What Are the Foods That Begin With V?
Do you sometimes ponder the amount of delicious food that starts with the letter “V”? From vibrant vegetables all the way to decadent desserts, the rather less-cropped letter has far more culinary surprises than one may expect. Now let’s have a tasty stroll through the “V” aisle.
Whether you are engaged in a food alphabet challenge, are enlarging your food vocabulary, or are just plain curious, the adventure would always have a taste if foods that start with V were involved. Some fall under ordinary, while a few stand out as exotic and peculiar.
This list encompasses snacks, fruits, vegetables, meals, and drinks irrespective of distance. You may have heard about a few of them, but chances are you’d get to learn about a handful of novel bites to try out.
Vegetables Starting With V
1. Vanilla Beans
Vanilla beans, very much contrary to common belief, aren’t spices; they are actually seed pods of an orchid. Mostly, they are to add flavor to desserts such as cakes, ice creams, puddings, etc.
Originated in: Central America.
Fun fact: Vanilla, as a word, is derived from the Spanish vaina, meaning pod.
2. Vine Leaves (Grape Leaves)
Used primarily in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, vine leaves are most often wrapped in rice, herbs, and meat for dishes called dolmas or dolmades.
Dishes: Greek dolmades, Turkish sarma
Flavor: Tangy, earthy, and slightly bitter
Dairy, Meats, and Mains
3. Veal
Meat from very young calves is tender and delicate in flavor, making it a classic ingredient in veal parmesan and veal Marsala.
Present in: French, Italian, and German cuisines
Nutritional note: Leaner than beef, controversial ethically
4. Venison
With a rich flavor and less fat than beef, venison is the meat from deer. It is usually roasted, grilled, or jerked.
A great source of Protein, iron, and vitamin B12
Cuisine: Gamey, especially in Europe and North America
5. Vienna Sausages
Vienna sausages are small, canned sausages that are pre-cooked and thin-skinned. The filling can range from pork to beef to chicken, which are then seasoned and smoked. Craving more meaty classics? Try this flavorful pastrami on rye recipe for a deli-style sandwich at home.
Serving ideas: Pastry-wrapped, in casseroles, or eaten straight from the can.
Long shelf life due to canning!
Sweet Treats and Desserts
6. Vanilla Ice Cream
The only flavor of ice cream that would be loved universally would be great vanilla ice cream. This is truly a classic in itself, a basis for toppings galore, and sundae favorites.
Perfect pairings: Hot desserts, fruit, or chocolate sauce
Interesting Fact: To qualify as “vanilla ice cream,” the flavor must come from being combined with real vanilla beans or extract; nothing else!
7. Vanilla Cake
Vanilla cake is soft and spongy, and, with no prior layout, it is the favorite base for numerous birthday and wedding cakes.
Best served with: Buttercream, chocolate ganache, fresh berries
Insider secret: Real vanilla extract enhances the flavor immensely.
8. Vanillekipferl
Crescent-shaped vanilla cookies are famous Austrian and German Christmas delicacies; made with either ground almonds or hazelnuts and dusted with powdered sugar, they simply melt in the mouth. If you’re into tangy and fermented flavors, these healthy sauerkraut salad recipes are a perfect complement to a hearty European meal.
Tradition: These eggs are served during Christmas in Central Europe.
Texture: Buttery and crumbly
Classic Drinks Beginning with the Letter 'V'
9. Vodka
So much for those who partake in the act as they take their glass of white Chablis. The babes who prefer to sip their spirits and enjoy the ride are favored by those who prefer to work freely.
Typical alcohol percentage: 40%
10. Vermouth
A flavored botanicals fortified wine, vermouth holds an important space in classic cocktails such as the Martini and Negroni.
There are two types of vermouth: sweet red and dry-white.
Made mainly in Italy and France.
Served best when: Chilled, either in cocktails or neat
11. Vitamin Water
Through plenty of advertising, Vitamin Water has been positioned as a flavored drink with various vitamins and minerals infused into it, marketed as a health-conscious substitute for sugary soda.
Flavors: Lemon, berry, orange, and more
Tip: Read the label first; some brands even add sugar!
Fruit and Natural Food Items
12. Velvet Apple (Diospyros blancoi)
Also known as Mabolo, velvet apple shows reddish, fuzzy skin with sweet, custard-like flesh. It is endemic to the Philippines and some parts of Southeast Asia.
Taste: Like a cross between an apple and a banana
Note: The aroma can be very strong and musky.
13. Vanilla Fruit
In technical terms, the pod of the vanilla orchid is a fruit, but these pods are usually dried and processed into vanilla beans for flavoring.
Used primarily as: An extract or paste.
Grown in: Madagascar, Indonesia, and Mexico.
14. Voavanga (Spanish Tamarind)
This fruit found in Africa, also called the Spanish tamarind, has a rounded green exterior while possessing sweet-sour pulp on the inside. It is relished raw or used in local dishes and drinks.
Originates: Madagascar.
Texture: Soft and juicy.
Other Unique Foods Beginning with V
15. Vol-au-vent
French translation for a light and airy puff pastry case filled with savory mixtures like chicken, mushrooms, or seafood. Mostly have all the qualities of appetizer-or-light-meal.
Name meaning: “Windblown,” from its lightness.
Tip: Best served warm with creamy fillings.
16. Vindaloo
This spicy Indian curry, native to Goa, descends from the Portuguese carne de vinha d’alhos; it is made typically with pork, vinegar, and obscene amounts of chili.
Substituted with: Lamb, chicken, and even vegetarian options.
Fun Fact:
Fun foodie project: Ever wondered how to make fish food at home? It’s a cool DIY for aquarists who also love experimenting in the kitchen.
Final Remarks
Foods whose names start with the letter “V” might not be extremely common, but they sure are diverse and interesting. It is an entire world of foods that one can discover, from savory-to-the-palate venison to sweet-to-the-taste vanillekipferl.
Some lesser-known ingredients can be really useful when impressing your friends on trivia night or giving a little kick to dinner plans. Why not try an interesting vol-au-vent as an appetizer or enjoy a cold glass of vermouth with good company?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the ingredients that start with V?
V-ingredients held in high scruple are listed here:
- Vanilla: For use in baking, in desserts, and as flavoring.
- Vinegar-acidic: Commonly used for cooking and pickling.
- Vegetable oil: A cooking staple; oil used in frying and baking.
- Vidalia onions: Sweet onions are mainly used in salads and cooked preparations.
- Venison: Lean, gamey meat of deer.
- Vine leaves: For Mediterranean dishes like dolmas.
- Velvet beans: A tropical-grown legume for use in herbal medicine and traditional medicine.
What Japanese food starts with V?
Japanese food is somewhat V-poor due to one’s language. English comes to the rescue with a handful of dubious items:
- vegetable tempura
- vegetable sushi
- sushi vinegar rice.
What Indian foods start with V?
Some Indian foods starting with “V”:
- Vada
- Vindaloo
- Vegetable Biryani
What are some most popular V-letter dishes in the UK?
Just as in India, another popular “V” letter dish in the UK is most probably Vegetable Curry: it is delicious and widely favored, either served with rice or naan bread. This dish holds an important place in British Indian cuisine and truly satisfies the palate of both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.