Have you ever been so blank when someone asked you about foods starting with Y?? Let’s discuss some of the very common foods that start with Y. Also check out Fruits That Start With Y.

Yacon

Yacon is a large perennial plant that has been grown for thousands of years. It is mainly cultivated for its roots. Primarily it is grown in South America, Central and Northern Andes, Colombia, and Argentina.

Smallanthus sonchifolius, commonly known as Yacon, is a relative of sunflowers. It typically grows 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m) tall in the ideal climate. The edible part of the Yacon is its cluster of storage roots which are mostly more than a dozen. Yacon roots are mostly used as a fruit rather than a vegetable. You may call them tubers, but in actual they are tuberous or storage roots. It is elongated brown with a white flesh colour. 

Learn more about Yacon here.

Yali pear

This fruit is also called Chinese pear. Yali means duck pear in Chinese because ‘Ya’ means duck and ‘Li’ means pear. This pear has white to yellow-colored skin with a whitish and softer interior than other types of pear, and with black seeds in the center. They are used for medicinal purposes in China, and are also common in Korea and Japan. They are deliciously sweet with a little tarty flavor.

Yali can be eaten raw as well as it can be cooked. Yali pears are a good source of nutrition. They provide vitamin C, vitamin K, copper, fibers, antioxidants, potassium, and many other nutrients.

Yam

Although Yam is often interpreted as sweet potatoes, what if I told you they aren’t sweet potatoes? Well, Yam is actually an edible tuber vegetable that belongs to the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia.

Yam is famous for its bark-like exterior and distinct brown color. The flesh ranges from white to either yellow, purple, or pink, depending on the maturity of Yam. They can be boiled, roasted, steamed, and even fried. They are usually eaten as Yam fries, chips, or puree.

When peeled off it looks like white potato. This little tuber may have different colors other than white like purple, pink or yellow.

You can not eat yams raw. They are used in cooked form. You can also eat them simply by boiling or frying them. You can make purees with them or use them in soups and as a side dish with meats and vegetable curries or stews.

Yams are very beneficial for health. They contain a lot of nutrients. They give you a good sum of calories without any fats. Also, yams have a high content of fiber. They contain bone-friendly minerals like potassium and manganese. They also provide vitamin C, vitamin B5, and minerals i.e., copper, thiamine, and folate.

Yam is good for your brain functioning, inflammations reduction, digestion, and weight loss. They might also help you in maintaining blood sugar levels.

White Yam Stew

Yardlong Bean

These varieties of cowpeas, also known as asparagus beans or Chinese long beans, are famous for their eponymous length. They are actually usually around 18 inches long, and can be eaten cooked or raw. 

It is a tropical plant that is primarily grown in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Southern China. Therefore, it is most commonly found in those countries’ cuisines.

Yautia

Yautia is known by many other names including taro, malanga coco, big taro root, cocoyam, tania, eddo, tanier, and Japanese potato.

Malanga coco is a tuber just like yam that grows at the base of the plant and gets thicker, broader, and taller as well. It is a dense vegetable that belongs to the family of Xanthosoma Sagitiffolium. The experts have differentiated and classified the different names with different species of Xanthosoma. As there are supposed to be 50 to 60 species variety within this specific family.

Yautia spread across the world from the tropical rainforests of South America. People begin to cultivate it in different regions of the world as it got fame. It is now a staple food in so many cuisines.

Read more about Yautia (Malanga Coco) here.

Yeast

A common ingredient used to proof flour, Yeast is popularly used for breaking bread. It is a single-celled microorganism that is a type of fungus. It has several forms such as dry yeast, active yeast, and fresh yeast. While dry yeast is in a powder form and works by dissolving it in warm liquid, fresh yeast comes in a cake form.

Yeast is widely used in the baking and brewing industries as a natural leavening agent. Yeast makes the dough rise by reacting with sugars present in it, then it converts these sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide.

Brewer’s yeast is also rich in nutrition. It contains proteins, vitamin B, nucleotides, minerals, and many other nutrients beneficial for health. It is good for diarrhea and type- 2 diabetes. The nucleotides present in it are an excellent source of energy and booster for the body.

Yellow Yam

This yam is grown by a perennial vine plant that stretches up to 2 meters long. Yellow yams are similar to sweet potatoes; however, they are not an alternative to sweet potatoes. The main difference between the two tubers is that yams are large in size and have thicker skin, whereas sweet potatoes are relatively small in size and have a thin peel.

Yams belong to Africa and Asia as they originated from there. They later spread to the Caribbean areas through the slaves. “Yams,” the name comes from the African word “Nyami,” which refers to the act of eating.

There are up to 18 distinct yam varieties in Jamaica, and they all have a novel taste, flavor, and texture. Some yellow yams are dry and starchy, some are sweet and soft, and a few are waxy. Read more about Yellow Yam here.

Yellow Yam recipes:

Jamaican Yellow Yam Stew

Yellow Yam Fries

Creamy Yellow Yam Salad

Yellow Yam Pudding

Yellow Moong Daal

The name “Moong Daal” comes from the Hindi words “moong” meaning “lentil” and “daal” meaning “a dish”.

Moong daal is a lentil dish in Indian cuisine. The main ingredients are whole or split yellow mung beans and various spices, such as turmeric, cumin, and red pepper. It can be served with rice or roti or eaten with vegetables. The dish is quite popular in India.

Also known as lentils, Yellow Moong Daal is a regular day food of Indian cuisine. They are used as a form of curry or eaten with rice or chapati.

Yellow Beans

Although these are commonly known as wax beans, they aren’t really used for waxing purposes. These yellow wax beans are of a pale color with an almost translucent yellow flesh sticking tightly to the petit line of green beans that rest inside of the beans.

Yellow Eye Beans

Ever heard of it before? Well, most people are unaware of what yellow eye beans are, so you are not alone. Yellow eye beans are a relative of kidney beans that have an ivory color and small colored marks that surround the eye area of the inner seam of the bean. They are oval in shape and they taste a little sweet. They are a great source of calcium.

Yellow Cornmeal

Popularly used for cornbread, yellow cornmeal is an important ingredient of many Caribbean food recipes. Yellow cornmeal is a type of meal that is made from a variety of corn. It’s been around for centuries and it’s been proven to be helpful in controlling blood sugar levels, lowering cholesterol levels, and more.

Yellow Squash

Completely ready in the hotter, warmer climate, yellow squash is also known as summer squash because it ripes perfectly in summers. This is a gentle, subtle-tasting vegetable that works best when combined with more grounded flavors.

Prepare cooked pieces into a zesty plate of mixed greens, add it to stews and curries for mass, or run it through a spiralizer for sound low-carb noodles.

Recipes With Yellow Squash

• Yellow Squash Corn Saute
• Healthy Squash Casserole
• Vegan Succotash
• Oven Roasted Zucchini And Squash

Yogurt

Did you know that yogurt has regional names too? Also known as yogourt, yoghurt, or yoghourt, varying from region to region, yogurt is a food that is formed by the fermentation of milk through good bacteria. Yogurt is usually a dairy product made from milk, but I enjoy yogurt made from coconut or soy milk. It is very high in calcium and protein, and low in sugar.

Yogurt can be enjoyed as a snack or as part of breakfast with some muesli. It also pairs well with fruit such as peaches, plums, cherries, oranges, strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.

Yogurt is the most popular dairy product made by bacterial fermentation. It has been used for centuries. You can find yogurt in all corners of the world. It is a crucial part of the meals in most cultures of the world. It’s also the staple in my life. Whenever I eat it I get refreshed from head to toe.

It is also beneficial for your health, even the vegan versions. You can use it in many ways i.e add it in curries, make desserts and smoothies out of it or simply consume it by adding flavor in it. You can also drink it by diluting it with water or non-dairy milk.

Yogurt has a high content of proteins, calcium, and vitamins ( especially vitamin B12). It also contains other minerals like phosphorus, riboflavin, and sugars like lactose and galactose.

Yōkan

This is a Japanese sweet dish made with azuki red bean paste, agar, and sugar. It forms into a sort of firm jelly, with an earthily sweet flavor. Sometimes other ingredients are added, such as chestnuts.

Yorkshire Pudding

The Yorkshire pudding is a classic dish, often served as a side dish alongside other foods. It is called pudding because, like many traditional English dishes, it was originally baked in the oven below the meat or above the vegetables to allow the fat to drip down. It is similar to popovers or American biscuits.

The dish is said to have originated in England during the mid-19th century where it was made with leftover batter from roast beef. The dough used can be either yeast-leavened or unleavened, and there are both savory and sweet variations of this dish.

Yorkshire pudding is one of the most traditional and famous dishes in the United Kingdom. It is so famous dish in Britain that the National Day of Yorkshire Pudding is celebrated each year since 2007 in the United States.

Youngberry

As simple as it sounds, youngberry is basically a mixture of our favorite summertime fruits. It is a hybrid of the main kinds of berries i.e, blackberry, raspberry, and dewberry. Youngberry offers both; sweetness and tartness and mind you, it is really delicious.

Youngberries have a high antioxidant content that helps in keeping you young. While that may sound like what the name comes from, it is actually named after its founder, B.M Young.

Yuca

Also known as cassava, Yucca or Yuca is a staple food of South America and the Caribbean. More about Yuca.

It is a root vegetable that has starchy flesh. Yucca has a nutty flavor with a hint of sweetness. It can be cooked and served in many ways such as substituting it with a potato and baking it, frying it, or roasting it. You can also make Yuca Fries and serve them with a garlic sauce or chipotle mayo dip.

Yucca is an edible plant. It has a great variety and the edible parts of it depend on the variety i.e., roots, fruits, and seeds. Yucca is a plant grown in houses for decoration purposes.

Other Recipes With Yucca:

• Yuca With Garlic Sauce
• Jamaican Cassava Pone
• Cassava Dumplings

Yucca

Yucca is a succulent plant also called Adam’s needle, Mohave Yucca, Arbre de Josué Dagger Plant, Bear Grass, Joshua Tree, Aloe Yucca The extract is used in the manufacturing industry in carbonated drinks as a flavoring and foaming agent. Yucca is also used in making medicines, shampoos, soap, and cleaning agents. It has several health benefits.

Yucca reduces arthritis and diabetes. It acts as an immune booster and improves skin. The dietary fibers in yucca roots are helpful for good digestion. The vitamin C in it fastens the wound healing. It is also good for women during pregnancy as it contains vitamin folate which is converted into folic acid.

Conclusion: Foods That Start With Y?

Y is for yummy and what yummiest you can have other than foods beginning with Y. In daily life we do not consider foods with their beginning letter but a day I got a rare idea of counting foods beginning with the same letters but I could not find most of these then I did a little search on it and got them. I thought that many of you will be also like me (blank minded when asked to name foods beginning with the same letter) so here in this article I am going to share some of the yummiest foods that start with Y. Let’s begin:

Also, check out:

• Fruits That Start With Z
• Foods That Start With Z
• Vegan Pumpkin Recipes
• Best Cranberry Recipes
• Best Vegan Mac and Cheese Recipes
• Vegan Sweet Potato Recipes
• Best Pumpkin Soup Recipes
• Best Vegan Mashed Potatoes

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