✔ Updated · 247 foods, sorted by category
Foods that start with B include bananas, blueberries, broccoli, bacon, bagels, burgers, burritos and brownies.
This list rounds up 247 foods that begin with the letter B, sorted into twelve categories: fruits, vegetables, beans, grains and pasta, everyday dishes, desserts, breads and snacks, drinks, cheeses and dairy, meat and seafood, herbs and spices, sauces and pantry staples, and international foods. Each entry has a short description, and a quick A-to-Z list at the end is handy for alphabet games and quizzes.
Foods that start with B, from everyday favorites to rare finds. The most popular:
Fruits That Start With B
Berries, citrus, orchard varieties and tropical rarities. Blueberries are always in my freezer.
Banana
A curved, yellow tropical fruit with soft, sweet flesh, eaten on its own, sliced over cereal or baked into bread.
Blueberry
Small, round, dusty blue berries with a sweet-tart flavor, baked into muffins and pies or eaten by the handful.
Blackberry
A glossy, dark purple aggregate fruit with a sweet, juicy, slightly tart flavor, used in cobblers, jams and pies.
Boysenberry
A large, deep maroon berry that crosses raspberry, blackberry and loganberry, famous in jam at Knott's Berry Farm.
Blood Orange
An orange with crimson flesh and a raspberry-like edge to its sweet citrus flavor, in season in winter.
Breadfruit
A large, green, starchy Pacific fruit that tastes like fresh bread or potato when roasted, boiled or fried.
Bilberry
A small, dark blue European wild berry related to the blueberry, with dark flesh, used in tarts and jams.
Barberry
Tiny, very sour red berries, called zereshk in Persian cooking, where they are cooked with rice and saffron.
Black Currant
A small, intensely flavored dark berry, made into jam, cordials like Ribena and the French liqueur crème de cassis.
Bing Cherry
A large, dark red, sweet cherry developed in Oregon in the 1870s and the most popular cherry in the US.
Bosc Pear
A long-necked pear with russet brown skin and dense, honey-sweet flesh that holds its shape when baked or poached.
Bartlett Pear
A bell-shaped pear that turns from green to yellow as it ripens, very juicy and the classic canning pear.
Braeburn Apple
A crisp, firm New Zealand apple with a balanced sweet-tart, spicy flavor, great for eating and baking.
Babaco
A seedless, five-sided Andean fruit related to papaya, with juicy, tangy flesh tasting of strawberry and pineapple.
Bilimbi
A small, green, very sour fruit related to star fruit, used in Southeast Asian curries, pickles and chutneys.
Black Sapote
A tomato-shaped tropical fruit whose ripe flesh is dark brown and soft, often compared to chocolate pudding.
Buddha's Hand
A fragrant citron that splits into long, finger-like segments, with no pulp; its peel is candied or zested.
Bael
A hard-shelled Indian fruit with aromatic, sticky orange pulp, made into a cooling summer drink called bael sharbat.
Baobab Fruit
The fruit of the African baobab tree, whose dry, chalky, tangy pulp is eaten raw or stirred into drinks.
Bergamot Orange
A small, sour, aromatic citrus from Calabria whose oil flavors Earl Grey tea and many perfumes.
Vegetables That Start With B
Brassicas, greens, roots, squashes and peppers that start with B.
Broccoli
A green vegetable with tight flower heads on thick stalks, roasted, steamed, stir-fried or baked into casseroles.
Brussels Sprouts
Mini cabbage-like buds that grow on a tall stalk, best roasted until crisp and caramelized at the edges.
Beets
Earthy, sweet root vegetables, also called beetroot, usually deep red or golden, roasted, pickled or made into borscht.
Bell Pepper
A sweet, crunchy, blocky pepper in green, red, yellow or orange, eaten raw, roasted, stuffed or stir-fried.
Get the recipe →Bok Choy
A Chinese cabbage with crisp white stems and dark green leaves, quick to stir-fry, steam or add to soups.
Butternut Squash
A bell-shaped winter squash with tan skin and sweet, nutty orange flesh, roasted or pureed into soup.
Butter Lettuce
Soft, tender lettuce with loose, cupped leaves and a mild, buttery flavor, including Bibb and Boston types.
Broccolini
A cross between broccoli and Chinese kale with long, slender stems and small florets, sautéed with garlic.
Broccoli Rabe
Also called rapini, a leafy green with small buds and a pleasantly bitter bite, cooked with garlic and chili in Italy.
Bamboo Shoots
The tender young shoots of bamboo, sliced and boiled for a crisp texture in stir-fries, curries and soups.
Bean Sprouts
Crunchy sprouted mung beans with a fresh, watery bite, added to pad thai, pho, stir-fries and spring rolls.
Baby Corn
Tiny, tender ears of corn picked very early and eaten whole, cob and all, in Asian stir-fries.
Burdock Root
A long, thin, earthy root called gobo in Japan, where it is sliced thin and braised with carrots in kinpira.
Bitter Melon
A warty green gourd with a sharp bitter taste, stir-fried, stuffed or added to soups across Asia.
Banana Pepper
A mild, tangy, yellow pepper shaped like a banana, usually pickled and piled onto sandwiches and pizza.
Belgian Endive
Pale, tightly packed chicory leaves grown in darkness, crisp and lightly bitter, used as edible scoops for dips.
Bottle Gourd
A long, pale green gourd with mild white flesh, called lauki in India and cooked in curries and dals.
Buttercup Squash
A dark green, turban-topped winter squash with dense, sweet, dry orange flesh, great for baking and mashing.
Boniato
A Cuban sweet potato, also called batata, with reddish skin and fluffy, mildly sweet white flesh.
Beans, Grains & Pasta That Start With B
Beans, lentils, grains, nuts and pasta beginning with B.
Black Beans
Small, shiny black beans with a creamy texture, essential to Latin American rice and beans, soups and burritos.
Black-Eyed Peas
Creamy white beans with a black spot, eaten on New Year's Day in the US South for good luck in hoppin' John.
Borlotti Beans
Speckled pink and cream Italian beans, also called cranberry beans, that turn brown and creamy when cooked.
Broad Beans
Also called fava beans, large green beans shelled from thick pods and often peeled again before cooking.
Butter Beans
Large, flat, creamy beans, the Southern name for lima beans, cooked with ham or served on toast.
Beluga Lentils
Tiny, shiny black lentils that look like caviar and hold their shape when cooked, great in salads.
Barley
A chewy, nutty cereal grain used in soups and stews, malted for brewing beer and whisky.
Buckwheat
A seed, not a wheat, ground into flour for Japanese soba, French galettes and Russian blini, or eaten as kasha.
Bulgur
Parboiled, cracked wheat that needs only soaking or brief cooking, the base of tabbouleh and kibbeh.
Basmati Rice
A long-grain rice from India and Pakistan with a nutty aroma, cooking up fluffy and separate for biryani and pilaf.
Brown Rice
Whole-grain rice with its bran layer intact, giving a nutty flavor and chewier texture than white rice.
Black Rice
Also called forbidden rice, a whole-grain rice that turns deep purple when cooked, with a nutty flavor.
Brazil Nut
A large, creamy, rich nut from a tall Amazon rainforest tree, packed inside a hard, coconut-like pod.
Bucatini
Thick spaghetti-like pasta with a hole running through the center, classic with Roman amatriciana sauce.
Bean Thread Noodles
Thin, glassy noodles made from mung bean starch, also called cellophane noodles, used in soups and spring rolls.
Dishes & Meals That Start With B
Breakfasts, mains, sides and comfort food you can cook at home. Biscuits and gravy is my favorite lazy Saturday breakfast.
Burger
A ground beef patty grilled or griddled and served in a bun with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and sauces.
Burrito
A large flour tortilla wrapped around rice, beans, meat, cheese and salsa, a Mexican-American favorite.
Buffalo Wings
Fried chicken wings tossed in buttery hot sauce, created in Buffalo, New York, and served with blue cheese dip.
Baked Ziti
Tube pasta baked with marinara, ricotta and melted mozzarella, an Italian-American party classic.
Get the recipe →Beef Stew
Chunks of beef slowly simmered with potatoes, carrots and onions in a rich, thick gravy.
Get the recipe →Beef Wellington
Beef tenderloin coated in mushroom duxelles and prosciutto, wrapped in puff pastry and baked golden.
Get the recipe →Beef Stroganoff
Strips of beef and mushrooms in a creamy sour cream sauce, served over egg noodles, of Russian origin.
Get the recipe →Brisket
A tough cut of beef from the chest, smoked low and slow in Texas barbecue or braised for Jewish holidays.
Get the recipe →BLT
A sandwich of crispy bacon, lettuce and tomato with mayonnaise on toasted bread.
Breakfast Burrito
A flour tortilla filled with scrambled eggs, potatoes, cheese and bacon or sausage, a Southwest classic.
Get the recipe →Biscuits and Gravy
Split Southern buttermilk biscuits smothered in creamy white gravy with crumbled pork sausage.
Buttermilk Pancakes
Fluffy, tangy pancakes made with buttermilk batter, stacked high with butter and maple syrup.
Get the recipe →Belgian Waffles
Thick waffles with deep pockets, crisp outside and light inside, topped with fruit and whipped cream.
Baked Potato
A whole potato baked until fluffy inside, split and loaded with butter, sour cream, cheese and chives.
Baked Beans
Navy beans slowly baked in a sweet, smoky sauce of molasses or tomato, a cookout and breakfast staple.
Beans on Toast
A British comfort meal of baked beans in tomato sauce spooned over hot buttered toast.
Bangers and Mash
A British pub classic of pork sausages served on mashed potatoes with rich onion gravy.
Bubble and Squeak
A British dish of leftover mashed potatoes and cabbage fried in a pan until browned and crispy.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
A creamy soup of chopped broccoli and sharp cheddar, often served in a hollowed-out bread bowl.
Black Bean Soup
A thick, hearty soup of black beans simmered with onions, garlic, cumin and peppers, topped with sour cream.
Beef and Broccoli
A Chinese-American stir-fry of tender sliced beef and broccoli florets in a glossy oyster sauce.
Butter Chicken
Tandoori-style chicken in a mild, creamy tomato and butter sauce, created in Delhi and served with naan.
Broasted Chicken
Chicken pressure-fried in a special fryer for crisp skin and juicy meat, a Midwest bar and diner favorite.
Get the recipe →Buffalo Chicken Dip
A hot, creamy party dip of shredded chicken, cream cheese, hot sauce and ranch, served with chips and celery.
Get the recipe →Brunswick Stew
A thick, tomato-based Southern stew of pulled meats, lima beans and corn, served with barbecue.
Burgoo
A spicy Kentucky stew of several meats and vegetables, cooked in huge batches for community gatherings.
Blooming Onion
A whole large onion cut to open like a flower, battered and deep-fried, served with a spicy dipping sauce.
Barbecue Ribs
Pork ribs slowly smoked or baked until tender, then brushed with sweet, tangy barbecue sauce.
Desserts & Sweets That Start With B
Cakes, pies, pastries, puddings and candy that start with B. Banana pudding is the one I bring to every potluck.
Brownies
Dense, fudgy chocolate squares with a crackly top, sometimes studded with nuts or chocolate chips.
Banana Bread
A moist, sweet quick bread made with mashed ripe bananas, often with walnuts or chocolate chips.
Get the recipe →Banana Pudding
Layers of vanilla custard, sliced bananas and vanilla wafers topped with whipped cream or meringue.
Get the recipe →Banana Split
A split banana with scoops of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream, sauces, nuts and a cherry.
Bananas Foster
Bananas cooked in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, flambéed with rum and served over vanilla ice cream.
Banana Cream Pie
A pie of sliced bananas in vanilla custard in a flaky or graham crust, topped with whipped cream.
Banoffee Pie
A British pie of bananas, toffee made from cooked condensed milk and whipped cream on a biscuit base.
Baklava
Layers of flaky phyllo pastry filled with chopped nuts and soaked in honey or sugar syrup, from Turkey and Greece.
Beignets
Square French doughnuts fried until puffy and buried in powdered sugar, a New Orleans icon.
Baked Alaska
Ice cream on a sponge cake base, covered in meringue and browned in the oven or with a torch.
Black Forest Cake
A German chocolate layer cake with whipped cream, sour cherries and kirsch, topped with chocolate shavings.
Boston Cream Pie
Actually a cake: two layers of sponge filled with pastry cream and topped with chocolate glaze.
Bread Pudding
Cubes of stale bread soaked in sweet egg custard and baked, often with raisins and a whiskey or caramel sauce.
Bundt Cake
Any cake baked in a fluted ring-shaped Bundt pan, often glazed and served in thick slices.
Biscotti
Twice-baked, crunchy Italian almond cookies, made for dunking in coffee or vin santo.
Blondies
Chewy bar cookies like brownies but made with brown sugar and vanilla instead of chocolate.
Butterscotch
A candy and sauce made by cooking brown sugar with butter, sweet and caramel-like.
Butter Tarts
Canadian pastries with a gooey filling of butter, brown sugar, syrup and egg, sometimes with raisins.
Bakewell Tart
An English tart of shortcrust pastry, jam and almond frangipane, topped with flaked almonds or icing.
Battenberg Cake
A British cake of pink and yellow sponge squares arranged in a checkerboard and wrapped in marzipan.
Babka
A sweet braided Eastern European yeast bread swirled with chocolate or cinnamon, popular in Jewish bakeries.
Get the recipe →Baba au Rhum
A small yeast cake soaked in rum syrup, often filled with whipped cream, popular in France and Naples.
Bear Claw
A sweet pastry of yeasted dough filled with almond paste and slit at one edge to look like a paw.
Blancmange
A cold, set pudding of milk or cream, sugar and cornstarch or gelatin, often flavored with almond.
Brigadeiro
Brazilian chocolate truffles of condensed milk, cocoa and butter, rolled in chocolate sprinkles.
Black and White Cookie
A large, soft New York cookie frosted half with vanilla fondant and half with chocolate.
Bavarian Cream
A chilled custard set with gelatin and lightened with whipped cream, molded or used as a cake filling.
Bibingka
A Filipino rice cake baked in banana leaves over coals, topped with salted egg and cheese at Christmas.
Bombolone
An Italian filled doughnut, fried and rolled in sugar, stuffed with custard, jam or chocolate.
Bienenstich
German bee sting cake: sweet yeast dough with a crunchy honey-almond topping and a vanilla cream filling.
Butter Mochi
A chewy Hawaiian cake made with sweet rice flour, coconut milk, butter and eggs, cut into squares.
Get the recipe →Brittle
A hard, flat candy of cooked sugar broken into pieces, usually filled with peanuts or other nuts.
Butterfinger
A Ferrara candy bar with a crispy, flaky peanut butter center coated in a chocolatey layer.
Blueberry Pie
A double-crust pie of sweet, juicy blueberries thickened with sugar and cornstarch, a summer classic.
Breads & Snacks That Start With B
Breads, rolls, bakery items and snack foods beginning with B.
Bread
A staple food baked from flour, water and usually yeast, from sandwich loaves to crusty sourdough.
Bagel
A dense, chewy ring of dough boiled before baking, split and topped with cream cheese or lox.
Baguette
A long, thin French loaf with a crackly golden crust and an airy, chewy crumb.
Biscuit
A flaky, buttery Southern quick bread, served warm with butter, honey, jam or sausage gravy.
Get the recipe →Brioche
A rich French bread made with lots of butter and eggs, soft and golden, great for French toast and burgers.
Breadsticks
Long, thin sticks of baked bread, either crisp like Italian grissini or soft and buttery with garlic.
Get the recipe →Bao
Soft, fluffy steamed Chinese buns, filled with barbecue pork or folded around braised pork belly.
Bialy
A chewy, flat Polish-Jewish roll with a dimpled center filled with cooked onions and poppy seeds.
Bannock
A simple flat quick bread baked or fried in a pan, traditional in Scotland and among Indigenous peoples of Canada.
Barmbrack
An Irish yeast bread studded with tea-soaked raisins and sultanas, eaten with butter at Halloween.
Bara Brith
A Welsh fruit loaf made with dried fruit soaked in tea, sliced and spread with butter.
Bolillo
A crusty Mexican white roll, oval with a split top, used for tortas and molletes.
Blini
Small Russian pancakes, often made with buckwheat, served with sour cream, smoked salmon or caviar.
Brown Bread
A dense, dark bread made with whole wheat flour, such as Irish soda bread or steamed Boston brown bread.
Blueberry Muffin
A tender, domed muffin packed with juicy blueberries, often finished with a sugary crumb topping.
Bruschetta
Grilled Italian bread rubbed with garlic and olive oil, often topped with chopped tomatoes and basil.
Beef Jerky
Thin strips of lean beef marinated, seasoned and dried into a chewy, savory snack.
Banana Chips
Thin slices of banana fried or dried until crunchy, often sweetened, a popular snack-mix ingredient.
Bombay Mix
A crunchy Indian snack mix of fried lentils, chickpea noodles, peanuts and spices, called chevda in India.
Bammy
A dense Jamaican flatbread made from grated cassava, soaked in coconut milk and fried, served with fish.
Drinks That Start With B
Coffee, tea, cocktails, beer and other drinks starting with B.
Black Coffee
Brewed coffee served without milk, cream or sugar, letting the flavor of the beans come through.
Black Tea
Fully oxidized tea with a strong, brisk flavor, including Assam, Darjeeling and English breakfast blends.
Bubble Tea
A Taiwanese tea drink with milk and chewy tapioca pearls, also called boba, sipped through a wide straw.
Beer
A fermented drink brewed from malted barley, hops, yeast and water, from light lagers to dark stouts.
Buttermilk
A tangy, slightly thick cultured milk drink used in Southern biscuits, pancakes, fried chicken and ranch.
Bloody Mary
A savory cocktail of vodka and tomato juice spiced with Worcestershire, hot sauce and celery salt.
Bellini
A Venetian cocktail of white peach puree and prosecco, created at Harry's Bar in Venice.
Bourbon
An American whiskey made mostly from corn and aged in new charred oak barrels, with notes of vanilla and caramel.
Brandy
A spirit distilled from wine or fermented fruit, including Cognac and Armagnac, sipped after dinner.
Butterbeer
A sweet, butterscotch-flavored drink from Harry Potter, served frothy at the Wizarding World theme parks.
Get the recipe →Baileys Irish Cream
A creamy Irish liqueur of cream, Irish whiskey and cocoa, sipped over ice or added to coffee.
Brandy Alexander
A creamy dessert cocktail of brandy, crème de cacao and cream, dusted with grated nutmeg.
Black Russian
A simple cocktail of vodka and coffee liqueur served over ice in a short glass.
Bramble
A British gin cocktail of lemon juice and sugar over crushed ice, drizzled with blackberry liqueur.
Bee's Knees
A Prohibition-era cocktail of gin, fresh lemon juice and honey syrup, shaken and served chilled.
Boilermaker
A glass of beer served with a shot of whiskey, either sipped alongside or dropped into the beer.
Blue Lagoon
A bright blue drink of vodka, blue curaçao and lemonade, also made alcohol-free as a mocktail.
Get the recipe →Bissap
A deep red West African drink of hibiscus flowers steeped with sugar, mint or ginger, served cold.
Birch Beer
A sweet, fizzy soft drink flavored with birch bark extract, similar to root beer, popular in Pennsylvania.
Boza
A thick, mildly fermented drink of millet or wheat, sweet and slightly sour, popular in Turkey and the Balkans.
Cheeses & Dairy That Start With B
Soft, hard, blue and fresh cheeses, plus butter.
Butter
Churned cream with a rich, sweet flavor, spread on toast, melted over vegetables and essential in baking.
Brie
A soft French cow's milk cheese with a white bloomy rind and a creamy, buttery interior, often baked.
Blue Cheese
Cheese veined with blue mold, sharp and salty, crumbled over salads, steaks and Buffalo wings.
Burrata
A ball of fresh mozzarella filled with soft stracciatella and cream, from Puglia, served with tomatoes.
Bocconcini
Small, egg-sized balls of fresh mozzarella, tossed into salads and pasta or skewered with tomatoes.
Bel Paese
A soft, mild, buttery Italian cheese created in the early 1900s, good for snacking and melting.
Beaufort
A firm French Alpine cheese from Savoie with a smooth texture and a fruity, nutty flavor.
Bleu d'Auvergne
A creamy French blue cheese from Auvergne, sharp and tangy but milder than Roquefort.
Brick Cheese
A Wisconsin cheese pressed with bricks, mild when young, that melts beautifully on Detroit-style pizza.
Brunost
A sweet Norwegian brown cheese made by boiling whey until caramelized, sliced thin onto waffles and bread.
Brillat-Savarin
A rich, triple-cream French cheese with a soft, bloomy rind and a buttery, slightly tangy center.
Bryndza
A soft, salty sheep's milk cheese from Slovakia, mixed into potato dumplings for bryndzové halušky.
Baby Swiss
A mild, creamy American Swiss-style cheese with small holes, created in Ohio in the 1960s.
Meat & Seafood That Start With B
Meats, sausages, cured cuts, fish and shellfish that start with B.
Bacon
Cured and usually smoked pork belly, sliced and fried until crispy for breakfast, burgers and BLTs.
Beef
Meat from cattle, cooked as steaks, roasts, ground beef and stews in cuisines around the world.
Bratwurst
A German pork sausage, grilled and served on a bun with mustard and sauerkraut, a Wisconsin tailgate staple.
Bologna
A mild, smooth American cold cut based on Italian mortadella, sliced for sandwiches or fried.
Black Pudding
A British and Irish blood sausage with oats or barley, sliced and fried for a full breakfast.
Boudin
A Cajun sausage stuffed with pork, rice, onions and spices, a favorite snack in Louisiana.
Bison
Lean, slightly sweet red meat from American bison, often sold ground for burgers or as steaks.
Bresaola
Air-dried, salted beef from northern Italy, sliced paper-thin and served with arugula and Parmesan.
Biltong
South African dried, cured meat, usually beef, seasoned with vinegar, coriander and pepper, then air-dried.
Bockwurst
A mild German sausage of veal and pork, heated in water and served with mustard and bread.
Baby Back Ribs
Short, curved, meaty pork ribs from the top of the rib cage, more tender than spare ribs.
Bavette
A flavorful, loose-grained beef steak from the flank area, also called flap steak, best grilled and sliced.
Barramundi
A mild, buttery white fish native to Australia and Southeast Asia, often grilled or pan-fried with crispy skin.
Branzino
European sea bass, a mild, flaky white fish often roasted whole with lemon and herbs in Italy.
Black Cod
Also called sablefish, a rich, buttery fish famous in miso-marinated black cod at Japanese restaurants.
Bluefish
An oily, strongly flavored Atlantic fish best eaten very fresh, grilled, broiled or smoked into pâté.
Bream
A small, mild white fish such as sea bream, called tai in Japan, often grilled or baked whole.
Bonito
A small tuna relative whose flesh is smoked and dried into katsuobushi flakes, used in Japanese dashi.
Bluefin Tuna
The largest tuna, with deep red flesh and fatty belly meat called toro, prized for sushi.
Blue Crab
A Chesapeake Bay crab with blue claws and sweet meat, steamed with Old Bay or made into crab cakes.
Bay Scallops
Small, sweet scallops from shallow bays and estuaries, quick to sauté, broil or add to pasta.
Bombay Duck
Not a duck but a slender fish called bombil, fried crisp or dried and salted in Mumbai.
Herbs & Spices That Start With B
Herbs, spice blends and seasonings beginning with B.
Basil
A fragrant, sweet herb used in Italian pesto, caprese salad and Thai stir-fries, best added fresh.
Bay Leaves
Dried leaves of the bay laurel added whole to soups, stews and sauces, then removed before serving.
Black Pepper
Dried, unripe peppercorns ground for sharp, warm heat, the world's most widely used spice.
Black Cardamom
Large, dark cardamom pods dried over fire, with a smoky, camphor-like flavor used in Indian curries.
Berbere
An Ethiopian spice blend of chili, fenugreek, ginger, cardamom and more, the base of doro wat.
Baharat
A warm Middle Eastern spice mix of black pepper, cumin, coriander, cinnamon and cloves for meats and rice.
Bouquet Garni
A tied bundle of herbs, usually thyme, bay leaf and parsley, simmered in French stocks and stews.
Black Garlic
Garlic bulbs aged slowly with gentle heat until the cloves turn black, soft and sweet like balsamic.
Black Salt
Kala namak, a pinkish-gray Indian salt with a sulfurous, egg-like smell, used in chaat and vegan scrambles.
Bird's Eye Chili
A tiny, very hot chili used fresh or dried in Thai, Vietnamese and Malaysian cooking.
Borage
An herb with cucumber-flavored leaves and edible blue star-shaped flowers, used in salads and drinks.
Sauces, Condiments & Pantry That Start With B
Sauces, dressings, pickles and baking staples that start with B.
Barbecue Sauce
A sweet, tangy, smoky sauce of tomato, vinegar and sugar, brushed on ribs, chicken and pulled pork.
Balsamic Vinegar
A dark, sweet, aged vinegar from Modena, Italy, drizzled over salads, strawberries and cheese.
Béchamel
A classic French white sauce of butter, flour and milk, the base of lasagna, mac and cheese and croque monsieur.
Béarnaise
A rich French sauce of butter and egg yolks flavored with tarragon and shallots, served with steak.
Bolognese
A slow-cooked Italian meat sauce of beef, pork, soffritto, wine and a little tomato, served with tagliatelle.
Buffalo Sauce
A tangy, buttery hot sauce of cayenne pepper sauce and melted butter, made for chicken wings.
Brown Sauce
A tangy British condiment of tomatoes, molasses, dates and tamarind, served with bacon sandwiches.
Bordelaise
A French sauce of red wine, shallots, demi-glace and bone marrow, from Bordeaux, served with steak.
Beurre Blanc
A French butter sauce of white wine and shallots whisked with cold butter, served with fish.
Black Bean Sauce
A savory Chinese sauce of fermented black soybeans, garlic and ginger, used in stir-fries.
Bagna Cauda
A warm Piedmontese dip of olive oil, garlic and anchovies, served with raw vegetables.
Blue Cheese Dressing
A creamy dressing of blue cheese, mayonnaise and sour cream, served with wings and wedge salads.
Bread and Butter Pickles
Sweet and tangy sliced cucumber pickles with onions and mustard seed, served on burgers and sandwiches.
Branston Pickle
A chunky, sweet-sour British pickle of diced vegetables in a dark sauce, eaten with cheese sandwiches.
Brown Sugar
Sugar with molasses for a moist texture and caramel flavor, used in cookies, glazes and barbecue rubs.
Baking Soda
Sodium bicarbonate, a leavening agent that reacts with acids like buttermilk to make baked goods rise.
Baking Powder
A leavening agent of baking soda plus a dry acid, giving cakes, pancakes and biscuits a light rise.
Blackstrap Molasses
The dark, thick, bittersweet syrup left after sugar is refined, used in gingerbread and baked beans.
International Foods That Start With B
Global dishes that start with B, from Korea to Brazil.
Bibimbap
A Korean rice bowl topped with seasoned vegetables, beef, a fried egg and spicy gochujang, mixed before eating.
Biryani
A fragrant layered rice dish of basmati, spiced meat or vegetables and saffron, from South Asia.
Bulgogi
Korean marinated beef, thinly sliced and grilled with soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil and garlic.
Borscht
An Eastern European soup of beets, cabbage and potatoes, deep red and served with sour cream and dill.
Bouillabaisse
A Provençal fish stew from Marseille with saffron, fennel and orange, served with rouille on toast.
Baba Ganoush
A smoky Levantine dip of roasted eggplant mashed with tahini, lemon juice and garlic.
Bánh Mì
A Vietnamese sandwich on a crisp baguette with pâté, grilled pork, pickled carrots, cilantro and chili.
Bánh Xèo
Crispy Vietnamese crepes of rice flour and turmeric filled with shrimp, pork and bean sprouts.
Bún Chả
A Hanoi dish of grilled pork patties in a sweet fish sauce broth, served with rice noodles and herbs.
Bún Bò Huế
A spicy Vietnamese beef noodle soup from Huế, flavored with lemongrass and shrimp paste.
Bobotie
A South African dish of spiced, curried minced meat baked under an egg custard topping.
Bunny Chow
A Durban street food of curry served in a hollowed-out loaf of white bread.
Bacalhau
Portuguese dried salt cod, soaked and cooked in hundreds of ways, from casseroles to fritters.
Bigos
Polish hunter's stew of sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, several meats and sausage, slowly simmered.
Börek
A Turkish and Balkan pastry of thin phyllo layered or rolled with cheese, spinach or minced meat.
Bitterballen
Crispy Dutch fried balls of thick beef ragout, served with mustard as a bar snack.
Bratkartoffeln
German pan-fried potatoes with onions and bacon, a classic side to sausages and schnitzel.
Bulalo
A Filipino beef shank and bone marrow soup with corn, cabbage and green beans.
Bicol Express
A spicy Filipino stew of pork cooked in coconut milk with chilies and shrimp paste.
Bak Kut Teh
A Malaysian and Singaporean pork rib soup simmered with garlic, pepper and herbs.
Beef Rendang
A rich, dry Indonesian curry of beef slowly simmered in coconut milk and spices until caramelized.
Bhaji
Indian fritters of sliced onion or vegetables in spiced chickpea flour batter, fried until crisp.
Bhel Puri
A Mumbai street snack of puffed rice, sev, potatoes and onions tossed with tangy chutneys.
Barbacoa
Mexican slow-cooked beef or lamb, traditionally steamed in a pit, shredded for tacos.
Birria
A Mexican stew of goat or beef in a chili broth from Jalisco, now famous as dipped birria tacos.
Bandeja Paisa
A huge Colombian platter of beans, rice, ground meat, chicharrón, chorizo, arepa, egg and avocado.
Baleada
A Honduran thick flour tortilla folded over refried beans, cheese and crema, sometimes with eggs.
Did You Know?
- Bananas are botanically berries, while blackberries and boysenberries are not true berries at all but aggregate fruits made of many tiny drupelets.
- Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and kale were all bred from a single wild plant species, Brassica oleracea.
- Bananas Foster was created in 1951 at Brennan's restaurant in New Orleans and named after Richard Foster, a friend of owner Owen Brennan.
- The name basil comes from the Greek basilikon, meaning royal, and the herb has long been treated as a kingly plant in Mediterranean cooking.
Quick List: All 247 Foods That Start With B
Handy for alphabet games, quizzes and Scattergories. The full list, A to Z:
Baba au Rhum, Baba Ganoush, Babaco, Babka, Baby Back Ribs, Baby Corn, Baby Swiss, Bacalhau, Bacon, Bael, Bagel, Bagna Cauda, Baguette, Baharat, Baileys Irish Cream, Bak Kut Teh, Baked Alaska, Baked Beans, Baked Potato, Baked Ziti, Bakewell Tart, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Baklava, Baleada, Balsamic Vinegar, Bamboo Shoots, Bammy, Banana, Banana Bread, Banana Chips, Banana Cream Pie, Banana Pepper, Banana Pudding, Banana Split, Bananas Foster, Bandeja Paisa, Bangers and Mash, Bannock, Banoffee Pie, Bao, Baobab Fruit, Bara Brith, Barbacoa, Barbecue Ribs, Barbecue Sauce, Barberry, Barley, Barmbrack, Barramundi, Bartlett Pear, Basil, Basmati Rice, Battenberg Cake, Bavarian Cream, Bavette, Bay Leaves, Bay Scallops, Bean Sprouts, Bean Thread Noodles, Beans on Toast, Bear Claw, Beaufort, Bee's Knees, Beef, Beef and Broccoli, Beef Jerky, Beef Rendang, Beef Stew, Beef Stroganoff, Beef Wellington, Beer, Beets, Beignets, Bel Paese, Belgian Endive, Belgian Waffles, Bell Pepper, Bellini, Beluga Lentils, Berbere, Bergamot Orange, Beurre Blanc, Bhaji, Bhel Puri, Bialy, Bibimbap, Bibingka, Bicol Express, Bienenstich, Bigos, Bilberry, Bilimbi, Biltong, Bing Cherry, Birch Beer, Bird's Eye Chili, Birria, Biryani, Biscotti, Biscuit, Biscuits and Gravy, Bison, Bissap, Bitter Melon, Bitterballen, Black and White Cookie, Black Bean Sauce, Black Bean Soup, Black Beans, Black Cardamom, Black Cod, Black Coffee, Black Currant, Black Forest Cake, Black Garlic, Black Pepper, Black Pudding, Black Rice, Black Russian, Black Salt, Black Sapote, Black Tea, Black-Eyed Peas, Blackberry, Blackstrap Molasses, Blancmange, Bleu d'Auvergne, Blini, Blondies, Blood Orange, Bloody Mary, Blooming Onion, BLT, Blue Cheese, Blue Cheese Dressing, Blue Crab, Blue Lagoon, Blueberry, Blueberry Muffin, Blueberry Pie, Bluefin Tuna, Bluefish, Bobotie, Bocconcini, Bockwurst, Boilermaker, Bok Choy, Bolillo, Bologna, Bolognese, Bombay Duck, Bombay Mix, Bombolone, Boniato, Bonito, Borage, Bordelaise, Borlotti Beans, Borscht, Bosc Pear, Boston Cream Pie, Bottle Gourd, Boudin, Bouillabaisse, Bouquet Garni, Bourbon, Boysenberry, Boza, Braeburn Apple, Bramble, Brandy, Brandy Alexander, Branston Pickle, Branzino, Bratkartoffeln, Bratwurst, Brazil Nut, Bread, Bread and Butter Pickles, Bread Pudding, Breadfruit, Breadsticks, Breakfast Burrito, Bream, Bresaola, Brick Cheese, Brie, Brigadeiro, Brillat-Savarin, Brioche, Brisket, Brittle, Broad Beans, Broasted Chicken, Broccoli, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Broccoli Rabe, Broccolini, Brown Bread, Brown Rice, Brown Sauce, Brown Sugar, Brownies, Brunost, Brunswick Stew, Bruschetta, Brussels Sprouts, Bryndza, Bubble and Squeak, Bubble Tea, Bucatini, Buckwheat, Buddha's Hand, Buffalo Chicken Dip, Buffalo Sauce, Buffalo Wings, Bulalo, Bulgogi, Bulgur, Bundt Cake, Bunny Chow, Burdock Root, Burger, Burgoo, Burrata, Burrito, Butter, Butter Beans, Butter Chicken, Butter Lettuce, Butter Mochi, Butter Tarts, Butterbeer, Buttercup Squash, Butterfinger, Buttermilk, Buttermilk Pancakes, Butternut Squash, Butterscotch, Bánh Mì, Bánh Xèo, Béarnaise, Béchamel, Börek, Bún Bò Huế, Bún Chả
Frequently Asked Questions
What fruit starts with B?
Bananas, blueberries and blackberries are the best-known fruits that start with B. Others include boysenberries, blood oranges, breadfruit, bilberries, barberries, black currants, Bing cherries, Bosc and Bartlett pears, Braeburn apples, and tropical rarities like babaco, bilimbi and black sapote.
What vegetable starts with B?
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, beets and bell peppers are the most common vegetables that start with B. Bok choy, butternut squash, butter lettuce, broccolini, broccoli rabe, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, baby corn, burdock root and bitter melon also begin with B.
What's a dessert that starts with B?
Brownies and banana bread are the most popular desserts that start with B. Banana pudding, banana split, bananas Foster, baklava, beignets, baked Alaska, Black Forest cake, Boston cream pie, bread pudding and banoffee pie are other sweet choices.
What are some rare or unusual foods that start with B?
Unusual foods that start with B include babaco, a seedless Andean fruit; bilimbi, a sour relative of star fruit; Buddha's hand, a fingered citron; brunost, Norway's caramel-like brown cheese; bunny chow, a South African curry in a bread loaf; and bitterballen, Dutch fried meat balls.
What's a breakfast food that starts with B?
Bacon, bagels and biscuits are classic breakfast foods that start with B. Breakfast burritos, biscuits and gravy, buttermilk pancakes, Belgian waffles, banana bread, blueberry muffins, brioche French toast and a cup of black coffee or black tea also fit.
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