Foods That Start With R: 52+ Foods & Recipes That Start With R! (2024)

Foods that start with R: A complete alphabetical list of delicious foods and ingredients that begin with the letter R! From fruits and vegetables to meat and desserts, this list has everything you could ask for if you are cooking through the alphabet or doing any other fun food challenge. You won't believe how many amazing foods begin with the letter 'R'!

Foods That Start With The Letter R

If you are taking part in a fun food challenge like 'cooking through the alphabet', then you are in the right place! I've compiled a thorough list of amazing recipes and ingredients that begin with the letter R.

You will see some well-known foods from here in the United States as well as international foods, fruits, vegetables, desserts, and so much more!

🥕 Fruits & Vegetables That Start With R

1. Radishes

An edible root vegetable from the Brassicaceae family (the same family as cabbage). Radishes can be eaten raw or cooked, though raw is the most common.

The flavor of a raw radish is peppery & spicy (about the same spice level as raw garlic). Cooked, they are entirely different. They are creamy and mild with nowhere near as much bite as they are raw.

2. Radicchio

A leaf vegetable with vibrant wine-red leaves with white veins. Raw radicchio is bitter and slightly spicy, but that flavor does mellow out when it is roasted or grilled.

It can be used in salads or to enhance warm dishes like pasta!

3. Raisins

Dried grapes which be eaten raw, cooked, baked, or brewed. The process of drying the grapes condenses both the sugars and the nutrients inside, so raisins are much more nutrient-dense and sweet-tasting than grapes.

4. Raspberry

An edible fruit of the genus Rubus (family Rosaceae). The flavor of raspberries is often described as both tart and sweet (much less tart than blackberries).

Raspberries are delicious when fresh but can also be enjoyed as jam, jelly, or baked in desserts.

5. Red Cabbage

Red cabbage closely resembles green cabbage other than the purple color of its leaves (it should have been called purple cabbage). It is often eaten raw in slaws or salads. However, it may also be stewed, sauteed, simmer, braised, you name it!

The purple/red color of the cooked leaves will bleed into other foods, so that is something to keep in mind when you choose what to pair it with.

6. Red Lentils

Red lentils are small reddish-orange edible legumes. They cook quickly, so they are a great choice for a last-minute dinner.

Compared to black or brown lentils, red lentils are more earthy and mild, maybe even slightly sweet. Because red lentils break down quickly and have such a soft and creamy texture, they are often used in curries.

7. Red Onions

Small to medium-sized onions that are dark purple with white and purple-tinted flesh. They are very pungent onions when raw and taste slightly spicy, crunchy, and a little bit sweet.

Once cooked, red onions become milder in flavor and a little sweeter.

8. Red Peppers

Red peppers typically refer to red bell peppers, though it is always best you clarify when following a recipe. There are countless kinds of peppers that happen to be red and they drastically range in heat level.

9. Red Potatoes

Generally, small round potatoes with red skin, though occasionally you may find larger red potatoes. The interior of the potato is white with a sweeter flavor than a brown potato.

Red potatoes can be cooked in any way you would cook brown potatoes! They are particularly great for scalloping, boiling, or pan-frying.

10. Rhubarb

The edible fleshy stalks of a herbaceous perennialthat goes by the same name. The stems range from green to ruby red and have a sour flavor that becomes tart when cooked with sugar.

Rhubarb is commonly used in jams, sauces, pies, and crumbles.

11. Rockmelon

Rockmelon is another name for canteloupe. It has a rough outer rind and sweet, juicy orange flesh.

The unripe fruit is very mild and lacks sweetness, but if you let it over-ripen it becomes mushy with a mealy texture.

12. Roma Tomatoes

Bright red egg-shaped tomatoes that are commonly used for making tomato paste and sauces. They are not great for slicing because they have thick flesh.

13. Romaine Lettuce

A variety of lettuce that grows in a tall stalk. The leaves are dark to light green and grow from a firm central rib.

The flavor of romaine lettuce is mild and sweet with a hydrated crunch. Its claim to fame is Caesar salads!

14. Ruby Red Grapefruit

A large round citrus fruit with orange skin and vibrant red inner flesh. Ruby red grapefruit is refreshing and sweet but also slightly bitter like all grapefruit.

Grapefruit is filled with vitamins C and A which help boost the immune system!

15. Rutabaga

Also called a Swedish turnip. Rutabagas are root vegetables that are nutrient-dense and can be cooked in many of the same ways as potatoes.

You can boil them, mash them, and slice them into fries. This delicious and nutritious vegetable is vastly underrated.

🍹 Drinks That Start With R

16. Rum Punch

A fruity rum co*cktail that can be served in a single glass, out of a punch bowl, or out of a pitcher. It's a great tropical drink for adults that is perfect for a day at the beach, sitting by the pool, or any kind of party!

🍞 Bread That Starts With R

17. Raisin Bread

A type of bread that has raisins and cinnamon swirls throughout. Some recipes will often include brown sugar, eggs, or butter,

18. Rolls

Small individual round or oblong loaves of bread. Rolls can be eaten whole or sliced in half and stuffed or buttered.

19. Rye Bread

A type of bread made with flour from rye grain. It has a slightly chewy texture and can be light or dark brown depending on the specific type of flour used.

20. Rusk

A twice-baked bread that is hard and dry like a biscuit. There are many international variations of rusk.

In the UK, the term 'rusk' is also used to describe a wheat-based food additive.

🍝 Pasta That Starts With R

21. Ravioli

A type of pasta that is filled with meat, cheese, vegetables, or a combination of the 3. Most commonly, ravioli come in a square shape but may also be round or semi-circles.

22. Rigatoni

A tube-shaped pasta that originated in Italy. The precise length and diameter vary.

Rigatoni pasta is one of the best choices for hearty meat sauces like ragu because the shape withstands cooking and holds sauces well.

23. Rotini

Short pasta with a corkscrew shape. It is similar to fusilli, but the twists in the corkscrew are tighter.

The shape is great for holding sauces, cheese, or meat. Rotini can be used in pasta bakes or served with any kind of sauce (cream-based sauce, tomato-based sauce, meat sauce, vinaigrette, oil-based sauce, you name it).

🧂 Herbs That Start With R

24. Rosemary

An evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves native to the Mediterranean. Its herbal fragrance is used in everything from perfume to candles.

Rosemary pairs particularly well with chicken and fish but is also a great addition to beef, turkey, and pork.

🍶 Sauces & Condiments That Start With R

25. Ragu

An Italian meat-based sauce traditionally served with pasta. Typically, it is made with ground beef, tomato puree, onions, and red wine.

26. Ranch Dressing

An American salad dressing made with herbs & spices, garlic, salt, onion, mayonnaise, and sometimes, buttermilk. Ranch dressing has been the most popular salad dressing in the United States since 1992.

27. Red Wine Vinegar

A kind of vinegar that is made by fermenting red wine. It has a distinct tangy and sweet flavor that is great in many dishes.

Red wine vinegar is often used in Mediterranean cuisine, pickling recipes, marinades, and vinaigrettes.

28. Red-Eye Gravy

A thin sauce that is common in the South. It has many other names including bird-eye gravy, poor man's gravy, bottom sop, red ham gravy, and cedar gravy.

Red-eye gravy is typically served with pan-fried country ham.

29. Relish

A cooked and pickled condiment made with chopped vegetables, herbs, or fruit. The most common is the pickled jam made from cucumbers that is served on American hot dogs.

30. Romesco

A tomato-based sauce that was originally made by fishermen in Catalonia to eat with fish. It usually is made with nuts, dried peppers, tomatoes, garlic, oil, and vinegar.

31. Roux

A roux is not technically a sauce or condiment but deserves a spot on this list. It is made by combining equal parts of flour and fat (oftentimes butter) over low to medium heat.

A roux is used to thicken soups and stews as well as give them a rich, toasted flavor.

🧀 Cheese That Starts With R

32. Ricotta

An Italian whey cheese that can be made from cow's milk, sheep's milk, or goat milk. The cheese is soft and moist with a tangy milky flavor and creamy texture.

33. Roquefort

A sheep milk blue cheese from Southern France. Similar types of blue cheese are available, but Roquefort has a protected designation of origin and must come from the Combalou caves ofRoquefort-sur-Soulzon.

Roquefort has no rind and a distinctly pungent aroma and tangy flavor.

🍚 Side Dishes That Start With R

34. Refried Beans

A staple side dish in Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine. Despite the term 'refried' the beans are usually boiled, mashed into a paste, and then fried or baked, so the name is misleading.

35. Rice

The seed of a semi-aquatic plant called Oryza sativa. Rice is a staple in recipes all over the world.

There are more than 40,000 varieties of rice that come in different lengths, textures, and colors.

36. Risotto

Risotto is a rice dish from Northern Italy. It is cooked slowly over medium-low heat, stirring and adding more broth as the rice absorbs the liquid to give it a creamy consistency.

Risotto can be vegetarian or paired with any kind of meat from fish to chicken to lamb.

🥬 Vegetarian Recipes That Start With R

37. Ratatouille

A rustic vegetable stew from South France. Individual recipes may vary but it commonly includes eggplant (aubergine), bell pepper, garlic, onion, zucchini, and tomato.

Many will thinly slice the vegetables and arrange them in an organized pattern, though ratatouille may also be made with chunks of vegetables tossed together.

32. Rice Paper

Rice paper may not be a recipe on its own, but it can be used to make many vegetarian recipes! It is not strictly limited to vegetarian cuisine, however.

It is made with a combination of tapioca flour, white rice flour, water, and salt. Rice paper can be used to wrap a number of foods, most commonly spring rolls.

🥩 Proteins & Main Courses That Start With R

33. Rabbit

Rabbit meat is lean and tender with a mild flavor. Like chicken, rabbit is incredibly versatile and can be seasoned to taste.

The flavor is similar to chicken, but a bit earthier and meatier tasting.

34. Rack of lamb

The 'hotel rack' or unsplit primal rib that includes ribs 6-12. Typically, it is served with the trimmed bones protruding.

This cut of lamb is immensely flavorful, tender, and juicy. Rack of lamb is a popular main course on holidays and other special occasions.

36. Ragout

A stew made with finely diced fish, meat, or vegetables. Ragout is typically prepared by slowly simmering the ingredients over low heat.

37. Rainbow Trout

A species of cold-water trout native to the Pacific Ocean. Raw rainbow trout has white, pink, or orange flesh that lightens when cooked.

The meat is tender and flaky with a delicate nutty flavor. Rainbow trout can be baked, seared, roasted, or grilled.

38. Ramen

A Japanese noodle soup made with wheat noodles and broth. Common broth flavors include miso, tonkatsu, and shoyu (soy sauce).

Toppings for ramen vary but often include nori (fish cakes), thinly sliced pork, scallions, and soft-boiled eggs.

39. Red Beans and Rice

A classic dish in Louisiana Creole cuisine. It is made with kidney beans, vegetables, spices, and generally a pork bone, that is cooked slowly and then served over white rice.

40. Redfish

Redfish, also called a red drum, is a saltwater fish native to the Atlantic Ocean. It has a medium-firm texture that is much less flaky than flounder and sometimes compared to crab or lobster meat. The meat is moist with a mild, sweet flavor.

41. Reuben Sandwich

A grilled sandwich from North America that consists of corned beef, Sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing on rye bread. It is common to see the Russian dressing substituted for Thousand Island dressing.

42. Ribs

A cut of meat that consists of the rib bones of pork, beef, venison, or lamb. A set of 5 or more ribs served together is called a rack of ribs. Ribs can be roasted, grilled, smoked, braised, or sous vide.

43. Roast

To roast is to cook food, particularly meat, for a prolonged period of time in the oven or over a fire. A roast can be any cut of meat that has been cooked in this fashion.

You can have a lamb roast, pork roast, beef roast, venison roast, and more.

44. Rocky Mountain Oysters

A dish made with bull testicl*s. Rocky mountain oysters may also be called calf fries, prairie oysters, or cowboy caviar.

Most commonly, the testicl*s are deep-fried and served with a dipping sauce.

45. Roe

Roe is an alternate name for unfertilized eggs from marine animals, most commonly fish. The eggs generally have a somewhat fishy flavor with salty undertones, but the flavor can vary depending on the type of animal the roe was harvested from.

46. Rotisserie Chicken

Chicken that is cooked on a rotisserie over indirect heat. Whole rotisserie chickens can be purchased at most grocery stores cooked and ready to eat.

🍰 Desserts That Start With R

47. Red Velvet Cake

A cake that is very popular in the Southern United States. Red velvet cake is red to reddish-brown in color and is traditionally paired with a cream cheese frosting.

Red velvet cake has a mild cocoa flavor. That is why cream cheese is such a perfect pairing because its tangy flavor complements the earthiness of the cocoa.

48. Rice Krispie Treats

A sweet treat made by combining Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal with marshmallows and butter. Though those 3 ingredients are all it takes to make the base recipe, a wide variety of mix-ins and coatings can be added.

You can stir in some chocolate chips, marshmallows, or candy. You could also drizzle or coat them with chocolate or peanut butter. The possibilities are endless!

49. Rice pudding

A dish made by combining rice with milk or water and oftentimes cinnamon, vanilla, and raisins. Rice pudding may be served as an entree but is most typically served as dessert.

When served for dessert, sugar, honey, or another sweetener is typically added.

50. Rocky Road Ice Cream

A classic ice cream flavor. The recipe varies some but traditionally consists of chocolate-flavored ice cream with nuts and marshmallows

51. Roulade

A roulade is not strictly a dessert. It is any dish that consists of rolled pastry or meat and can be sweet or savory in flavor.

A Swiss roll is a popular dessert that would be considered a roulade. The word 'roulade' simply means 'to roll'.

52. Rum Cake

A baked dessert that contains rum. In the Caribbean, rum cakes are typically served around the holidays.

Traditionally, dried fruits are soaked in rum for an extended period of time before being added to the dough.

Is this list missing any of your favorite foods that start with R? Let me know in the comment section down below!

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