✔ Updated · 107 foods, sorted by category
Foods that start with Y include yogurt, yams, yuzu, Yorkshire pudding, yakitori, yellowfin tuna, Yukon Gold potatoes and yerba mate.
Y is one of the rarer letters in English, so many Y foods come from Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Turkish and West African cooking. This list rounds up 107 real foods that begin with Y, with no filler, sorted by category. Each entry has a short description, and a quick A-to-Z list at the end is handy for alphabet games.
Foods that start with Y, from everyday favorites to rare finds. The most popular:
Fruits That Start With Y
Fragrant citrus, Asian berries and pears, golden-fleshed melons and a few heirloom apples.
Yuzu
A fragrant Japanese citrus fruit with a tart, floral flavor between lemon, grapefruit and mandarin, prized for its zest and juice.
Yangmei
Also called yumberry or Chinese bayberry, a round, bumpy red fruit with juicy, sweet-tart flesh.
Yali Pear
A crisp, juicy Chinese pear with pale yellow skin and a mild, sweet flavor, shaped more like a European pear than Asian types.
Youngberry
A cross of blackberry, raspberry and dewberry with large, dark purple berries that are juicy and sweet.
Yellow Passion Fruit
A larger, more tart passion fruit with glossy yellow skin, widely grown for juice in South America.
Yellow Dragon Fruit
A spiky yellow cactus fruit with white, seed-speckled flesh that is noticeably sweeter than the pink variety.
Yellow Watermelon
A watermelon with pale yellow flesh and a sweet, honeyed flavor, looking just like a red one on the outside.
Yellow Transparent Apple
An early summer heirloom apple with pale yellow skin and soft, tart flesh, best for applesauce.
York Imperial Apple
A lopsided red American apple from Pennsylvania, firm and tart, prized for pies and keeping well in storage.
Yellow Newtown Apple
An old American apple, also called Albemarle Pippin, with greenish-yellow skin and tangy flesh that sweetens in storage.
Vegetables That Start With Y
Starchy tropical roots, long beans, sunny squash and potatoes, and Asian greens. I love Yukon Gold potatoes for mashing.
Yams
Starchy tuberous roots with rough, bark-like skin, a staple in West Africa, boiled, fried or pounded into dough.
Yuca
Also called cassava, a starchy root with waxy brown skin, boiled, fried or mashed across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Yautia
A starchy Caribbean root also called malanga or tannia, with a nutty flavor, used in soups, fritters and stews.
Yacon
A South American root that tastes like a cross between apple and watermelon, crisp and sweet enough to eat raw.
Yam Bean
Another name for jicama, a round root with crunchy, juicy white flesh eaten raw in salads and with chili and lime.
Yamaimo
A Japanese mountain yam that turns slippery when grated, served raw over rice or used to lighten okonomiyaki batter.
Yukon Gold Potato
A thin-skinned potato with buttery yellow flesh, a favorite for mashing, roasting and potato salad.
Yellow Squash
A tender summer squash with bright yellow skin, sauteed, grilled or baked into casseroles.
Yellow Bell Pepper
A sweet, crunchy bell pepper picked when fully ripe and yellow, eaten raw or roasted.
Yellow Onion
The all-purpose cooking onion with golden skin and a sharp bite that turns sweet when caramelized.
Yellow Beet
A golden beet that tastes milder and less earthy than red beets and does not stain everything it touches.
Yellow Pear Tomato
A small, pear-shaped heirloom cherry tomato with bright yellow skin and a mild, sweet flavor.
Yellow Wax Beans
Pale yellow snap beans with a mild, buttery flavor, steamed or used in three-bean salad.
Yardlong Beans
Thin green beans that can grow up to a foot and a half long, cut into pieces for stir-fries and curries.
Yellow Eye Beans
White beans with a yellow-brown spot around the eye, a New England favorite for baked beans.
Yu Choy
A Chinese leafy green, also called choy sum, with tender stems and leaves, stir-fried with garlic or oyster sauce.
Young Corn
Also called baby corn, tiny ears of corn harvested before they mature, eaten whole in stir-fries and salads.
Yellowfoot Mushroom
A small wild winter chanterelle with a hollow yellow stem and a mild, earthy flavor.
Dishes & Meals That Start With Y
British and American comfort food classics. Yorkshire pudding is my favorite with a Sunday roast.
Yorkshire Pudding
A light, puffy baked batter of eggs, flour and milk, served with roast beef and gravy in Britain.
Yankee Pot Roast
A New England pot roast of beef braised slowly with carrots, potatoes and onions until fork-tender.
Yellow Rice
Rice cooked with saffron or turmeric for a golden color, served with chicken, beans or seafood.
Yellow Curry
A mild, creamy Thai curry with turmeric, coconut milk and potatoes, usually made with chicken.
Asian Dishes That Start With Y
Japanese grills and noodles, Korean favorites, Chinese classics and Thai salads. Yakitori is my go-to grill-night treat.
Yakitori
Japanese skewers of bite-size chicken grilled over charcoal and seasoned with salt or a sweet soy glaze.
Yakisoba
Japanese stir-fried wheat noodles with pork, cabbage and a tangy, Worcestershire-like sauce.
Get the recipe →Yaki Udon
Thick Japanese udon noodles stir-fried with vegetables, meat or seafood in a savory soy-based sauce.
Get the recipe →Yakiniku
Japanese barbecue of bite-size meat and vegetables grilled at the table and dipped in sauce.
Yakimeshi
Japanese-style fried rice with egg, scallions and soy sauce, often served at ramen shops.
Yaki Onigiri
Japanese rice balls grilled until crisp and brushed with soy sauce or miso.
Yosenabe
A Japanese hot pot of seafood, chicken, tofu and vegetables simmered together in a light dashi broth.
Yudofu
A simple Kyoto dish of tofu simmered in kombu broth and dipped in soy sauce with condiments.
Yukgaejang
A spicy Korean soup of shredded beef, scallions and vegetables in a fiery red broth.
Yangnyeom Chicken
Korean fried chicken coated in a sticky, sweet and spicy sauce of gochujang, garlic and honey.
Yu Xiang Eggplant
A Sichuan dish of tender eggplant in a sweet, sour and spicy sauce, often called fish-fragrant eggplant.
Yangzhou Fried Rice
A classic Chinese fried rice with shrimp, roast pork, egg and peas, also spelled Yang Chow.
Yong Tau Foo
A Hakka dish of tofu and vegetables stuffed with fish or pork paste, served in soup or with sauce.
Yee Mee
Malaysian and Cantonese crispy fried egg noodles, often served braised in a thick gravy with seafood.
Yum Woon Sen
A tangy Thai salad of glass noodles with shrimp, pork, herbs, chili and lime dressing.
Yam Nuea
A Thai grilled beef salad with cucumber, shallots, herbs and a spicy lime and fish sauce dressing.
International Dishes That Start With Y
Stews, rice and wraps from West Africa, the Middle East, Greece, Turkey, Ethiopia and beyond.
Yassa
A Senegalese dish of chicken or fish marinated in lemon and mustard, cooked with heaps of caramelized onions.
Yakhni Pulao
A fragrant South Asian rice dish cooked in a rich meat stock, called yakhni, with whole spices.
Yam Porridge
A Nigerian one-pot dish of yam chunks simmered in a peppery palm oil and tomato sauce.
Get the recipe →Yemista
Greek tomatoes and peppers stuffed with herbed rice, sometimes with ground meat, and baked until tender.
Yaprak Sarma
Turkish grape leaves rolled tightly around spiced rice, served cold with lemon or warm with meat.
Youvetsi
A Greek baked dish of lamb or beef with orzo pasta in a cinnamon-scented tomato sauce.
Yayla Soup
A Turkish soup of yogurt, rice and dried mint, served warm and slightly tangy.
Yiros
The Australian Greek name for gyros, shaved roast meat in pita with tomato, onion and tzatziki.
Yetakelt Wat
An Ethiopian mixed vegetable stew of potatoes, carrots, cabbage and green beans, scooped up with injera.
Yuca Frita
Latin American fried cassava sticks, crisp outside and fluffy inside, served with garlic sauce.
Desserts & Sweets That Start With Y
Japanese and Korean confections, Filipino candy and British bakery favorites.
Yokan
A firm Japanese jelly of sweet red bean paste, agar and sugar, sliced and served with green tea.
Yema
A Filipino custard candy of egg yolks and condensed milk, often shaped into small pyramids.
Yaksik
A Korean sweet rice dish with chestnuts, jujubes and pine nuts, flavored with honey and sesame oil.
Yakgwa
A Korean deep-fried honey cookie flavored with ginger and sesame oil, soaked in syrup.
Yule Log
A rolled chocolate sponge cake decorated to look like a log, a Christmas classic also called bûche de Noël.
Yellow Cake
A classic American butter cake made with whole eggs or extra yolks, often frosted with chocolate.
Yogurt Cake
A simple, moist French cake measured with the yogurt pot, a favorite first baking project for kids.
Yorkshire Parkin
A sticky gingerbread cake made with oatmeal and black treacle, traditionally eaten on Bonfire Night.
Yorkshire Curd Tart
A pastry tart filled with fresh curd cheese, currants and allspice, a specialty of northern England.
Yum Yum
A twisted, glazed doughnut from Scotland and England with a flaky, layered dough.
Yo-Yo Biscuits
Australian melt-in-the-mouth shortbread cookies made with custard powder and sandwiched together with butter icing.
Yogurt Parfait
Layers of yogurt, granola and fresh fruit in a glass, eaten for breakfast or dessert.
Snacks & Breads That Start With Y
Fried dough, flatbreads, rolls and a few crunchy snacks.
Youtiao
Long Chinese fried dough sticks, golden and airy, dipped into soy milk or congee at breakfast.
Yufka
Very thin Turkish unleavened flatbread, rolled out by hand and used for wraps, pastries and borek.
Yeast Rolls
Soft, fluffy dinner rolls made with yeast dough, brushed with butter and served warm.
Yorkshire Teacake
A sweet, light yeasted bun with dried fruit, split, toasted and spread with butter.
Yogurt-Covered Pretzels
Crunchy pretzels coated in a sweet, tangy yogurt-flavored coating, a popular snack mix treat.
Yuca Fries
Thick wedges of cassava fried until crisp, served with dipping sauces as a side.
Drinks That Start With Y
South American and Southern teas, Asian specialties and two golden liqueurs and cocktails.
Yerba Mate
A caffeinated South American tea made from the leaves of a holly plant, sipped from a gourd through a metal straw.
Yaupon Tea
A tea brewed from yaupon holly, the only naturally caffeinated plant native to North America.
Yuja Tea
A Korean tea of hot water stirred with a marmalade-like preserve of sliced yuja (yuzu) and honey.
Yuanyang
A Hong Kong drink that blends coffee with strong milk tea, served hot or iced.
Yakult
A small, sweet fermented milk drink from Japan made with a specific strain of lactic acid bacteria.
Yellow Chartreuse
A sweet, honeyed French herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks, milder than green Chartreuse.
Yellow Wine
Chinese huangjiu, a fermented rice wine such as Shaoxing wine, drunk warm or used in cooking.
Yakju
A refined, clear Korean rice wine with a smooth, slightly sweet flavor.
Yellow Bird
A tropical cocktail of rum, Galliano, orange liqueur and lime juice from the Caribbean.
Cheeses & Dairy That Start With Y
Yogurt and egg yolks, plus English, Danish and Himalayan specialties.
Yogurt
Milk fermented with live cultures until thick and tangy, eaten plain, with fruit or used in sauces and baking.
Yarg
A Cornish cheese wrapped in nettle or wild garlic leaves, with a fresh, lemony, creamy flavor.
Yorkshire Blue
A soft, creamy and mild blue cheese made in North Yorkshire from cow's milk.
Yak Cheese
Cheese made from yak milk in the Himalayas, including hard, dried chhurpi that is chewed slowly.
Ymer
A thick Danish soured milk product, eaten with sugar and crunchy rye bread crumbs.
Yolk
The golden center of an egg, used to enrich custards, sauces like hollandaise and mayonnaise, and pasta dough.
Meat & Seafood That Start With Y
Popular fish for sushi and grilling, a freshwater crayfish and a few meats.
Yellowfin Tuna
A large tuna with mild, firm, deep pink flesh, seared rare, grilled or served raw as sushi and poke.
Yellowtail
A rich, buttery fish, called hamachi in Japan, popular as sashimi, sushi and grilled collar.
Yellowtail Snapper
A Caribbean and Florida reef fish with a yellow stripe and delicate, sweet white flesh.
Yellow Perch
A small freshwater fish with mild, sweet flesh, the classic Great Lakes fish fry favorite.
Yellow Croaker
A fish highly prized in Chinese and Korean cooking, steamed whole, braised or salted and dried.
Yabby
A small Australian freshwater crayfish with sweet meat, boiled and eaten like a mini lobster.
Yak Meat
Lean, dark red meat from the domesticated yak, eaten in Tibet and Nepal and dried into jerky.
York Ham
A traditional English dry-cured ham with mild flavor and firm texture, often boiled and served sliced.
Pantry & Condiments That Start With Y
Baking and cooking staples, legumes and a few bold sauces.
Yeast
A living microorganism that makes bread rise and ferments beer and wine.
Yeast Extract
A dark, salty and savory spread made from spent yeast, the basis of Marmite and Vegemite.
Yellow Mustard
The bright yellow, mild American mustard colored with turmeric, essential on hot dogs.
Yellow Cornmeal
Ground dried yellow corn used for cornbread, polenta, grits and coating fried fish.
Yellow Split Peas
Dried peas split in half, cooked into thick soups, Indian dal and Caribbean dishes.
Yellow Moong Dal
Hulled and split mung beans that cook quickly into a soft, comforting Indian dal.
Yuzu Kosho
A Japanese paste of yuzu zest, green or red chilies and salt, adding citrusy heat to meat, fish and noodles.
Yum Yum Sauce
A creamy, mild pink sauce served at American Japanese steakhouses, made with mayo, ketchup and paprika.
Did You Know?
- True yams and sweet potatoes are unrelated plants; many "yams" sold in US supermarkets are actually orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.
- In 2008 the Royal Society of Chemistry declared that a proper Yorkshire pudding should be at least 4 inches (10 cm) tall.
- Yukon Gold potatoes were developed in Canada at the University of Guelph in Ontario and released to growers in 1980.
- Yerba mate is traditionally sipped from a hollowed gourd through a metal straw called a bombilla, which has a filter at the bottom to strain the leaves.
Quick List: All 107 Foods That Start With Y
Handy for alphabet games, quizzes and Scattergories. The full list, A to Z:
Yabby, Yacon, Yak Cheese, Yak Meat, Yakgwa, Yakhni Pulao, Yaki Onigiri, Yaki Udon, Yakimeshi, Yakiniku, Yakisoba, Yakitori, Yakju, Yaksik, Yakult, Yali Pear, Yam Bean, Yam Nuea, Yam Porridge, Yamaimo, Yams, Yangmei, Yangnyeom Chicken, Yangzhou Fried Rice, Yankee Pot Roast, Yaprak Sarma, Yardlong Beans, Yarg, Yassa, Yaupon Tea, Yautia, Yayla Soup, Yeast, Yeast Extract, Yeast Rolls, Yee Mee, Yellow Beet, Yellow Bell Pepper, Yellow Bird, Yellow Cake, Yellow Chartreuse, Yellow Cornmeal, Yellow Croaker, Yellow Curry, Yellow Dragon Fruit, Yellow Eye Beans, Yellow Moong Dal, Yellow Mustard, Yellow Newtown Apple, Yellow Onion, Yellow Passion Fruit, Yellow Pear Tomato, Yellow Perch, Yellow Rice, Yellow Split Peas, Yellow Squash, Yellow Transparent Apple, Yellow Watermelon, Yellow Wax Beans, Yellow Wine, Yellowfin Tuna, Yellowfoot Mushroom, Yellowtail, Yellowtail Snapper, Yema, Yemista, Yerba Mate, Yetakelt Wat, Yiros, Ymer, Yo-Yo Biscuits, Yogurt, Yogurt Cake, Yogurt Parfait, Yogurt-Covered Pretzels, Yokan, Yolk, Yong Tau Foo, York Ham, York Imperial Apple, Yorkshire Blue, Yorkshire Curd Tart, Yorkshire Parkin, Yorkshire Pudding, Yorkshire Teacake, Yosenabe, Young Corn, Youngberry, Youtiao, Youvetsi, Yu Choy, Yu Xiang Eggplant, Yuanyang, Yuca, Yuca Fries, Yuca Frita, Yudofu, Yufka, Yuja Tea, Yukgaejang, Yukon Gold Potato, Yule Log, Yum Woon Sen, Yum Yum, Yum Yum Sauce, Yuzu, Yuzu Kosho
Frequently Asked Questions
What fruit starts with Y?
Yuzu is the best-known fruit that starts with Y. Others include yangmei (yumberry), the Yali pear, youngberry, yellow passion fruit, yellow dragon fruit and yellow watermelon, plus heirloom apples like Yellow Transparent and York Imperial.
What vegetable starts with Y?
Yams are the most common vegetable that starts with Y. Others include yuca, yautia, yacon, yam bean (jicama), Yukon Gold potatoes, yellow squash, yellow bell peppers, yardlong beans and yu choy, a Chinese leafy green.
What is a popular food that starts with Y?
Popular foods that start with Y include yogurt, yams, Yorkshire pudding, yakitori, yakisoba, yellowfin tuna and Yukon Gold potatoes. Yellow rice, yellow curry and yeast rolls are also everyday favorites.
What dessert starts with Y?
Desserts that start with Y include yule log, yellow cake, yogurt cake, Yorkshire parkin and Yorkshire curd tart, plus international sweets like Japanese yokan, Filipino yema and Korean yaksik and yakgwa.
What drink starts with Y?
Yerba mate is the best-known drink that starts with Y. Others include yaupon tea, Korean yuja tea, Hong Kong yuanyang, Yakult, yellow Chartreuse, Chinese yellow wine, Korean yakju and the Yellow Bird cocktail.
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