22 Foods That Start With U: Can You Name Them? I Simple Green Moms (2024)

There are plenty of foods that start with U that we know you’ll love. Cooking with the letter U is much easier than cooking with foods that start with X. So enjoy this letter while you’re on it!

Interesting Foods that Start With U

We have gathered together 22 foods that start with U. Some you may have heard of while others you may not have. They are all worth a look though. Which foods that start with U will you try first? Let’s get started.

1. Ugli Fruit

The first of the food that start with U is the Ugli fruit. Ugli fruit is a Jamaican tangelo that is in the citrus fruit category. It is a clear hybrid of a tangerine and an orange with a grapefruit tang added in.

Ugli fruit is also often called a uniq fruit. Whether it is being called ugli or uniq, the name stems from the not so appealing appearance of the fruit. The bumpy, irregular surface makes it look unappetizing. However, one bite and the sweet citrus taste will change your mind!

Ugli fruit is best eaten fresh. The flavor of the sour fruit shines when eaten raw rather than being cooked.

2. Umbrella Fruit

The next fruit that starts with U is the umbrella fruit which is also often called ambrella. This small, green fruit is grown in tropical areas across the world. When the umbrella fruit starts to turn from green to yellow, it is ready to eat.

The flesh of the umbrella fruit is a bright yellow color and has a flavor similar to mango and pineapple. Umbrella fruit can be used for sauces, soups and stews. They can also be sweetened and made into preserves.

Umbrella fruit has been said to have many potential health benefits. They can possibly help overall vision health and might even be good for promoting a healthy heart.

Umbrella fruit is high in fiber and low in calories. It sure is a great food that starts with u!

3. Japanese Cuisine Udon Noodles

Udon noodle is a thick wheat flour noodle that is very common in Japanese cuisine. The noodles are best when served hot and paired with shredded vegetables and soy sauce.

Udon is also often used in various kinds of soup made with scallions, soy sauce, and kakejiru broth. You may find a few cold udon recipes as well since the slippery wheat flour noodles can be tasty when made into a salad-like dish.

If you are a Japanese cuisine lover, you definitely need to give udon noodles a try. Grab some dinner rolls and your soy sauce and start making a rich and flavorful dish right now!

4. Uthappam

The next food that starts with U is Uthappam. It’s a thin, crepe-like pancake that is made in South India.

The outside of the uthappam is crispy while the inside is light and spongy. It is often eaten as a breakfast and made with rice, lentils, herbs, and spices.

Uthappam is also fairly low in fat so it’s good for people looking to stick to a low-fat diet. Top the Indian breakfast dish with a little melted butter and enjoy!

5. Ugali

Ugali, or ugali pap, is a maize flour porridge that is found on tables around Africa. Ugali is usually served as a side dish and has been called the African version of polenta.

Ugali is made by mixing water, maize flour, and salt. Cook it over the stovetop to form a thick porridge.

The mix is scooped or rolled into balls and served. The basic flavor profile goes well with many foods which is why the dish is so common in this region of the world.

6. Utah Scones

This deep-fried, puffy sweet bread may look more like a donut than a scone. However, when in Utah, these sweet fried treats are topped with powdered sugar and called a scone!

The main flavor you will find in most Utah scones is honey, buttermilk, and butter. The scones can be stuffed with fruity fillings as well. Try mixing in fresh berries to enhance the sweet flavor.

Utah scones are certainly sweet enough to be eaten as a dessert but they are most often fried up at breakfast time. The vanilla like flavor of Utah scones will satisfy any sweet tooth when enjoyed as a breakfast food or as a dessert.

7. Upma

Upma is a dish made in Southern India and Sri Lanka. It is a thin porridge that is made using semolina or rice flour.

breakfast, it is often paired with fruits. In addition, it can also be made savory and served with vegetables like onions and ginger.

Add some brown sugar or even pineapple rings to enhance the sweet taste of the rice flour porridge. Mix in a little garlic sauce, wild forest mushrooms or chopped meat to turn it into a savory dish, perfect for dinner. You are sure to love the creamy texture of the thick porridge boiled with tasty additions.

8. Ube

Ube is a bright purple yam that imparts its amazing purple color on anything it is made with. You can use ube to make purple muffins, purple dinner rolls, delicious cake, or even purple ice cream!

Of course, you can enjoy ube on its own as well. At its core, ube is a starchy vegetable with many potential health benefits. It tastes similar to a sweet potato and can be cooked like any other potato or yam.

Ube are fairly rare and can be hard to find. They are growing in popularity thanks to their incredible color but you will definitely have to search for them within the US.

Try planting and growing your own ube. An endless supply of purple potatoes sounds like a fantastic idea!

9. Ugni Fruit

Ugni fruit is popular in New Zealand. It’s also referred to as Chilean guava, strawberry myrtle, or a tazziberry. The small red berries grow on shrubs and look like a cranberry-sized pomegranate.

The berries are sweet and taste almost like cotton candy. The texture is similar to a ripe pear and they work well when used in desserts but are typically eaten raw.

Ugni fruit is often used to make artificial strawberry flavoring. It has a similar taste and color that works well for commercial applications when a strawberry taste is needed. Ugni berries are also less perishable than real strawberries so they are easier to use in mass settings.

Ugni may have some great health benefits as well. They are packed with antioxidants and may help improve overall health. It sure is a powerful, tasty little berry!

10. Upside Down Cake

Next on the list of U foods is a classic cake made popular in North America and Britain. It’s called upside-down cake.

Upside down cake is made by layering fruits in the bottom of the cake pan and then pouring the cake batter over the fruit. Once baked, the upside down cake is flipped over so that the caramelized fruit is on top. See how it got it’s name? The cake is literally upside down!

Pineapples, bananas, and berries are often the fruit choices for this tasty cake. Choose fruits that bake well and get creative with your pineapple upside down cake. It is definitely a dessert that many people will love.

11. Urchin

Sea urchin is the next food that starts with u and what an interesting food it is! There are more than 900 kinds of sea urchins in our oceans today but only a few of them make the cut as delicious, edible foods.

Sea urchins are difficult to harvest and only a small portion of the meat inside is edible. When cooked, the urchin is thick, creamy, and buttery. Sea urchin can be eaten plain, mixed into a sauce, or spread on bread like a rich butter.

Urchin can be found in many Japanese dishes. The slightly nutty, salty flavor is considered a delicacy.

Urchin is also called uni which means urchins are double u foods!

12. Ume

Ume is part of the plum and prune family. It is firm, green, and very common in Asian cuisines. In fact, it is also known as Japanese plum, Chinese plum, or plum blossom.

Ume is most often used to make wine or other fermented beverages. Ume is not very good when consumed raw as it is tart and very bitter.

Ume wine, however, is sweet and very fragrant. turning that little fruit into a sweet wine is the best way to make it into a delicious food!

So add ume wine to our list of foods that start with u as well!

13. Umeboshi

Umeboshi is a pickled version of the ume fruit. Umeboshi is common in Japanese cuisine where it is served as a condiment or side dish.

The brined ume becomes very salty and sour when made into umeboshi. It is a perfect condiment to use to enhance the flavors in savory dishes.

Umeboshi adds an umami flavor to foods. Spread it across your favorite umami burger or mix it in with some minced meat to create a whole new dish.

14. Urfa Biber

Urfa biber is a dark, burgundy-colored pepper that’s used often in Turkish cuisine. The Turkish chili pepper is dried and then ground into urfa pepper flakes to use as a seasoning.

Urfa biber has a salty-sweet and smoky taste that is very powerful in any dish that is made with the pepper. The letter u name stems from the Urfa area where the pepper is grown.

You may not be able to find urfa pepper flakes in your local grocery store but you can probably order them online. You want to be able to make a savory, decadent dish with some great spice!

Urfa pepper flakes is a perfect ingredient to have on hand to make your cooking truly incredible.

15. Urda Cheese

Urda cheese is originally from Romania but is now popular in Siberia and Hungary. It is a very soft, whey-based cheese that is similar in texture to ricotta.

The sweet and salty cheese is made from sheep, goat, or cow’s milk and often molded into the shape of a half-sphere.

Urda cheese is often eaten fresh but it can also be used in cooking and baking. Small dumplings filled with urda taste incredible and are very similar to ravioli. Baked cheese is also a great option.

The sweet, salty cow’s milk cheese is delicious with so many foods! Don’t you just love the diversity of foods that start with u?

16. Urad Dal

Split black lentils are also known as urad dal. This little bean-like ingredient is popular in Indian cuisine. It is often used to make a spicy curry dish made with lentils, ginger, garlic, and garam masala seasoning.

A soup made with urad dal is very similar to a hot lentil soup. You may also hear urad dal being called mung bean when prepared in Indian foods.

17. Minced Meat Umble Pie

Next on our list is umble pie which is not only a very traditional dish but also a well-known expression. You may also see it called humble pie and both names are correct!

Umble pie is an age-old dish that originated in France. It is one of the very first medieval meat pies that is still eaten today.

Humble pie is a savory pie dish made using the extra parts of an animal like the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

Umble pie is cheap to make since it uses the less desirable parts of the animal. The minced meat is mixed with other vegetables and seasonings to enhance the savory flavor. It is definitely and interesting food beginning with U and one with a long history.

18. Ulava Charu

The next u food on the list is Ulava Charu which is a thick horse gram lentil soup. This dish originated in South India and is typically served with fresh cream, butter, or rice.

Mustard seeds, cumin, and fenugreek are commonly used to season the stew. Peas, carrots, and green chilies are sometimes added vegetables as well.

19. U-No Bars

The Annabelle Candy Company was the creator of the U-No bars. These delicious chocolate bars were like a truffle. A thin layer of chocolate was wrapped around a fluffy chocolate center to create a u no bar.

U-No bars also came in mint and almond flavors but both have since been discontinued. You can still find the iconic silver-wrapped U-No chocolate bars in select stores today!

Have you ever had a U no bar? Of all the foods that start with U, the u no bar may just be our favorite! how can you resist anything made with chocolate?!

20. Urgelia Cheese

Next up on the list of foods that start with U is a soft, creamy, and aromatic cheese. Urgelia cheese is made in northern Spain. The rind of the cheese is infused with a yeast brine before the cheese is cured.

The cow’s milk cheese is only cured for a short period of time. The short aging process gives the cheese a more mild taste. This makes it pair well with many different kinds of foods.

Urgelia is slightly salty and perfect for melting, grilling, or using as a cheese spread. Spread it across some cracker or serve it with other dinner rolls as part of a gourmet meal.

This interesting, rare cheese is sure to be a hit at your next party! Try serving all foods that start with u to make your party have a fun theme. We bet everyone will really get into it!

21. Ubatzda

Ubatzda is one of the last of the foods that start with U on our list. However, you may also find it spelled Obatzda but both the U food and the O food are the same!

Ubatzda is a Bavarian cheese and beer dip. It is typically made with cream cheese, brie cheese, camembert cheese, and a dark German beer. It has a rich, creamy, salty taste but also can have a little bit of a sour taste that we love.

The dip is served warm and paired with pretzels, crackers, rolls, or small toasts.

22. Unsweetened Chocolate

Most chocolate that you buy in the store has sugar added to it. Unsweetened chocolate is purely cocoa solids and cocoa butter. There is no sugar added which makes the chocolate taste much more bitter.

Unsweetened chocolate is used primarily in baking where sugar is added as a separate ingredient in the recipe.

23. Unagi

Unagi is the Japanese word for freshwater eel. It is a common ingredient in Japanese cooking and not to be confused with saltwater eel which is known as anago.

Unagi is typically served pan fried or baked. It can be used to make fresh sushi as well.

Freshwater eel has a salty, buttery taste. Cook some unagi and serve it over steamed white rice and enjoy a simple dish that is considered healthy eating. The lean meat and brown rice are a perfect match!

24. Uszka

Uszka are small dumplings that are popular in Polish cuisine. The word translates to mean “little ears” which is exactly with the dumplings look like.

Small dumplings filled with mushrooms are often served around Christmas time. They are considered a special treat since they do take quite a while to make.

If you are still trying to find the best foods that start with u, then you should definitely give uszka a try. The savory, starchy food is one that we love!

25 . Umbricelli Pasta

Umbricelli pasta is a thick type of pasta popular in Italy. It is long like spaghetti noodles but much thicker and heartier.

The long wheat flour noodles are rolled inward on the edges. This helps the pasta hold sauce better and makes it heartier. A big bowl of umbricelli pasta will definitely fill you up!

Amazing Foods that Start with U

Can you believe how many amazing foods that start with the letter U there are in the world?! From vegetable dishes to sweet treats and everything in between, you now have plenty of letter U foods to try.

Let us know what your favorite foods that start with U are and if you know of any other interesting U foods. We’d love to hear from you! Now, go finish cooking through the alphabet with one or more of these U foods!

If you really are working to cook your way through the alphabet, we also have an article on foods that start with an X. Be sure to check out our foods that start with X as it can be a tricky letter to find.