Discover 58 Foods That Start With T

It’s fun going down the rabbit hole of foods that start with T, especially if you’re planning a themed event. There are several different types of foods that start with the letter T, ranging from those that stand alone, like fruits or vegetables, to exotic dishes with complex flavors. Don’t worry, we didn’t forget sweets! Discover 58 foods that start with T!

1. Fruits

Tomato

Often mistaken for a vegetable, tomatoes are actually a fruit that you can use in a range of dishes. Eat them raw with a dash of salt or incorporate them into sauces, salsas, salads, and more!

Tangerine

Tangerines look like small oranges, often with a darker orange hue. They’re a bit tangy but mostly sweet and can be eaten alone or incorporated into salads or desserts.

Tomatillo

This fruit is green and protected within a green husk. It’s a staple in Mexican homes and used to prepare tangy salsas.

Tart Cherry

As the name suggests, you can expect a bit of tartness with tart cherries. Unlike some of their sweet counterparts, these boast a different flavor profile and are often enjoyed in various desserts.

Tommy Atkins Mango

If you’re looking for the biggest and sweetest mango variety, it’s the Tommy Atkins mango. Enjoy it alone or get creative and incorporate it into salads, smoothies, and unique dishes.

Tangelo

This fruit is a hybrid, combining the best of grapefruits and tangerines. Their flavors shine in delectable desserts, like tangelo muffins and lemon tarts.

2. Veggies

Turnip

With a mildly peppery taste, turnip can be the main dish in a simple roasted recipe or it can be a side dish enjoyed alongside other flavors. This root vegetable is lower in carbs than some other options, like potatoes, and can help those on certain diets enjoy a hearty meal without the extra carbs.

Taro

A popular veggie enjoyed in Asian and African dishes, taro is a bit nutty with a subtly sweet flavor. It’s often incorporated into milk teas but can be cooked into meals, like taro fritters.

Tiger Nut

With a deceiving name, you may think they’re actually nuts. But they’re not, they’re a type of veggie that grows in the ground! Often, they’re used for making milk but they can also be made into flour or snacked on after roasting.

Turban Squash

A delicious winter squash, turban squash can be enjoyed in soups, baked, or roasted. It has a mild flavor you can accentuate with some herbs and spices, which brings us to our next category!

3. Herbs and Spices

Tabasco Pepper

If you love the spicy, vinegary flavor of the well-known sauce, you should know they come from peppers with the same name! You can make your own sauce at home or incorporate the peppers into a delicious salsa.

Turmeric

This yellow spice doesn’t just add a little kick to your food, but it also tints it a bit yellow. The flavor is a little bitter and a little spicy and you can enjoy it in curry, soup, and beverages (a favorite being golden milk!).

Thyme

This earthy herb adds depth to your food, letting its fragrance swirl just above it. A little goes a long way, whether you’re using the dried spice or the fresh leaves.

Tarragon

This herb has an ever-so-subtle flavor reminiscent of licorice. It’s sweet and can be incorporated into your food in various ways, from pesto to scrambled eggs.

4. Flavor Enhancers

Tahini

A staple in Middle Eastern homes, tahini is made from sesame seeds. Its earthy, slightly bitter flavor perfectly complements a range of meals, including hummus and baba ghanoush.

Tabbouleh

This delicious mix of flavors incorporates tomatoes and cucumbers along with mint and parsley to create a one-of-a-kind salad. Additional ingredients include lemon, garlic, olive oil, and bulgur, among others.

Tabasco Sauce

The finished product made from tabasco peppers, this tangy hot sauce adds just the right spice and zest to your favorite foods, including soup, pizza, eggs, and quesadillas!

Tapenade

Made from a mix of olive oil, olives, and capers, tapenade is the ideal spread for deviled eggs if you want to get fancy. But it also works wonderfully on pieces of crusty bread.

Teriyaki

A Japanese sauce, teriyaki works well in a range of dishes that incorporate meats and meat substitutes like tofu. It also adds a distinctively sweet and sharp flavor to rice, elevating an otherwise plain flavor experience to one with hints of sugar and soy sauce.

Tajin

A sprinkle of tajin on fruits and vegetables takes you on a rollercoaster of flavors that include acidity and spice. It’s an incredibly versatile spice that melds well with meats as well as dips like guacamole.

5. Meat Substitutes

Tofu

This protein-packed meat substitute is made from soy and is often enjoyed in both vegetarian and vegan meals. It has a rather mild flavor that you can spruce with the seasonings and sauces of your choice.

Tofurky

A creative alternative to turkey, tofurky is a meat substitute made out of soy protein that you can enjoy as slices on a sandwich or even as a substitute for holiday meals in a thicker, richer presentation.

Tempeh

This meat substitute is packed with protein, made from soybeans and fermented. It has a distinctive nutty taste profile but you can dress it up in a range of dishes, which makes it versatile and helpful for those who prefer plant-based proteins.

6. Meats

Turkey

Popular in sandwiches and as the main dish during the holidays, turkey is a poultry meat you can prepare in various ways. If you’re looking for a low-fat meat, this is a great choice, especially if you’re substituting for another tasty option like ground beef.

Tri-Tip

This is a triangular beef cut, taken from the bottom section of sirloin, and offers a lower fat option that doesn’t skimp on meaty flavor. It’s boneless, which makes it easy to serve in anything from a salad to a sandwich.

Tandoori Chicken

This Indian-based chicken is cooked using a tandoor oven and has a delightful flavor full of spice. The high-heat oven in which it is cooked ensures a subtle smokiness and the flavor experience is accentuated by its complex aroma.

Tenderloin

As the name suggests, this cut of meat is the most tender of the animal, taken from the hindquarters. You can enjoy tenderloin from pork or beef and when it’s cooked just right, the tenderness is buttery, with a melt-in-your-mouth finish.

7. Carbs

Tapioca

You may have already indulged in the pudding, but tapioca also works well in bubble tea and even as flour! The flavor profile of tapioca is mild and starchy, which is what makes it versatile enough to absorb other, more potent flavors.

Tortilla

Use them for tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more! Tortillas are made from flour or corn and perfectly envelope different combinations, be they beans and cheese or meats and vegetables. They can be cut up and fried to make chips, which are perfect for dips like salsa and guacamole.

Toast

It’s simple bread toasted to perfection, allowing you to spread a bit of butter on it or turn it into something different altogether, like French toast or a bread pudding.

Tortellini

This pasta has a distinctive shape and has a filling, usually a cheesy one or a meaty one. Along with a garlic butter sauce or a savory ragu, this dish isn’t just mouthwatering, it’s going to satisfy your hunger, no matter how ravenous it is.

Tater Tot

A tiny, tube-shaped, fried potato? That’s a tater tot! These aren’t just for toddlers to munch on. You can serve them as an appetizer, side dish, or turn them into a whole casserole.

Tostada

These are served with several toppings, including refried beans, sauces, protein, cheese, and veggies. They’re crispy tortillas you can turn into hand-held, crunchy meals. Plus, you can enjoy salsa and avocado on top!

Twinkie

To satisfy the ultimate sweet tooth, there is the ever-enduring Twinkie, which is an American snack cake. It’s yellow and spongey on the outside and has a rich, creamy filling on the inside.

Taco

Use meat, a meat substitute, or a range of vegetables to create a taco all your own. Typically, you use corn tortillas for tacos and some of the most popular fillings include carne asada, chicken, and carnitas.

Turnover

This is a smaller version of a pie that uses a pastry to enclose either a sweet or savory filling.

Torta

A sandwich of sorts, a torta is made up of various fillings, like carne asada, along with veggies and is contained within two pieces of bread.

8. Sweets

Toffee

Butter plus sugar, only caramelized? That’s a dream and it’s called toffee. This ultra-sweet candy is indulgent and made to be savored. There are different variations, some of which include nuts like almonds. But considering how rich it is, you want to enjoy it in small bites.

Taffy

It’s chewy, the process of making it is mesmerizing, and it’s super sweet. It’s available in a wide range of flavors, some fruity and some with more of a molasses flavor.

Tres Leches

This ultra-moist cake is prepared in layers, each spongey layer drenched in a mix of sweet milk. Often topped with strawberries, it’s designed to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Tiramisu

Another layered cake, tiramisu offers a blend of chocolate and coffee with the texture of mascarpone, a type of cheese, effortlessly blended in.

Tarte Tatin

It’s a fruit tart, only it’s caramelized and served upside down. Its flavor is buttery with hints of saltiness but what makes this dessert shine are the apples.

9. Seafood

Trout

This fish has a fine texture and flavor. Paired with a bit of butter, garlic, and lemon, trout makes it easy to put a solid meal on the table.

Tuna

You can cook it as a steak or enjoy it cooked and shredded in a salad or sandwich. Tuna is an oily fish that has a creamy, salty flavor. You can even enjoy it at your favorite sushi restaurant, where it shines completely raw!

10. Extras!

Tartar

As the ideal accompaniment for seafood dishes, tartar has a tangy flavor. It’s comprised of mayonnaise along with herbs and relish, though individual recipes vary.

Tempura

Deep-fried vegetables and seafood make up this Japanese dish. The batter is light and crispy, which allows the flavor of the seafood and vegetables to come through.

Truffles

The flavor of truffles is unmistakable. Truffles are the edible spores of fungi found underground. You can grate them as if they were cheese and enjoy them in various dishes, including eggs and pasta.

Thai Chili

When dried, Thai chili is also known as bird’s eye chili. It’s spicier than a jalapeno but doesn’t make it to the Scoville level of habanero peppers. You can keep it spicy in a chili paste or sweeten it up in a Thai chili sauce.

Tonka Bean

It’s a seed and its flavor is reminiscent of vanilla. You can use tonka beans to create simple syrup but you can also put more effort into working with this flavor and even create tonka bean ice cream.

Tonkatsu

This dish is Japanese and is basically breaded, deep-fried pork. Eat it on its own with sauce on the side, enjoy it in ramen, or serve it with rice and a cabbage salad.

Tea Sandwich

If you prefer the crusts cut off your sandwiches, tea sandwiches are for you. They’re not a hearty meal, but rather meant as a delicate snack you can enjoy following afternoon tea.

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