There are so many amazing foods that start with the letter Y, it’s hard to figure out where to even begin!
We could talk about yams and yogurt, but those are too easy.
How about yuzu? It’s one of our favorites because it makes amazing cocktails! But there’s also Yoplait and yerba mate – both of which start with “Y.” And how can we forget yeast? It’s one of our favorites because it makes amazing bread! There’s Yamaki, Yuca…and more! There are so many more great foods that start with Y, but I’m getting hungry just keeping them all straight in my head. Let’s see the list below.
Contents
List of Foods That Start With Y
Yams
An edible root vegetable is often referred to as the “sweet potato” despite being unrelated to the potato. Some species are also called yam but aren’t really yams.
Yakitori
Grilled skewers of meat, fish, and vegetables. This popular Japanese dish is loved all around the world and can be made with a wide variety of items! Yakitori is traditionally grilled over hot coals and marinated in a sauce of soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and sesame oil before being served.
Yellowfin tuna
Tuna is one of the more popular fish used in cooking today because it’s so versatile! It can be baked, broiled, steamed, pan-fried, grilled, marinated, smoked…oh – and did we mention sushi? Yellowfin gets its name from how light (almost silvery) its color is compared to other types like bluefin or bigeye.
Yiros/Gyros
This sandwich is a spicy meat patty wrapped in pita bread with tomatoes, onions, and a creamy sauce. Doner kebabs are a similar food that’s popular in parts of Europe and the Middle East – they’re just called doners because they originated from Turkish immigrants living in Germany.
Yellow Mango
Another type of mango, yellow mangos are sweet and can be eaten with or without the skin.
Yogurt
First discovered in the Central Asian Steppes in around 6000 BC, yogurt is a dairy product made by fermenting milk with live bacteria. There are many different types of yogurt available to eat, including Greek-style ones that have way more protein!
Yuca/Yucca
This root vegetable is used in many dishes and is the third leading source of carbohydrates consumed in Latin America. Yuca is used to make chips, fries, salads, and even bread! Young yuca stalks are also eaten as a vegetable similar to asparagus.
Yorkshire Teacakes
Unlike Yorkshire Pudding, Yorkshire teacakes are made of white bread dough which is cut into circles before being baked in the oven. Once they’re ready, they can either be eaten plain or spread with butter or jam to make them even more delicious!
Yukon Gold Potatoes
A common way of using Yukon Gold potatoes is in a mashed form, and they can also be used to make French fries. They have a yellow flesh and waxy texture. Freshly dug up Yukon Golds can be roasted with rosemary and olive oil, or cut into wedges and fried for potato wedges!
Yellow Eye Beans
A different variety of common beans that are light yellowish brown with dark speckles. They take around two hours to cook fully and have no added salt – they’re often served with rice or vegetables instead of meat due to their mild flavor.
Yuzu
A tart citrus fruit from Japan used for its juice, zest, or oil which has both sweet and tangy flavors that complement savory foods like meat or poultry. Yuzu can be grilled with fish or seafood for an added depth of flavor.
Yellow Cornmeal
Cornmeal is a yellow-colored meal milled from dried maize. It can be eaten as cornbread or polenta, or used in batters for fried foods like tortillas, veggie burgers, and hush puppies. Yellow cornmeal is also an essential ingredient in Southern US cooking where it’s used to make cornbread, spoonbread, muffins, crepes and gorditas.
Youngberry
A cross between loganberries and blackberries, Youngberries are so juicy you can eat them straight from the bush or mix them with other fruits like strawberries or blueberries for iced treats.
Yakhnet Batata
This dish is truly a labor of love – it’s a traditional dish that takes a lot of preparation and time to create. It’s made from boiling yakhnet batata, which is a root vegetable native to Nepal, for over an hour with salt and water. The result is very soft and almost caramel-like in taste due to its natural sugars. Yakhnet Batata can also be boiled with spices such as cumin or chili powder!
Yōkan
Also called “bean jelly” or “red bean paste” in English, this sweet dessert food is made from boiling azuki beans until they turn into a thick paste. Fun fact: yōkan is traditionally dyed pink and wrapped in plastic to resemble a Japanese sword (called a katana)!
Yangmei (Chinese barberry)
Wild shrub of the rose family with edible berry-like fruit. They are often used in traditional Chinese/Taiwanese desserts. They have a flavor similar to a sweet raspberry and cranberry together.
Yerba Mate
Yerba mate is a type of green tea made from the leaves of yerba mate trees which are harvested in South America, especially Argentina and Paraguay. It’s brewed like traditional tea but can be prepared hot or cold and has a strong flavor that some compare to almonds. Yerba mate contains caffeine and is common as an energy drink because it can provide more energy than coffee or soda!
Yellow Moong Dal
Moong dal is an Indian dish made from split mung beans, which are yellow in color. These yellow beans are cooked until they’re soft so it becomes a soft porridge-like dish.
Yorkshire Pudding
Made from flour, eggs, milk, and stock (usually beef), Yorkshire pudding is a British delicacy served before the main course. However, it can also be served as a dessert with jam and cream.
Yellow Pepper
One of many types of peppers, yellow peppers come in all different shapes and sizes but offer the same good flavor no matter what size you buy! They’re great for salads, soups, sandwiches, and more.
Yali Pears
A type of pomegranate that is smaller than the usual size. Yali pears are considered sweet by most people because they do not contain any tartness or sourness.
Yamaki
Dessert with mochi flour cakes in pink bean soup. The cake has a sticky texture when eaten warm while it becomes hard when cooled down.
Yautia
A root vegetable, native to tropical areas of the Americas. Also known as Taro Root, Dasheen or Eddo.
Yellowtail
Yellowtail fish is another name for Amberjack; a type of fish with vibrant green-blue scales that can turn bright yellow when cooked. The meat is very juicy when cooked properly – making it a popular fish in sashimi or sushi dishes!
Yabby
The Yabby is a saltwater crayfish found in the majority of coastal and inland waterways in Australia. It can be used to eat shell-on for a traditional Australian dish, or peeled and cooked in popular dishes such as fettuccini, risotto, and seafood pasta.
Yassa
A dish from Senegal which also exists in other West African countries. It is usually made with chicken or fish. Some cooks add onions, ginger, chili peppers (which are not traditional but make it easier to eat), and some even add peanuts.
Yacon
This vegetable comes from South America and has an apple-like flavor to it that’s said to be similar to molasses or caramel! The root itself is very large but when eaten raw it provides lots of health benefits like decreasing blood pressure and reducing hunger cravings. However, when it’s cooked, yacon becomes starchy and sweet like a regular potato would be!
Yardlong Beans
A variety of long bean grown in the tropics, where it is known by many names including asparagus bean, snake bean, pea bean, Chinese longbean, Yardlong bean, bodi/bora/boro/fereno (Nigeria), sitaw (Philippines), wunderbohne (German for “wonder bean”).
Yodels
These small cakes come packed inside a can – find them at your local grocery store next to other snack cakes! The name Yodel was actually inspired by their yodeling mascot on the packaging.
Yakisoba
The yakisoba we know and love today comes from Japan – but it’s actually a fusion food! This dish was first created by Chinese cooks in Taiwan for local Taiwanese people after the Second World War. The original version was simply called chow mein or lo mein which featured stir-fried noodles topped with meat such as pork, shrimp, chicken, beef, etc. However, nowadays yakisoba can be made without any animal products at all – it just has to have those thick pan-fried noodles that everyone loves!
Yoplait
This brand-name yogurt is sold under many different names around the world. Depending on where you go, it might be called Danone, Gayelord Hauser, or Häagen-Dazs yogurt. It’s a very popular product used for things like smoothies and dips!
Yakhni
Yakhni is a Nepalese curry that uses the classic combination of yogurt, garlic, ginger, fenugreek seeds, coriander seeds, turmeric powder & cayenne pepper for flavor! Yakhi is typically prepared with chicken bones but other options include lamb bones. Yakhni is an integral part of Newari cuisine and is always served with rice, lentils, pickles, and achar (Nepali-style spicy condiment).
Yuatia
When made right, yuatia has a refreshing flavor that’s both sweet and tangy. Traditionally it’s made by boiling water with brown sugar until it reaches softball stage (like when you make fudge), then adding pandan juice (or pandan leaves which release the green color and aroma) and mung beans. Yuatia can be served with ice or other fruits like jackfruit, watermelon, and mango.
Yolk
The yellow part of an egg is called the yolk. The color comes from pigments like xanthophyll and, while the color may differ based on what a hen eats. There are several different types of egg yolk that you can buy to use in cooking – including salted, smoked, or freeze-dried yolk!
Yellow Watermelon
Watermelon is a summertime favorite and can be found in yellow, red, and pink varieties. They’re typically seedless but will have a white spot where the watermelon rested on the ground during growth (called a field spot). The spot should not affect the taste of the melon. Yellow watermelons are not as sweet as other types of watermelons but still offer good flavor.
Yellowtail Fish
Amberjack, also known as yellowtail, are part of the Jack family found in warmer oceans around the world. They’re usually caught by commercial fisherman who sell them immediately to restaurants and markets who serve only fresh items. When cooked at medium temperatures, Amberjacks have a medium-firm texture with delicate flavors which make it perfect for ceviche or seared sashimi!
Yemas
Yemas are sweet egg yolks candies made from egg whites, syrup, powdered sugar, and sometimes marzipan. Their bright yellow color and sweet flavors make it a great treat to share with friends and family!
Yiessas
Supposedly named after the daughter of its inventor, this creamy pudding dessert was first made way back in 1885. Today there’s plenty of different options to eat or drink, including flavors like caramel, chocolate fudge brownie, and red velvet cake.
Yellow Squash
Similar to zucchini squash, summer squashes also known as crookneck squashes have a pale yellow color. These squashes are great for roasting or grilling and pair nicely with many spices.
Yquem
Produced in France since 1811, Yquem is named after an ancient Amerindian tribe who lived in the area around Bordeaux when the vineyards were first planted.
Yeast
A fungus that is used in baking. It is activated when combined with warm water, sugars, salt and flour. Once baked, it has a distinctive flavor that can be used in breads or other sweet desserts such as doughnuts and cake.
Yellow Yams
Yams are often mislabeled as sweet potatoes because they look similar and both can be baked or fried as well as used to make delicious desserts like yam pie! They can also be boiled and served with butter and salt or brown sugar. Yams come in different varieties, but the most common is the yellow yam which has a tan skin and flesh that turns orange when cooked properly.
Yellow Beans
Yellow beans are small to medium-sized dried beans with yellow seeds which can be eaten whole or cooked to make soup. They’re often found in Latin American countries such as Brazil and Cuba where they’re grown but also eaten around the world including Spain and Morocco. Yellow beans generally take about an hour to cook fully for use in soups or stews.
Wrap Up
The list of foods that start with the letter Y 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 “Y” and all of its delicious foods, It’s time to have a look at some lists like this- perhaps starting with another letter?