Foods That Start With W

Looking for something new to add to your diet? Consider taking a chance on a new, exotic food with this fun list. All of these foods start with the letter “W.” Some are well-known while others you may never have heard of before now.

Fruits that Start with W

Watermelon: If you want a food that is delicious and sweet while also being good for you, watermelon is the perfect treat. It’s popular in the summer months when it is in season. You can eat it by the slice or cut it up in pieces. Watermelon is also a great addition to a summer salad. It can be fed to many pets in moderation as a treat.

Wood Apple: Known by multiple names including monkey fruit, kavat, and elephant apple, this fruit doesn’t look very appetizing. But it has a sweet-sour taste that many find appealing. It is popular in Indian cuisine as well as cooking from surrounding regions where it grows. You can use it in desserts by adding sugar or honey to sweeten it or in savory dishes to add flavor.

Walnut: The walnut is actually a fruit. They are true nuts, which fall into the fruit category in terms of scientific classification. For culinary purposes, walnuts and other true nuts are thought of as separate from fleshy fruits. They are a great snack because they are high in essential vitamins and minerals. You can eat them on their own as a tasty, crunchy snack or as part of a dish. They make an excellent garnish to add crunch.

White Currant: This variety of currant is closely related to red currants and black currants. Red and white currants tend to be smaller and tarter than black currants. All varieties are excellent in jams and jellies.

Williams Pear: Also called a European pear, this variety is sweet and crisp. It is an excellent option for snacking as well as cooking. It is especially popular around the holidays as a treat to share.

Winter Squash: This term actually applies to multiple types of squash, which all grow and ripen in the winter months. From a scientific classification perspective, squashes in the Cucurbita genus are all winter squash. These include butternut squash, spaghetti squash, delicata squash, acorn squash, and others. They are a popular food in the fall and winter.

Vegetables that Start with W

Watercress: This dark, leafy plant is related to cabbage. It grows in fresh water and floats on the top thanks to its hollow stems. The leaves are small and round. Watercress is a good addition to salads and soups. It has a lot of nutritional benefits, including vitamin K, vitamin C, fiber, folate, and even protein.

White Radishes: These are also known as winter radishes or daikon. They are very crispy and peppery, making them a good addition to salads in need of a crunch and zing of flavor.

Wasabi: This plant is part of the Brassicaceae family of vegetables, closely related to horseradish and mustard greens. It is most common as a paste condiment that brings serious heat to dishes like sushi. A little bit goes a long way. True wasabi is made of Japanese horseradish, another name for the wasabi plant. Some versions are made of European horseradish.

Water Chestnuts: This vegetable grows in the water. Fresh water chestnuts are full of flavor with a sweet and nutty profile. However, they are not fruits or nuts. Instead, these plants are aquatic vegetables.

White Asparagus: This plant is actually the same as traditional asparagus, which is green. But because they are intentionally grown without access to sunlight, they grow without chlorophyll and have a white color. Generally, they are a bit sweeter than green asparagus but most people find they taste very similar.

Meat and Fish that Start with W

Wahoo: Also known as Ono in Hawaii, Wahoo is a delicious fish that is just as nice to eat as it is fun to fish. It is large and fast, making it especially popular for sport anglers. As a food, wahoo has firm flesh and is delicious when grilled or blackened.

Walleye: This mild fish lives in fresh water and is similar in taste profile to perch. Walleye is sometimes called yellow pike or yellow pickerel. It has a particularly delicate taste that many diners enjoy. This demand and the difficulty of farming walleye on a commercial scale also make it expensive at times.

Wild Boar: Similar to pork but with a stronger flavor, wild boar is a great meat option for savory dishes. It can be a bit harder to find in some supermarkets so you might have to look for a specialty butcher that carries more options.

Grains that Start with W

Wild Rice: There are actually four species within the genus Zizania that are all considered wild rice. You can find each individually but it is common to also buy and cook a wild rice blend. Wild rice contains a lot of protein and fiber. Experts generally consider it to have more health benefits than processed white rice.

Wheat: There are actually a lot of varieties of wheat, all of which are in the Triticum genus. The grain portion of the plant can be ground up and used to make flour.

White Rice: This refers to rice with the germ, bran, and husk removed through processing. It has less nutritional value than wild rice. It is still a common staple in many dishes because it pairs well with a variety of foods.

Dairy that Starts with W

Whipped Cream: You can make your own homemade whipped cream by whisking heavy cream with sugar. It is also easy to find in the grocery store. Whipped cream makes a wonderful topping for desserts.

Food Dishes that Start with W

Wraps: Many wraps use tortillas to hold ingredients like cold cuts, cheese, and fresh vegetables together. They are similar to a sandwich with an almost endless combination of possible fillings. Wraps are a popular food to take on the go because they are customizable and portable.

Waffles: Popular as a breakfast food (although they taste delicious at any time of the day), waffles are made out of batter that is cooked in a special iron. You can enjoy them with butter and syrup or get creative with toppings like fruit, chocolate, bacon, or even ice cream. You can also mix in ingredients to the batter before cooking.

Waldorf Salad: This fruit salad is the perfect combination of crunchy, sweet, and creamy. It has crisp apples, crunchy celery, walnuts, and grapes. The dressing is made out of mayo, lemon juice, sugar, and salt.

Wontons: These special dumplings are popular in Chinese cuisine. They have thin, often crispy shells and filling.

Worcestershire Sauce: Savory recipes use this vinegar-based fermented sauce. It also goes well on top of certain dishes, such as burgers or steak. Other ingredients, such as anchovies and molasses, create a unique flavor.

Weiner Schnitzel: This dish is thinly sliced veal. To make wiener schnitzel, coat the veal and pan-fry. Types of schnitzel are popular in Austria. This is one of the best-known dishes worldwide from that country’s cuisine.

Sweets that Start with W

White Chocolate: Made of cocoa butter along with milk and sugar, white chocolate is a super sweet version of chocolate that is off-white. White chocolate is definitely one of the sweetest and most indulgent foods on our list. Chefs use it interchangeably with other types of chocolate. White chocolate pairs well with dark chocolate or milk chocolate in candies and desserts to provide additional flavors and visual interest.

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