✔ Updated · 155 foods, sorted by category
Foods that start with D include dates, dragon fruit, duck, dumplings, donuts, deviled eggs, dark chocolate and Dijon mustard.
This list rounds up 155 foods that begin with the letter D, sorted into ten categories: fruits, vegetables, everyday dishes, desserts, breads and snacks, drinks, cheeses and dairy, meat and seafood, seasonings 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 D, from everyday favorites to rare finds. The most popular:
Fruits That Start With D
Dates, plums, berries, citrus and tropical fruit that start with D. Dates are my natural sweetener for smoothies.
Date
The sweet, chewy fruit of the date palm, usually sold dried, with Medjool and Deglet Noor the best-known types.
Dragon Fruit
The fruit of a climbing cactus, also called pitaya, with bright pink skin and white or magenta flesh dotted with tiny seeds.
Durian
A large, spiky Southeast Asian fruit with creamy, custard-like flesh and a famously strong smell, called the king of fruits.
Damson
A small, dark blue-purple plum with tart, astringent flesh, cooked into jams, chutneys and damson gin.
Dewberry
A trailing wild relative of the blackberry with sweet, dark purple fruit, picked in spring for cobblers and jam.
Dekopon
A large, sweet, seedless Japanese mandarin hybrid with a bumpy top knot, sold in the US as Sumo citrus.
Dancy Tangerine
A classic American tangerine variety with deep orange, loose skin and rich, sweet-tart flavor, at its best in winter.
Duncan Grapefruit
The oldest known grapefruit variety in Florida, white-fleshed and seedy but prized for its rich, tangy juice.
Date-Plum
A small persimmon relative from Asia and southern Europe whose fruit tastes like a mix of dates and plums.
Duku
A Southeast Asian fruit related to langsat, with thin tan skin and sweet, translucent segments.
Dabai
A Bornean fruit like a black olive, soaked in warm water until soft, then eaten with soy sauce or salt.
Desert Lime
A tiny, tangy native Australian citrus that grows in dry inland areas, used in marmalades, sauces and drinks.
Davidson's Plum
A deep purple, very sour Australian rainforest fruit used in jams, sauces and desserts rather than eaten raw.
Doum Palm Fruit
The hard, brown fruit of an African palm whose fibrous flesh tastes like gingerbread, eaten in Egypt and Sudan.
Vegetables That Start With D
Roots, greens, squash, beans and seaweed beginning with D.
Daikon
A long, white, mild winter radish used in Japanese and Korean cooking, grated, pickled or simmered in soups.
Dandelion Greens
The young leaves of the dandelion plant, pleasantly bitter, eaten raw in salads or sautéed with garlic.
Delicata Squash
A small, oblong winter squash with cream and green stripes and edible skin, sweet when roasted in rings.
Dasheen
A Caribbean name for taro, a starchy root that must be cooked, boiled in soups or served with saltfish.
Drumstick
The long, slender pods of the moringa tree, cooked in South Indian sambar and curries, where the soft insides are eaten.
Daylily Buds
Dried golden lily flowers, called golden needles in Chinese cooking, added to hot and sour soup and moo shu pork.
Dulse
A red seaweed from the North Atlantic, eaten dried as a salty, chewy snack in Ireland and Atlantic Canada.
Dinosaur Kale
Lacinato kale, also called cavolo nero, with long, bumpy, blue-green leaves that hold up well in soups.
Dragon Tongue Beans
Flat, pale yellow heirloom beans streaked with purple, crisp and juicy, eaten raw or lightly cooked.
Datil Pepper
A small, very hot yellow chile grown around St. Augustine, Florida, used in local hot sauces and chowders.
Dent Corn
Field corn with a dent in each kernel, dried and ground into cornmeal, masa and grits rather than eaten fresh.
Dragon Carrot
An heirloom carrot with purple-red skin and an orange core, sweet with a slightly spicy edge.
Dishes & Meals That Start With D
Breakfasts, mains, sides and party food that start with D. Deviled eggs are my contribution to every cookout.
Deviled Eggs
Hard-boiled egg halves filled with a creamy mix of yolk, mayonnaise and mustard, dusted with paprika.
Get the recipe →Dumplings
Pieces of dough cooked in broth or stew, or wrapped around fillings, made in countless styles worldwide.
Get the recipe →Dirty Rice
A Cajun rice dish cooked with chopped chicken livers, ground pork, peppers, onions and celery, which darken the rice.
Detroit-Style Pizza
A rectangular, thick-crust pizza baked in a steel pan, with crispy cheese edges and sauce striped on top.
Deep-Dish Pizza
Chicago pizza baked in a high-sided pan with a thick crust, layers of cheese and toppings and chunky sauce on top.
Denver Omelet
An omelet filled with diced ham, green bell peppers and onions, often with cheese, a diner breakfast classic.
Dutch Baby
A large, puffy oven pancake baked in a hot skillet, served with lemon, powdered sugar or fruit.
Duck à l'Orange
A French classic of roast duck served with a bittersweet orange sauce made with caramelized sugar and stock.
Duck Confit
Duck legs salt-cured and slowly cooked in their own fat until tender, then crisped before serving.
Dynamite Roll
A Western-style sushi roll with tempura shrimp, avocado and spicy mayonnaise, popular in Canada.
Get the recipe →Dan Dan Noodles
A Sichuan dish of noodles in a spicy, numbing chili oil sauce topped with crispy minced pork.
Drunken Noodles
Thai stir-fried wide rice noodles with chilies, holy basil, vegetables and meat, called pad kee mao.
Deviled Crab
Spicy crab meat mixed with breadcrumbs and seasonings, baked in crab shells, popular in Florida and Maryland.
Deviled Ham
A spread of finely ground ham with mustard and spices, served on crackers and in sandwiches.
Dagwood Sandwich
A tall, overstuffed sandwich piled with many meats, cheeses and toppings, named after a comic strip character.
Dressing
The Southern name for stuffing, especially cornbread dressing baked in a pan and served with Thanksgiving turkey.
Dublin Coddle
An Irish stew of pork sausages, bacon, potatoes and onions slowly simmered in a pot.
Dill Pickle Soup
A tangy Polish soup of potatoes, carrots and grated dill pickles in a creamy broth.
Deep-Fried Turkey
A whole turkey lowered into a big pot of hot oil outdoors, giving crisp skin and very juicy meat.
Deli Sandwich
A sandwich stacked with sliced deli meats like pastrami, turkey or roast beef on rye or a hoagie roll.
Drop Biscuits
Quick, rustic biscuits made by dropping spoonfuls of wet dough onto a pan instead of rolling and cutting.
Desserts & Sweets That Start With D
Pastries, cakes, cookies and candy that start with D. I save donuts for a once-a-month treat.
Donut
A sweet fried dough ring or filled round, glazed, sugared or frosted, a classic breakfast treat.
Danish
A flaky, buttery laminated pastry filled with fruit, cream cheese or custard, also called a Danish pastry.
Devil's Food Cake
A moist, rich, dark chocolate layer cake, the opposite of angel food cake, frosted with chocolate.
Dump Cake
A cake made by dumping fruit and dry cake mix into a pan and topping it with butter before baking.
Get the recipe →Dulce de Leche
A thick, caramel-like Latin American sauce made by slowly cooking sweetened milk until golden.
Dark Chocolate
Chocolate with a high share of cocoa solids and little or no milk, with a deep, bittersweet taste.
Dirt Cake
A no-bake dessert of chocolate pudding layered with crushed chocolate cookies, often with gummy worms.
Divinity
A fluffy, white Southern candy of whipped egg whites, sugar and corn syrup, often with pecans.
Dutch Apple Pie
An apple pie with a crumbly streusel topping instead of a top crust.
Dobos Torte
A Hungarian cake of thin sponge layers filled with chocolate buttercream and topped with hard caramel.
Dacquoise
A French dessert of crisp nut meringue layers filled with buttercream or whipped cream.
Dundee Cake
A Scottish fruitcake with currants, sultanas and citrus peel, topped with rings of whole almonds.
Date Squares
Canadian bar cookies of cooked date filling between layers of oat crumble, also called matrimonial cake.
Digestive Biscuits
Semi-sweet British wheat biscuits, often chocolate-coated, eaten with tea or used for cheesecake bases.
Danish Butter Cookies
Crisp, rich butter cookies piped into rings and pretzels, famously sold in blue tins at Christmas.
Dalgona Candy
A Korean honeycomb toffee of melted sugar and baking soda pressed flat and stamped with a shape.
Daifuku
A soft Japanese mochi ball filled with sweet red bean paste, sometimes with a whole strawberry inside.
Dorayaki
Two small, fluffy Japanese pancakes sandwiched around a filling of sweet red bean paste.
Dango
Chewy Japanese rice flour dumplings skewered three or four to a stick and glazed with sweet soy sauce.
Dragée
A candy with a hard sugar shell, such as sugared almonds or the silver balls used to decorate cakes.
Dole Whip
A dairy-free pineapple soft-serve made famous at Disney parks, often served in a pineapple float.
Get the recipe →Doodh Pak
A creamy Gujarati rice pudding of milk slowly reduced with rice, sugar, cardamom and nuts.
Dutch Letters
S-shaped Dutch pastries of puff pastry filled with almond paste, popular in Pella, Iowa.
Breads & Snacks That Start With D
Breads, rolls, pickles and snack foods beginning with D.
Dinner Rolls
Soft, fluffy small yeast rolls served warm with butter alongside a family dinner.
Damper
A traditional Australian soda bread once baked in the coals of a campfire by stockmen.
Dutch Crunch Bread
Bread with a crackled, crunchy topping of rice flour paste, also called tiger bread, popular in San Francisco.
Dilkush
A sweet Indian bakery bread filled with coconut, tutti-frutti and nuts, also called dilpasand.
Dill Pickles
Cucumbers pickled in brine with fresh dill and garlic, eaten whole, sliced on burgers or as spears.
Doritos
Flavored tortilla chips sold since the 1960s, with Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch the best-known flavors.
Duros
Mexican wheel-shaped wheat snacks puffed in hot oil and sprinkled with lime juice and hot sauce.
Dried Mango
Sweet, chewy slices of dehydrated mango, a popular snack from the Philippines and Thailand.
Drinks That Start With D
Coffee, tea, sodas, beer and cocktails starting with D.
Dalgona Coffee
Whipped instant coffee, sugar and hot water spooned over milk, a viral drink from South Korea.
Get the recipe →Darjeeling Tea
A light, floral black tea grown in the Himalayan foothills of India, called the champagne of teas.
Decaf Coffee
Coffee made from beans with most of the caffeine removed, keeping the flavor without the jolt.
Doppio
A double shot of espresso, served in a small cup and the base of many larger coffee drinks.
Dirty Chai
A chai tea latte with a shot of espresso added, a popular coffee-shop order.
Dr Pepper
A soft drink created in Waco, Texas, in the 1880s, with a unique blend of fruity and spicy flavors.
Daiquiri
A classic Cuban cocktail of white rum, lime juice and sugar, also blended with frozen strawberries.
Get the recipe →Dark 'n' Stormy
A highball of dark rum and ginger beer with lime, linked to Bermuda and Gosling's rum.
Dirty Martini
A martini of gin or vodka with a splash of olive brine, garnished with olives.
Drambuie
A Scottish liqueur of Scotch whisky, heather honey, herbs and spices, used in the Rusty Nail.
Dubonnet
A French aromatized wine aperitif flavored with herbs and quinine, sipped over ice.
Dunkel
A dark German lager with a malty, bready, slightly sweet flavor, traditional in Bavaria.
Dubbel
A strong, dark brown Belgian abbey ale with flavors of caramel, raisins and spice.
Dandelion and Burdock
A traditional British soft drink flavored with dandelion and burdock roots, similar to root beer.
Doogh
A cold, savory Persian yogurt drink mixed with water or soda, salt and dried mint.
Dandelion Tea
An herbal tea brewed from dried dandelion leaves or roasted roots, earthy and slightly bitter.
Cheeses & Dairy That Start With D
Cheeses, creams, yogurt and eggs.
Danish Blue
A soft, creamy, sharp blue cheese from Denmark, created in the early 1900s as a Roquefort alternative.
Double Gloucester
A hard English cheese with a deep orange color and mellow, nutty flavor, famous for cheese rolling.
Derby
A mild, smooth English cow's milk cheese; the sage version, Sage Derby, is marbled green.
Dry Jack
An aged California Monterey Jack, hard and nutty like Parmesan, coated in cocoa and pepper.
Dorset Blue Vinney
A crumbly, mild blue cheese from Dorset, England, made with skimmed cow's milk.
Délice de Bourgogne
A rich French triple-cream cheese from Burgundy with a bloomy rind and buttery, tangy center.
Dahi
Indian homemade yogurt, set from milk with a little starter and eaten with meals or made into raita and lassi.
Double Cream
A very rich British cream with about 48 percent fat, whipped or poured over desserts.
Duck Eggs
Larger than chicken eggs with a bigger, richer yolk, prized for baking and Asian salted eggs.
Meat & Seafood That Start With D
Poultry, game, fish and shellfish that start with D.
Duck
Rich, dark poultry with a thick layer of fat under the skin, roasted whole or seared as duck breast.
Deer
Venison is lean, deep red meat with a rich, gamey flavor, used in steaks, sausages, chili and jerky.
Dove
A small game bird with dark, rich meat, often wrapped in bacon and grilled during hunting season.
Dover Sole
A prized European flatfish with firm, delicate white flesh, classically cooked meunière in butter.
Dungeness Crab
A large Pacific crab with sweet, tender meat, steamed or cracked and served with butter on the West Coast.
Dorado
Also called mahi-mahi or dolphinfish, a firm, mild fish great for grilling and fish tacos.
Dab
A small European flatfish with sweet, delicate flesh, usually pan-fried whole with butter.
Dentex
A large Mediterranean sea bream with firm, white, flavorful flesh, often baked whole with herbs.
Dogfish
A small shark sold in Britain as rock salmon or huss and fried in fish and chip shops.
Drumsticks
The lower leg of a chicken or turkey, with juicy dark meat that is great fried, baked or grilled.
Deli Meat
Sliced cooked or cured meats like turkey, ham, salami and roast beef sold for sandwiches.
Dried Shrimp
Small shrimp salted and sun-dried, adding a deep savory flavor to Asian and Cajun dishes.
Seasonings & Pantry That Start With D
Herbs, sauces, sweeteners and staples beginning with D.
Dill
A feathery herb with a fresh, grassy, anise-like flavor, essential in pickles and tzatziki.
Dijon Mustard
A smooth, sharp French mustard from Dijon, used in vinaigrettes, sauces and sandwiches.
Dashi
A light Japanese stock of kombu and bonito flakes, the base of miso soup and many sauces.
Demi-Glace
A rich, glossy French brown sauce reduced from stock, the base of many steak sauces.
Get the recipe →Demerara Sugar
A coarse, light brown raw cane sugar with crunchy crystals and a toffee flavor.
Date Syrup
A thick, dark syrup made from cooked dates, used like molasses in Middle Eastern cooking.
Doubanjiang
A spicy, salty Sichuan paste of fermented broad beans and chilies, key to mapo tofu.
Dukkah
An Egyptian blend of toasted nuts, seeds and spices, eaten with bread dipped in olive oil.
Duck Sauce
A sweet and sour orange sauce of apricots or plums served with Chinese-American egg rolls.
Dark Soy Sauce
A thicker, sweeter, darker Chinese soy sauce used to color and flavor braises and noodles.
Dendê Oil
Brazilian red palm oil, giving a bright color and distinctive flavor to Bahian moqueca and acarajé.
Dutch-Process Cocoa
Cocoa powder treated to reduce acidity, giving a darker color and smoother chocolate taste.
International Foods That Start With D
Global dishes that start with D, from India to Haiti.
Dal
A comforting South Asian dish of lentils or split peas simmered with turmeric and finished with spiced oil.
Dal Makhani
A rich Punjabi dish of black lentils and kidney beans slowly cooked with butter and cream.
Dosa
A thin, crisp South Indian crepe of fermented rice and lentil batter, served with sambar and chutney.
Dolmas
Grape leaves rolled around seasoned rice and sometimes meat, served across Greece, Turkey and the Middle East.
Döner Kebab
Seasoned meat roasted on a vertical spit, shaved thin and served in bread with salad and sauce.
Dürüm
A Turkish wrap of thin lavash or yufka bread rolled around grilled meat, salad and sauces.
Dim Sum
Cantonese small plates of dumplings, buns and rolls served in steamer baskets with tea.
Dahi Vada
Indian fried lentil fritters soaked in creamy yogurt and topped with chutneys and spices.
Dhokla
A soft, spongy steamed Gujarati cake of fermented chickpea flour batter, topped with mustard seeds.
Dum Aloo
A North Indian curry of baby potatoes slowly cooked in a spiced yogurt or tomato gravy.
Dopiaza
A Persian-influenced Indian curry made with a generous amount of onions, added at two stages.
Dhansak
A Parsi dish of meat cooked with lentils and vegetables, served with caramelized brown rice.
Dabeli
A spicy Gujarati street snack of potato filling in a soft bun with chutneys and peanuts.
Dhal Puri
A Trinidadian flatbread filled with ground split peas and wrapped around curry.
Doubles
A Trinidad street food of two fried flatbreads filled with curried chickpeas and pepper sauce.
Doro Wat
A spicy Ethiopian chicken stew of berbere and slow-cooked onions with hard-boiled eggs.
Draw Soup
A Nigerian soup thickened with okra or ogbono seeds, with a stretchy texture, eaten with fufu.
Dodo
Nigerian fried ripe plantain slices, sweet and caramelized, served with rice and stews.
Dovi
A Zimbabwean peanut butter stew of chicken or vegetables with onions, tomatoes and greens.
Dakgalbi
A spicy Korean stir-fry of chicken, cabbage, sweet potato and rice cakes in gochujang sauce.
Dakgangjeong
Korean crispy fried chicken pieces glazed in a sweet, sticky, spicy sauce.
Doenjang Jjigae
A hearty Korean stew of fermented soybean paste with tofu, zucchini and vegetables.
Dongpo Pork
A Hangzhou dish of thick pork belly squares braised slowly in soy sauce and rice wine.
Dinuguan
A rich Filipino stew of pork simmered in pig's blood with vinegar, garlic and chilies.
Daing
Filipino salted, sun-dried fish, fried until crisp and served with garlic rice and vinegar.
Diri ak Djon Djon
A Haitian rice dish cooked with dried black mushrooms that turn the rice dark gray.
Dampfnudel
A German steamed yeast dumpling with a caramelized bottom, served with vanilla sauce.
Dakos
A Cretan dish of a barley rusk topped with grated tomato, feta and olive oil.
Did You Know?
- Durian smells so strongly that it is banned on Singapore's subway trains, where signs show a crossed-out durian next to no-smoking symbols.
- Dragon fruit grows on climbing cactus plants, and their large white flowers open for just one night before wilting the next morning.
- Much of the brown mustard seed used to make Dijon mustard is grown in Canada, though the style was created in Dijon, Burgundy.
- The word deviled has been used for spicy or highly seasoned food since the 1700s, long before deviled eggs became a party staple.
Quick List: All 155 Foods That Start With D
Handy for alphabet games, quizzes and Scattergories. The full list, A to Z:
Dab, Dabai, Dabeli, Dacquoise, Dagwood Sandwich, Dahi, Dahi Vada, Daifuku, Daikon, Daing, Daiquiri, Dakgalbi, Dakgangjeong, Dakos, Dal, Dal Makhani, Dalgona Candy, Dalgona Coffee, Damper, Dampfnudel, Damson, Dan Dan Noodles, Dancy Tangerine, Dandelion and Burdock, Dandelion Greens, Dandelion Tea, Dango, Danish, Danish Blue, Danish Butter Cookies, Darjeeling Tea, Dark 'n' Stormy, Dark Chocolate, Dark Soy Sauce, Dasheen, Dashi, Date, Date Squares, Date Syrup, Date-Plum, Datil Pepper, Davidson's Plum, Daylily Buds, Decaf Coffee, Deep-Dish Pizza, Deep-Fried Turkey, Deer, Dekopon, Deli Meat, Deli Sandwich, Delicata Squash, Demerara Sugar, Demi-Glace, Dendê Oil, Dent Corn, Dentex, Denver Omelet, Derby, Desert Lime, Detroit-Style Pizza, Devil's Food Cake, Deviled Crab, Deviled Eggs, Deviled Ham, Dewberry, Dhal Puri, Dhansak, Dhokla, Digestive Biscuits, Dijon Mustard, Dilkush, Dill, Dill Pickle Soup, Dill Pickles, Dim Sum, Dinner Rolls, Dinosaur Kale, Dinuguan, Diri ak Djon Djon, Dirt Cake, Dirty Chai, Dirty Martini, Dirty Rice, Divinity, Dobos Torte, Dodo, Doenjang Jjigae, Dogfish, Dole Whip, Dolmas, Dongpo Pork, Donut, Doodh Pak, Doogh, Dopiaza, Doppio, Dorado, Dorayaki, Doritos, Doro Wat, Dorset Blue Vinney, Dosa, Doubanjiang, Double Cream, Double Gloucester, Doubles, Doum Palm Fruit, Dove, Dover Sole, Dovi, Dr Pepper, Dragon Carrot, Dragon Fruit, Dragon Tongue Beans, Dragée, Drambuie, Draw Soup, Dressing, Dried Mango, Dried Shrimp, Drop Biscuits, Drumstick, Drumsticks, Drunken Noodles, Dry Jack, Dubbel, Dublin Coddle, Dubonnet, Duck, Duck Confit, Duck Eggs, Duck Sauce, Duck à l'Orange, Dukkah, Duku, Dulce de Leche, Dulse, Dum Aloo, Dump Cake, Dumplings, Duncan Grapefruit, Dundee Cake, Dungeness Crab, Dunkel, Durian, Duros, Dutch Apple Pie, Dutch Baby, Dutch Crunch Bread, Dutch Letters, Dutch-Process Cocoa, Dynamite Roll, Délice de Bourgogne, Döner Kebab, Dürüm
Frequently Asked Questions
What fruit starts with D?
Dates, dragon fruit and durian are the best-known fruits that start with D. Others include damsons, dewberries, Dekopon (sold as Sumo citrus), Dancy tangerines, Duncan grapefruit, date-plums, duku, dabai, desert limes and Davidson's plums from Australia.
What vegetable starts with D?
Daikon, dandelion greens and delicata squash are the most common vegetables that start with D. Dasheen (taro), drumstick pods, daylily buds, dulse seaweed, dinosaur kale, dragon tongue beans and datil peppers also begin with D.
What's a dessert that starts with D?
Donuts are the most popular dessert that starts with D. Danish pastries, devil's food cake, dump cake, dulce de leche, dirt cake, divinity, Dutch apple pie, Dobos torte, dacquoise, Dundee cake, daifuku and dorayaki are other sweet choices.
What are some rare or unusual foods that start with D?
Unusual foods that start with D include durian, the pungent king of fruits; dabai, Borneo's buttery black olive; dulse, a red seaweed; dinuguan, a Filipino stew made with pork blood; draw soup from Nigeria; and diri ak djon djon, Haitian black mushroom rice.
What's a breakfast food that starts with D?
Donuts and Danish pastries are classic breakfast foods that start with D. A Denver omelet, a puffy Dutch baby pancake, dosa with chutney, dates, duck eggs, a dirty chai, decaf coffee or a cup of Darjeeling tea also make a D-themed breakfast.
More foods by letter:
You need to add another food that starts with D, Deer meat (roast, sausage, back strap).