K	Foods that start with L
Foods that start with M	Foods that start with N
Foods that start with O (here)	Foods that start with P
Foods that start with Q	Foods that start with R
Foods that start with S	Foods that start with T
Foods that start with U	Foods that start with V
Foods that start with W	Foods that start with X
Foods that start with Y	Foods that start with Z

Editor note: Originally published Feb 3, 2021 and updated April 11, 2021.