Have you been trying to create a list of foods that start with U but can’t think of any? This article is for you. You would be surprised to know that several foods you have not heard of or seen start with the letter U.
Keep reading to see a list that contains several unique foods that begin with the letter U. This list includes dishes, fruits, snacks, desserts, and condiments that you probably haven’t heard of before.
1. Ukha
Ukha is a classic fish soup that originates from Russia in the 12th century. It is a unique soup that can be prepared in different ways. Almost every family in Russia has a ukha recipe that helps to personalize their taste.
Ukha is a great source of proteins and omega-3 fatty acids. The soup is made with a combination of various types of fish, such as catfish, bream, and eels.
It also contains other ingredients like onion, potatoes, carrots, and millet which give it its thick consistency. Common seasonings in ukha soup include dill, parsley, and bay leaf.
2. Ulluco
Ulluco is one of the most popular root vegetables that grow in the Andean region of South America. It has waxy skin that comes in a variety of colors including yellow, pink, and purple.
Ulluco has a slightly sweet taste and earthy flavor. It is rich in protein, carbohydrates, and vitamin C, which makes it a very nutritious vegetable.
Although they are not suitable for baked or fried dishes, they can be cooked in several ways. You can boil them and serve them as pickled ulluco.
3. Ugly pie
As funny as it sounds, ugly pie is a treat inspired by Ugly Pie—a children’s book by Lisa Wheeler.
The story highlights the life of a bear who craves ugly pie every morning but only has some sweet molasses to make his pie ugly. Then, he goes on a journey to find ugly ingredients to make his pie the ugliest yet delicious.
Ugly pie is a delicious treat that requires several natural sweet ingredients. You can make one for yourself with some apples, molasses, dried cranberries, nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon juice, flour, and walnuts. You can also add sugar to it for more sweetness.
4. Unni appam
Unni appam is a sweet, small, and round fritter that is popularly eaten in Kerala, India. It is made from rice, banana, roasted coconut, sesame seeds, and jaggery.
You can also include fruits like jackfruit to make your unni appam richer and heartier.
This sweet treat is delicious but is high in sugar and refined carbohydrate. It is also gluten-free and vegan.
5. Uni
Uni is a common ingredient in Japanese cuisine. It is the reproductive gland of sea urchins, the only edible part of the sea creature.
Uni has a fresh taste with a deep flavor. It also has a creamy texture that melts in your mouth at every bite.
It is rich in protein, low in fat, and is also a good source of fiber, vitamins A and C, and calcium.
You can serve uni as a base for your rice dish or as a topping for nigiri sushi. You can also add it to your Japanese-style pasta recipe.
6. Usban
Usban is a popular sausage meal that originates from Tunisia.
The sausage contains a mixture of rice, lamb, chopped liver, and spices. There are several usban recipes to choose from, but they all contain spices like cayenne pepper, turmeric, and black pepper.
Usban is best served with a rice dish or couscous.
7. Ugali
Ugali is a porridge that originates from East Africa. This cassava flour porridge is also a staple dish in Kenya. It has a similar flavor to popcorn and tastes nourishing.
This dish contains several nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates. It is easy to prepare and is best eaten with the hand.
8. Ube
Ube is one of the most popular foods that start with U. It is a purple yam that originates from the Philippines and is quite similar to sweet potato.
The yam has a mellow taste with a sweet nutty flavor. Ube is commonly used in making colorful desserts. Its creamy texture makes it a great addition to recipes that require creamy ingredients.
Ube is rich in fibers, vitamins, carbohydrates, and antioxidants. This is a healthy meal that you can add to your meal plan.
9. Udon
Udon is a type of comfort food that originates from Japan; one of the first you’ll see in Tokyo cuisine. It is a dish of thick noodles made from wheat flour. It is usually prepared with fresh ingredients and is served with hot soup.
Common toppings you will find in a bowl of udon include fried tofu, fish cakes, kamaboko, and prawn tempura. Udon has a high fiber content and contains complex carbohydrates, making it a healthy alternative to ramen.
10. Urad dal
Urad dal is one of the most popular Indian foods that start with U. It is also known as black lentil or black gram.
Urad dal is commonly used to make a dish called dal in northern India while it is used to make batter for Dosa dishes in the south.
Dishes made with urad dal provide several health benefits such as healthy bones, improved metabolism, and energy boost.
11. Umbrella fruit
The umbrella fruit is quite common in tropical regions of the world. This sour fruit is more common in Asia and Africa. It usually comes in green and yellow color. The flesh of the fruit is crispy and mildly acidic with hints of mango flavor.
12. Ugli
Ugli fruit is also known as uniq fruit or Jamaican tangelo. It is a citrus fruit that comes from the hybridization of tangerine and grapefruit. This natural hybridized fruit grows in Brown’s Town, Jamaica.
The pulp of ugli fruit is juicy and sweet. It is bigger than grapefruit but doesn’t contain as many seeds. Ugli is a great source of vitamin C and is low in calories. It also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
13. Umeboshi
Umeboshi is a popular Japanese delicacy that translates to Salted Japanese plum. The main ingredient in this delicacy is the ume fruit—a Japanese plum that grows on a flowering plum tree.
Umeboshi tastes salty and sour, but you can sweeten it with honey. You can have it with broccoli or rice and add some veggies.
14. Umibudo
Umibudo is a seaweed/sea grape that grows in shallow waters. It is common around Okinawa, Japan, and can also be found in other Asian countries.
Umibudo is known to have great taste and provides several health benefits. You can eat these sea grapes raw or cooked.
It has an ocean-like flavor with a distinct crunchy texture. You’re probably hearing of it for the first time. If you ever find them in a Japanese restaurant, eat them with your sashimi or dip the grapes in citrusy soy sauce.
15. Ububese
This fruit originates from Africa and grows majorly in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and Mozambique. It is a soft and delicious pulp enclosed in yellow skin.
You can eat ububese fruit fresh from the tree. You can also cook them or include them in your drinks and beverages.
16. Upma
This is one of the most versatile Indian foods that start with U. Umpa is a breakfast meal that has several variations.
Umpa is a thick porridge that is made from semolina or rice flour. However, you can also use sooji, wheat, oats, corn, or quinoa instead of rice. You can also season and top it according to your preferences.
17. Uthappam
Uthappam is a breakfast dish that originates from southern India. It has several variations as each state in that region uses a special recipe.
Although it is a dosa, it is different from regular dosas because it is neither crispy nor crepe-like.
Uthappam is like a pancake with toppings and is usually served with other Indian dishes like sambar. It is made from urad beans and rice. You can top it with tomatoes, onions, coriander, coconut, and carrots.
18. Umbu fruit
Umbu fruit is a plum that originates from Brazil. It comes in yellow to red hues and has a small, round shape.
Some varieties are as big as lemons, while some are as small as the size of cherries. You can use umbu fresh from trees or make it into juice, ham, or sweetener.
19. Unagi
This is one of the most popular foods that start with U that you need to try if you ever visit Japan. It’s one luxurious delicacy you will find in the country.
There are several ways to enjoy the delicious delicacy. You can eat it with nigiri, umaki, wasabi and soy sauce, or rice.
20. Usal
Usal is a popular Indian breakfast dish, and it is very healthy. The major ingredient in usal is mung bean sprouts. It is also very rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein.
Usal is also quite easy to make. Other ingredients in this dish include tomatoes, onions, turmeric, and red chili. You can serve it with vegetables or stew or snack on it by itself.
21. Ube cake
Ube cake is a great dessert option you can make with ube. It is closely similar to chiffon and sponge cakes. You can make this cake with ube powder or ube extract. You can also use ube jam or halaya.
22. Upside-down cake
This is a cake with fruit toppings on the batter. The cake tastes soft and buttery and has a luscious texture. Most upside-down cake recipes use pineapple. The cake is easy to bake as long as you have the right recipe.
23. Umbricelli pasta
Umbrecilli pasta is a thick pasta with the shape of spaghetti. It is also quite similar to pici pasta. The combination of wheat flour and water makes the pasta thick.
You can eat it with thick tomato sauce with mushrooms or a truffle sauce. The thickness of the pasta strands makes it a highly filling meal.
24. Ulava charu
Ulava charu is a popular curry in Indian cuisine. It is made with horse gram lentils, tomatoes, onion, and red chilies. This soup is rich in protein, iron, and calcium.
FAQs
Are there junk foods that start with U?
Yes, there are. Some of them are Utah cookies, Ukrainian rolls, Utah scones, Utz potato chips, and unique pretzels.
Are there fruits that start with U?
Yes, there are. Some fruits that start with U are umbu, ugli, ububese, and umbrella.
Conclusion
This list of foods that start with U contains several foods you most likely haven’t come across or tasted before. I hope you have discovered new foods that you’ll like to try. Don’t hesitate to share this list with your friends.
You can also broaden your food scope with this list of foods that start with the letter S.
Thanks for reading.
