The Mega List of 90+ Foods That Start With R

Written by Patrick MacFarland
Published: February 14, 2024
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There are thousands of foods in the world. They all come from different countries and they can be vegetables, fruits, dairy products, cheeses, and meals. These foods can be different colors, as well. That’s the beauty of this world. The best part is that many of these foods have become staples and a lot of them have become commodities. Rice is a staple in many countries, however, chocolate is a specialty. That is the beauty of food. In this article, we are going to go through the mega list of 90+ foods that start with R. We are going to highlight a few of them and below provide a mega list.

Rainbow Sherbet Ice Cream

Rainbow ice cream in sundae glasses on bright colorful background.

Rainbow sherbet ice cream is one of the most popular flavors.

©MillefloreImages/iStock via Getty Images

Everyone loves ice cream. Okay, maybe not everyone. But a lot of people love ice cream, especially rainbow sherbet ice cream. Sherbet is mainly a frozen dessert that can be made from water or a dairy product. There are several flavors including a liqueur flavor or sometimes vanilla, chocolate, or other flavorings. There is also rainbow sherbet which usually combines several flavors. The word sherbet derives from the Persian word “sharbat,” meaning iced fruit drink. Rainbow sherbet originated in Pennsylvania in the 1950s.

Ratatouille

Vegetable ratatouille baked in cast iron frying pan traditional homemade

The French dish Ratatouille is world-famous and was even an important subject in the animated movie

Ratatouille

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©GreenArtPhotography/iStock via Getty Images

The world-famous French dish is so well known that they even turned it into a quintessential part of an animated movie. There is also a famous Parisian restaurant that has had the famous ratatouille recipe for more than 400 years. The dish comes from the French region of Provence, more specifically Nice, and consists of various vegetables like eggplant, onion, tomato, bell peppers, zucchinis, and herbs. 

Red Velvet Cake

Red velvet cake

Red velvet cake is a tradition during Juneteenth celebrations to remember black ancestors who fought against slavery.

©Valens Hascaryo/iStock via Getty Images

Originating during the Great Depression, it soon became quite popular. Velvet cake was always a creamy and rich type of cake that was specifically for fancy events or dinners. The red part came about in the 1930s, however, red velvet cake could also be a Southern dessert. To celebrate Juneteenth, many Southern black families would make and still make this cake and it symbolizes the blood that was shed in the fight against slavery.

Rhubarb Pie

Rhubarb Pie or Tart

The delicious rhubarb pie originated in the United Kingdom and has become popular in the US and Canada.

©Mizina/iStock via Getty Images

Rhubarb pie has been a popular dessert since the 1600s. The pie contains the rhubarb plant, cooked and diced. The leaf stocks of the rhubarb plant have been eaten since the 1700s. The pie, besides rhubarb, also has a lot of sugar because rhubarb is extremely tart. This pie has become a traditional dessert in many places throughout the United States, including New England and the Great Plains region.

Risotto

Italian risotto with spring asparagus and parmesan cheese in plate on light background.

Risotto is an Italian dish that hails from Lombardy, a northern Italian region.

©Ale02/iStock via Getty Images

Hailing from Italy, risotto is a rice dish that is cooked with a broth that could come from meat, vegetables, or even fish. The rice and broth are mixed until it becomes creamy. Sometimes, white wine or butter can be added, as well as Parmesan cheese. The dish originated in Northern Italy, and historians speculate that it came about with a risotto recipe in 1809. Since then, it has spread throughout the entire country and is usually a first-course dish.

Rice

Pile of raw Basmati rice with a spoon

Some popular dishes that use rice are risotto in Italy, sushi in Japan, and paella in Spain.

©Karisssa/iStock via Getty Images

One of the most important grains for over 50% of the world’s population is rice. It is a staple food for many cultures throughout the world. It is grown in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and even in Europe. The top three countries that eat the most rice in the world are China, Indonesia, and India. Interestingly enough, because it is a staple food, very little of the grain is traded between countries.

Ribeye Steak

Sliced grilled steak Ribeye with herb butter

Ribeye steak is also known by various other names depending on the country including Delmonico steak, Entrecôte, Spencer steak, scotch filet, and beauty steak.

©Lisovskaya/iStock via Getty Images

It’s one of the most delicious and ordered steaks in the world. The ribeye is a steak that comes from the rib section of a cow, most specifically the longissimus dorsi muscle. Because of where it comes from in the cow’s body, it’s a tender and flavorful type of steak. One of the most expensive ribeye steaks in the world is the A5 Wagyu ribeye steak which costs a whopping $1,700 (and even more expensive at fine dining restaurants).

Rocky Road Ice Cream

Rocky Road

Rocky Road ice cream contains marshmallows, nuts, and chocolate ice cream.

©Marcie Fowler/iStock via Getty Images

The exact origins of Rocky Road ice cream are not known, but several sources say that the origin of the ice cream comes from William Dreyer. In March 1929, William Dreyer took some walnuts and marshmallows and put them into his chocolate ice cream. Dryer and his business partner Joseph Edy coined the term Rocky Road ice cream after the Great Depression hit the US to put a lighter side on tough times. Since then, Rocky Road ice cream has been one of the most popular ice cream flavors. 

Roquefort Cheese

French blue cheese Roquefort, made from sheep milk in caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzonwith grapes on grey stone

Roquefort cheese had become a popular cheese by the Middle Ages in France.

©JPC-PROD/Shutterstock.com

Originating from Southern France, Roquefort cheese is a blue cheese made of sheep’s milk. Just like champagne that comes from the Champagne region of France, Roquefort cheese can only be called as such if it hails from the Combalou caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon. Some varieties come from other places in the world that are similar to Roquefort, but because of the cheese’s protected origin status, they are not called that. The French are so immensely proud of Roquefort cheese that it is usually called the “King of Cheeses.” 

Reuben Sandwich

Reuben Sandwich

There are several Reuben sandwich origin stories, but it is generally agreed upon that it is a quintessential American sandwich.

©Jared Knetzer/iStock via Getty Images

The Reuben sandwich where the preferred bread is rye bread usually contains corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and a salad dressing —  either Russian or Thousand Island. When it comes to origin stories, the exact story is not known. One story states that it came from a Lithuanian-born Jewish man named Reuben Kulakofsky who made the sandwich at a poker game. Another story, however, states that it was created by Arnold Reuben, who was the owner of Reuben’s Delicatessen in New York City.

Conclusion

And there you have it, these are just a few of the amazing foods that start with R. They range from fruits and vegetables to seeds, cheeses, nuts, and whole meals. But these highlights are just a few of the many foods that start with R. Below is a mega list of 90+ foods that start with R.

Mega List of Foods That Start With R

  • Raspberry macarons
  • Raspberry sorbet
  • Raspberry Cheesecake
  • Raspberry jelly donuts
  • Raspberry jam roll
  • Raspberry tart
  • Razor Clams
  • Rainbow Trout
  • Rainbow chard
  • Rainbow sherbet ice cream
  • Rainbow cookies
  • Ravioli
  • Ratatouille
  • Ramen
  • Rack of lamb
  • Radishes
  • Raspberries
  • Radicchio
  • Raisins
  • Raw milk cheese
  • Raccoon
  • Rabbit
  • Ragi
  • Red fruit tart
  • Red velvet cake
  • Reduced-fat milk
  • Reindeer
  • Red deer
  • Red fruit jelly
  • Red fruit crumble
  • Red Leicester cheese
  • Romano cheese
  • Red bell pepper
  • Red cabbage
  • Red potatoes
  • Red Snapper
  • Red Grouper
  • Red Mullet
  • Red curry
  • Red beans and rice
  • Red snapper filet
  • Red grapes
  • Red grapefruit
  • Red plum
  • Red apple
  • Redcurrant
  • Red onion
  • Red berry trifle
  • Red fife wheat
  • Red quinoa
  • Rhubarb
  • Rhubarb crumble
  • Rhubarb pie
  • Rice
  • Rice pudding
  • Rice flour
  • Ribbonfish
  • Ribs
  • Risotto
  • Rib eye steak
  • Rice and beans
  • Rice cakes
  • Rice crackers
  • Ricotta cheese
  • Rice milk
  • Ring bologna
  • Ribeye steak
  • Rough Scad
  • Rockfish
  • Rock Shrimp
  • Roast beef
  • Roasted vegetables
  • Rotisserie chicken
  • Roast chicken
  • Rosemary
  • Romaine lettuce
  • Roasted almonds
  • Roasted chickpeas
  • Roasted pumpkin seeds
  • Roasted sweet potatoes
  • Rockmelon
  • Rose apple
  • Rowanberry
  • Rocky Road ice cream
  • Roquefort cheese
  • Roast beef
  • Ross goose
  • Rolled oats
  • Rosette
  • Rock candy
  • Reuben sandwich
  • Rutabaga
  • Rum cake
  • Rugelach
  • Rye
  • Rye Bread

The photo featured at the top of this post is © HVPMdev/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Patrick Macfarland is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering travel, geography, and history. Patrick has been writing for more than 10 years. In the past, he has been a teacher and a political candidate. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from SDSU and a Master's Degree in European Union Studies from CIFE. From San Diego, California, Patrick loves to travel and try new recipes to cook.

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