Looking for foods beginning with the letter Y? From fruits and vegetables to dishes from across the globe, you’re sure to learn something new from this list.
Have you noticed how hard it is to find words beginning with the last few letters of the alphabet? Whether you’re trying to win a game of Scrabble or expand your knowledge of food, have fun scrolling through this list of foods beginning with Y.
Table of Contents
Foods that Start with Letter Y
1. Yams
Fun fact: what you think is a yam may actually be a sweet potato. In the US, it’s common to refer to orange-fleshed root vegetables as yams. Those are sweet potatoes. Candied yams are made not with yams, but with sweet potatoes. Real yams are grown in Caribbean and West African countries and are less popular in North America. Yams have rough, dark brown skin resembling the bark of a tree, as opposed to the smooth, reddish skin of a sweet potato. Yams are neutral in flavor, very starchy and their flesh varies in color from white to pale yellow to golden yellow. The biggest yams can weigh over 100 pounds.
2. Yakisoba
This is a classic Japanese stir fry made with noodles, meat and vegetables. It’s seasoned with a sweet, savory sauce and is super easy to put together in one pan. Garnish with spring onions for a meal that’s sure to please.
3. Yakitori
Yakitori is a Japanese dish where cubed chicken is cooked on skewers. The name translates directly to “grilled chicken” and is popularly served in Japanese-style pubs. These skewers are popular street food in Japan.
4. Yam Bean
The yam bean is a lesser-known cousin of the soybean. Unlike the soybean, yam beans are cultivated for their thick, bulbous roots. Also known as jicama, this crunchy root vegetable may be used in stir-fried dishes or spring rolls.
5. Yangmei Fruit
Also known as waxberries or bayberries, these red, juicy fruits are similar in flavor to raspberries. They are sweet and tangy and are popularly used in desserts. Yangmei fruit is grown in Eastern Asia
6. Yeast
Yeast is a versatile fungus that’s most often used in bread making and beer brewing. Its primary purpose is to convert sugar and starch into carbon dioxide and alcohol. Yeast helps the bread to rise and is an essential ingredient in beer.
7. Yellow Apple
Skip the classic red in favor of a tart yellow apple. Golden Delicious apples are large, golden yellow apples with a tangy-sweet taste. These apples are irresistible when baked into pies.
8. Yellow Beet
Beets are most often associated with a deep red color, but why not give yellow beets a try? Also known as golden beets, these roots have a less earthy flavor and won’t stain in the way that red beets do.
9. Yellow Kiwi
Yellow kiwi or gold kiwifruit looks different from green kiwi both inside and out. While green kiwi has a brown, fuzzy exterior, yellow kiwi has smooth, hairless skin that is golden-brown in color. When sliced open, these kiwi are vibrant yellow with tiny black seeds.
10. Yellowfin Tuna
Yellowfin tuna is sold as rounds, loins or steaks. When raw, yellowfin tuna has a deep red color with a mild, meaty flavor. Slices of raw yellowfin tuna is often used in sashimi or nigiri sushi. This tuna is also delicious when grilled or pan-seared.
11. Yellowtail Sashimi
Also known as hamachi sashimi, this is a Japanese delicacy of raw yellowtail tuna sliced into thin pieces. Sashimi is served without rice and is often eaten with soy sauce, eel sauce and wasabi.
12. Yogurt
Yogurt is a popular dairy product made by fermenting milk. Lactic acid is produced during the fermentation process, giving yogurt its distinctive tart taste and smooth texture. Yogurt is most often made from cow’s milk, but can also be made from the milk of goats or plant-based milk. Yogurt is most popularly eaten at breakfast with fruit, granola and honey.
13. Yolk
The yolk is the bright yellow, nutrient-rich sphere at the centre of an egg. The yolk is often referred to in contrast to the white of an egg. Egg yolks are full of protein, as well as essential minerals like calcium and potassium. Egg yolks are incredibly versatile and can be used in breakfast dishes and baked goods.
14. Yorkshire Pudding
This is a traditional British baked pudding made from eggs, flour and milk. This savory side dish is often served with meat, potatoes and gravy for a classic Sunday roast. After leaving the batter to sit, pour it into a skillet that’s been greased with drippings from roasted meat like beef or mutton. Like a choux pastry, the Yorkshire pudding rises up into a light, puffy crispy popover with a hollow core.
15. Yuca
Also known as cassava, yuca is a large tuberous root, similar in appearance to a sweet potato. This starchy plant-based food is a popular carbohydrate in the Caribbean and Latin American cuisines. Yucca can be eaten boiled or mashed and can also be fried into crispy chips. In Jamaica, the cassava root is grated and made into a flatbread called “bammy” that is popularly served with fish.
16. Yukon Gold Potatoes
Yukon Gold is a popular variety of potato in North America. They are easily identified by their thin, smooth brown skin and signature golden flesh. These versatile potatoes are fluffy when mashed and crisp when fried.
17. Yuzu
Yuzu is a hybrid citrus fruit popularly consumed in Eastern Asia. Also known as Japanese lemon, the yuzu has a bright yellow rind and is about the size of a tangerine. Like other citrus fruits, yuzu is high in vitamin C. Because yuzu fruit is quite sour, its utility is more like a lemon than an orange. Though you wouldn’t bite into a yuzu, its juice may be used to add a unique tang to dishes.
Summary
There you have it! From Europe to Africa to Asia to the Caribbean, these 17 diverse Y foods will have you saying “YUM!” Did you learn anything new from this list?
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