There are so many amazing foods that start with the letter R, it’s hard to figure out where to even begin!
We could talk about roast and raspberry, but those are too easy.
How about radicchio? It’s a great addition to salads. But there’s also rhubarb and rutabaga- both of which start with “R.” And don’t forget our favorite: Romaine! It’s one of our favorites because it works so well in salads and sandwiches. There’s risotto and roasted red pepper! So what do you think: Ready to go explore?
Contents
List of Foods That Start With R
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is an acidic fruit used primarily in cooking since it’s nearly impossible to eat raw. It comes from both China and Japan and has been grown for more than 2k years there. Rhubarb is commonly used in pie filling but can also be combined with strawberries make jam.
Radish
A radish is an edible root that comes from the same family as cabbage and horseradish. Radishes are available year round but are best in the spring and summer. They have a peppery flavor and are often used to add crunch to salads or sandwiches, or can be pickled.
Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a vegetable dish that originates from Nice, France. It’s made up of eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes and garlic sauteed in olive oil with herbs like thyme and bay leaf.
Ratafia
The word Ratafia comes from the French word for ‘quince’. This alcoholic drink has its origin during the Middle Ages where it was used as a cordial instead of using sugar that was expensive at that time. Today, people use different fruit or nuts to make their ratafia drink.
Roux
Roux is a mixture of flour and oil or butter which is used to thicken sauces. It’s made with equal parts of fat (often butter) and flour by weight, cooked together until it reaches the desired color and consistency.
Rambutan
Rambutan is a red skinned fruit with a visible hairy surface. They typically grow in tropical climates and hold a large number of seeds inside the fruity part. This fruit is sweet and tastes like grapes!
Ravioli
Ravioli has pasta squares filled with cheese (usually ricotta) or other fillings like vegetables, meat or seafood. This is an Italian dish which can be eaten as an appetizer or main course due to its richness in flavors!
Rose Hip
The rose hip is a small fruit that grows on shrubs around the world, which means it’s available to eat fresh or dried! Roses actually aren’t edible themselves – instead, you can eat rose hips because they’re filled with antioxidants and contain Vitamin C which helps protect your immune system from colds and infections.
Raisins
Dried grapes used in many different types of cooking and baking. Raisins are used in many main dish recipes, like beef stew; they can also be used to make desserts like angel food cake.
Roast
A roast is a large meal, usually prepared for special occasions such as Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. The term “roast” typically means an item (beef, pork, lamb) that has been cooked by dry heat in an oven – often resulting in a browned exterior and a juicy interior. The temperature varies depending on the type of meat being roasted – with cooking times ranging from just a few minutes to several hours.
Romaine Lettuce
Romaine lettuce is one of the most popular varieties of lettuce around the world. It is typically found in restaurants and grocery stores, but people are starting to grow it themselves because the taste is great and healthier than other varieties of lettuce.
Rickey
A Rickey is a cocktail made with lime juice, soda water, and liquor of choice. It’s similar to a cocktail called the Tom Collins though the Rickey will typically use gin while Tom Collins uses vodka.
Rissole
A rissole (also known as rissolé) is an Australian term for a fried food roll made from minced meat or fish, usually covered in tomato sauce or egg gravy. The word “rissole” originates from the French word “rissoler” meaning to lightly fry something. Typically asole contains mashed potato mixed into ground beef or other ground meat.
Redfish
There are many varieties of red fish including trout, salmon, cherrywood salmon, steelhead trout, kokanee salmon, tule perch, taimen trout, pink salmon (humpback), grayling (Arctic), barramundi cod (Australian), Atlantic herring (European) among others. They’re a type of whitefish with delicate flesh and mild flavor.
Raspberries
Raspberries are small red berries that contain small seeds on the interior side which you can eat along with the rest of it! Raspberry originates from Europe but now it’s grown all over the world. Raspberry juice is great for smoothies or mixed into water.
Rusk
When bread is baked it can become stale after a few days. Rusk is one way of using up leftover slices – by dipping them in milk or cream, coating them with beaten egg white and spices, then frying them until they are crisp! You can also make variations of this by sprinkling on things like cinnamon sugar.
Roulade
A roulade is simply a thin piece of meat rolled up with vegetables or other ingredients inside it. There’s no set recipe for this dish – you use whatever vegetables and spices you like! The meat can be beef, pork or poultry. Try making one yourself for dinner tonight!
Red Cabbage
Red cabbage is a member of the cruciferous family that also includes broccoli, cauliflower, kale, green cabbage, turnips, and more. Red cabbage is often used to make coleslaw or sauerkraut.
Ribs
Ribs are meaty parts of beef, pork, or chicken that come from the chest area. The way each type of rib is prepared tells you which animal they’re from – spareribs are beef while baby back ribs are pork.
Radicchio
It’s a vegetable that has dark-green leaves with white veins. It can be eaten raw or cooked, and it can be found in salads and sandwiches.
Rutabaga
Rutabagas are turnips that have been more exposed to sunlight – giving them their yellow color. They’re quite popular in the UK where you can find some great recipes for many different meals – from appetizers to main courses! The vegetables are very versatile and easy to prepare, either whole or cut into chunks for stews.
Rice
There are many varieties of rice including wild, brown, basmati, jasmine, black forbidden and more. They’re all similar in nutritional value (high in starch) but vary when it comes to their growing conditions and how they’re processed. Rice is typically used in side dishes like risotto or fried rice but can also be found in cereals and other snacks like pudding or cakes.
Raita
A sauce made with yogurt and chopped cucumber (or sometimes other vegetables), raita is often seasoned with salt, sugar, pepper or mint. A side dish served with Indian cuisine, it’s normally eaten cold.
Rigatoni
Rigatoni are tubular shaped pasta that are often served with marinara sauce or alfredo sauce but can also be paired with seafood for a more unique dish. Rigatoni have ridges on the outside with a hollow tube in the center.
Ragout
A ragout is a French dish that includes at least one meat cut into small pieces. It’s most often made with tomatoes, but it also comes with other vegetables like mushrooms, onions, carrots, celeriac, olives, etc. Some of the meats used include veal and beef; pork is sometimes used as well. A ragout can be eaten on its own (with some bread) for lunch or dinner; it also makes a good side dish.
Roll
A roll is a small, often round loaf of bread served as a meal accompaniment such as for breakfast or lunch (and sometimes as an appetizer). Rolls can be made from many different types of dough – including wheat, rye, pumpernickel, white flour, and more. They may include ingredients like seeds, nuts, cheese, fruits and vegetables which make them savory (like cheddar cheese) or sweet (like cinnamon and raisins).
Roe
Roe is fish eggs harvested from the ovaries of fish near the tail and/or near the head of a female fish. The roe is usually found in either the common carp and herring or cod and pollack.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a small evergreen shrub that many people grow in their homes. The leaves can be used fresh or dried and ground into a powder, and it has a distinctive pine scent. Rosemary can add both its own flavor and antioxidants to dishes such as roasts, soups, pastas, casseroles, but also potatoes, eggs, tomatoes and cheese!
Rose Apple
Rose apple has smooth skin and rarely contains seeds inside its center. The rose apple tree grows around 15-20 feet tall, so it can be pretty tall! Rose apples taste similar to pears, but aren’t as juicy. They grow throughout the year and are available at markets all around the world.
Risotto
The most important thing to know about making risotto is that you can’t rush it. It’s a time-consuming dish, but well worth the wait. Risotto is traditionally made from arborio rice and is cooked in broth and enhanced with cheese and/or vegetables.
Roasted Red Pepper
Roasted red pepper comes from red bell peppers which have been heated, causing them to lose their raw flavor while also giving them a sweet taste and crunchy texture.
Rapini
Rrapini is pigweed, also known as turnip greens or raab, has dark green leaves with white stems. It’s great to eat dipped in olive oil or seasoned with salt, pepper & garlic.
Roquefort
Roquefort is a type of blue cheese that comes from France. People have been eating Roquefort since the time of Ancient Rome, though it wasn’t until much later that the food was improved upon for consumption by everyone. Now, it’s widely available due to global commerce, making this blue cheese accessible all over the world!
Rum
There are many different types of rum – all made from sugar cane juice (and not sugar itself like some people think). From white to dark to spiced rum – the possibilities are endless! You can drink it neat or in cocktails such as daiquiris. Also try making your own ice cream with whipped cream and vanilla extract .
Redcurrant
A redcurrant is a small berry that can be eaten raw or cooked into baked goods. They are tart but have a sweet flavor which pairs nicely with other fruits like strawberries and blueberries in jams and pies.
Relish
Relish is a condiment that can be made from many different ingredients depending on the recipe – including chilies, cucumbers, cabbage, olives, carrots, onions, peppers. Relish can be eaten as a standalone dish or used as a side to accompany a variety of foods like hot dogs or hamburgers.
Rueben
A Rueben sandwich consists of corned beef or pastrami, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing between rye bread slices.
Raspberry
A raspberry is a fruit made up of tiny drupelets. It’s bright red in color, but don’t be fooled! That bright redness isn’t the only thing that makes raspberries so special – they also have an incredible sweet, tangy flavor! You can eat them on their own or use them to make your favorite desserts and drinks. They are rich in Vitamin C and dietary fibre among other things.
Rye
Rye bread is different than bread made from wheat flour. It contains the same basic ingredients – water, yeast and flour – but it also has rye flour and sometimes other grains like barley or oats added to it. Rye bread often tastes sweeter than white bread as well.
Ricotta
A ricotta is an Italian cheese made from whey (a liquid by-product of cheese making). It comes in whole milk or part-skim varieties and can be used as an ingredient in many different dishes like baked ziti, lasagna, cannoli, etc.
Wrap Up
The list of foods that start with the letter R 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 “R” and all of its delicious foods, It’s time to have a look at some lists like this- perhaps starting with another letter?