There are so many amazing foods that start with the letter N, it’s hard to figure out where to even begin!
We could talk about nuts and noodles, but those are too easy.
How about nectarines? They’re a favorite for breakfast as well as desserts. But there’s also nachos and nopalitos – both of which start with “N.” And don’t forget Nutella! It’s one of our favorites because it goes well on just about anything- especially bread! There’s natto, nabemono…and more! What do you think: Ready to go explore?
Contents
List of Foods That Start With N
Naranjilla Fruit
A small fruit native to South America that has yellow skin when unripe but becomes bright orange when ripe with spines on its outer surface. The inside is red with little seeds.
Neep
An old Scottish word used to describe what Americans now call a yam. It’s similar to an American potato, but it has yellow flesh inside of its dark skin. They can be eaten baked, boiled, roasted, steamed, sautéed or fried. NEEP NEEP NEEP NEEP NEEP
Nabemono
A type of Japanese hot pot dish consisting of various ingredients including vegetables, tofu, noodles, and meat that are cooked together at the table.
Natto
A traditional Japanese dish made from fermented soybeans. It smells very bad, but it tastes good! Natto is often eaten with rice or used as an ingredient in other dishes.
Nettles
A plant that grows tall stinging nettle stems which you cannot eat unless they are cooked first. Eating them raw will give you an extremely bad rash! Once cooked though they taste great!
Nachos
This food is made of tortillas (usually corn) that are baked or fried, then topped with anything from cheese sauce to guacamole and jalapenos.
Nopalitos
A type of cactus leaf found throughout Mexico and South America, nopalitos contain glutathione, an antioxidant that boosts immune system activity. They’re found sliced and prepared in salads or added to soups.
Nigella Seeds
Also known as black cumin, nigella seeds are used widely across the Middle East and Europe for their intense flavor, which has been said to taste like onions or black licorice. They’re commonly sprinkled on breads like pita before they’re baked to form a harder shell (see also: naan).
Nutmeg
Nutmeg and nutmeg seeds are harvested from the myristica fragrans plant, which is native to Indonesia. It’s used in many different cuisines, including Indian curries and Middle Eastern desserts.
Natal Plum
This is a type of fruit native to South Africa with purple skin and red flesh. It tastes sweet but has astringent properties which are why it’s usually cooked with sugar before being eaten.
Nankhatai
A type of buttery biscuit popular in India and Pakistan that’s typically eaten during celebrations like Eid al-Fitr. It’s leavened with yeast and contains cardamom, mace, saffron, nutmeg, and powdered sugar.
New York-Style Pizza
New York style pizza has thin crust with a very cheesy, saucey center. It’s made in large pans so the dough is super thin.
Nougat
Sugar is the key ingredient of nougat. It’s heated with egg whites, sugar syrup, and honey until it gets hard enough to shape into balls or bars. Depending on how much egg white was used determines its texture; light versions are sometimes called mousse nougats, which are soft and creamy while harder types are crunchy like candy apples or taffy.
Oranges are a delicious fruit and come in many different varieties. Navel oranges have a secondary orange growing inside of them. The navel orange is delicious and can be eaten as a snack, used in salads, or juiced.
Nuts
There are many different types of nuts – some people consider pistachios to be a nut while others think peanuts should fit in this category too! Nuts come from trees around the world and may have been used as food since prehistoric times.
Nasi Goreng
This Indonesian fried rice dish contains carrots, green beans, onions, soy sauce or shrimp paste (belacan), shrimp or chicken sometimes served on a banana leaf.
Nectar
A sweet liquid that bees make by taking the nectar from flowers and turning it into honey. It’s used as a sweetener for drinks and food.
Nutmeg Melon
This melon is called a nutmeg melon, but it’s not related to the nutmeg! It only got the name because of its similarity in appearance. The shape of its fruit pairs well with banana, apple, or pear.
Negus
A drink made with port wine mixed with hot water and spices like ginger and cinnamon. It’s served warm or cold.
Nutella
Nutella is a chocolate-hazelnut spread made from simple ingredients such as sugar, palm oil, hazelnuts, cocoa powder, skim milk powder and whey powder. It has a creamy texture with strong flavors of chocolate and nuttiness that’s popular on toast or even sandwiches.
Nerds
A chewy candy with bright pink and purple shells with a soft, white, bubblegum flavored inside. They are very sour! Nerds come in many colors like red, blue, green, orange, yellow and purple.
Nipa
Nipa comes from palm trees grown in Southeast Asia; it can be eaten fresh off of trees or processed into drinks or flour.
Noodles
Noodles come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the most common is long, thin noodles that can be made out of almost any kind of starch or flour. Asian cuisine is known for its use of rice noodles. Noodles were first mentioned as early as the 3rd century AD by Han Chinese writers.
Nonpareil
Nonparei ll comes from the French word “nonpareil,” which means ‘without equal.’ Nonpareils are often used as decorations on candy and cakes because of their colorful, puffy appearance and mild taste.
Nashi Pear
A species of Asian pear that’s less juicy than most pears but still delicious when eaten fresh. These are often used to make juices, jams, jellies, and more.
Nuggets
Nuggets are small pieces of chicken or other meat that have been breaded and deep fried. They can be served as appetizers, side dishes, or as the main course.
Nasturtium
These are edible flowers with leaves that are usually added raw to salads or sandwiches; the latter can taste peppery because of their greens. They’re also popular as ornamental plants due to their vibrant colors and unique appearance. Nasturtiums can also be made into butter that can be spread on bread or used to dip vegetables in.
Nesselrode
A dessert made from ice cream mixed together with lots of different fruits like cherries and grapes. It’s named after Russian chancellor Karl Nesselrode who had it at his famous dinners.
New England Clam Chowder
A thick soup made from cream, potatoes, and clams. The New England variety often uses salt pork and hard-shelled clams like Quahogs. It’s usually served with oyster crackers and a slice of lemon on top!
Nori
A type of seaweed used to wrap sushi rolls, nori is usually dried until it becomes paper-thin. It has a very salty flavor that gives umami (or savory) taste to other ingredients.
Naan Bread
Named after the tandoor ovens used to make them, naan bread is known for its pocket. It’s traditionally made with yeast and baked at high temperatures.
Nectarine
A delicious type of peach that is also very healthy. Nectarines are sweet, but not as sweet as peaches, and taste great with some sour cream or yogurt on top!
Wrap Up
The list of foods that start with the letter N is a long one. There are so many different types of food from all over the world, it can be hard to keep track!
Now that we’ve covered the letter “N” and all of its delicious foods, It’s time to have a look at some lists like this- perhaps starting with another letter?
