27 Foods That Start with A

Here is a list of 27 foods that start with A:

Acorn

An acorn is a nut that grows on an oak tree. Of the approximate 600 species of oaks, all produce acorns. While the acorn is not a favorite nut to consume, it is edible. However, you likely won’t find bags of acorns in the nut section of your local supermarket. Acorns that have been properly prepared (leached) to release their tannins and potential toxicity can be used to make pancakes, porridge, flour, soup, muffins, and much more.

Acorn Squash

Acorn squash is a winter squash with most often a dark green/orange exterior and light orange interior. The center of this squash is filled with seeds that are commonly scraped away and discarded before cooking. The center of the squash can be used as a bowl and filled with foods like rice or meat for a savory dish.

Agave

Agave syrup is made from the agave plant by extracting the liquid from the plant’s core. This liquid is heated to form a simple sugar. Agave syrup is used as a natural sweetener in things such as teas, cocktails, baked goods, and as a pancake topping.

Albacore

Albacore is a species of tuna known as white tuna. It has a mild flavor without an undesirable fishy flavor. It is an excellent choice for a tuna fish sandwich, salad, or cooked as a steak when not canned.

Alfalfa Sprouts

While it is often used as hay for livestock, people enjoy eating alfalfa sprouts in several dishes. It can be used in stir-fry, salads, soups, sandwiches, and more.

Alfredo

Alfredo is a sauce typically made with Parmesan cheese, butter, and cream. It is routinely served on fettuccine and topped with chopped parsley.

All-Purpose Flour

All-purpose flour is the primary ingredient in countless baked goods. It is a wheat flour suitable for general use to make such foods as pizza, dessert, and bread. Similar to arrowroot (see below), it is a popular choice to thicken sauce and gravy.

Allspice

Allspice is the dried berries of an evergreen tree called Pimenta dioica. It is used commonly on or in baked goods, soups, meats, and eggnog. The flavor is a mixture of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. It is found in full berry form as shown in the picture or as a powder.

Almond

The almond is a seed of a tree that originates from Iran. However, production can be found in the United States (largely California), Australia, and Spain. Almonds are commonly eaten raw or added as an ingredient in recipes. They are found in desserts, bread, rice dishes, vegetable dishes, and more. According to almonds.com, almonds can be sweet (non-bitter), slightly bitter, and bitter depending on the genetics of the tree. If you purchase almonds from California, they will be the sweet (non-bitter) variety.

Almond Milk

Almond milk has emerged as one of the favorite dairy milk alternatives. It is made from soaked almonds that are ground down with water to produce the milk. Flavoring can be added such as sugar, chocolate, or vanilla. It is often fortified with calcium and vitamins to be nutritionally comparable to dairy milk.

Amaranth

Amaranth is known as a healthy ancient grain similar to quinoa. It can be consumed as a breakfast cereal, particularly when heated with a liquid such as water. Two key benefits of amaranth are that it is high in protein and fiber.

American Cheese

It is one of the favorites to make a grilled cheese or add on top of a burger in the U.S. Its ability to efficiently melt makes it an attractive choice over other cheeses that just don’t melt as well under the heat. Yes, it’s not 100% real cheese, but it can be damn tasty in many classic American meals.

Animal Cracker

An animal cracker is a cookie baked in the shape of an animal. They are commonly sold in boxes with an assortment of animal cookie shapes included in the package. Popular animal cracker cookie shapes include elephants, tigers, lions, and giraffes.

Anchovy

An anchovy is a small fish with a silver body that comes from the waters of the Meditteranean and Southern Europe. They are often found in a tin packed with oil located next to the tuna fish cans in the grocery store. You’ll find anchovies in pasta, dressings, salads, pizzas, and beyond.

Andouille

Andouille (the American version) is a spicy smoked sausage made from pork butt. It is found in Cajun dishes like jambalaya and gumbo. The French version uses the digestive tract of a pig to create the sausage. It is poached, unlike the smoked American sausage.

Angel Food Cake

This cake is typically made with egg whites, flour, sugar, and cream of tartar. The egg whites are whipped to create a light and fluffy sponge cake. In comparison to other types of cakes, Angel Food Cake is on the lower end of calories. However, it is still a dessert and should be eaten in moderation.

Angel Hair Pasta

Angel Hair is a very thin variety of pasta also known as capellini. While a simple marinara and grated Parmesan added to the cooked pasta makes a tasty meal, Angel Hair also works well with seafood and soups.

Applesauce

Applesauce is cooked apples that have been pureed. The seeds and skin are separated out. Sugar, cinnamon, and other spices are often added to enhance its flavor. Citric acid, lemon juice, or a similar product is typically added as a preservative. Applesauce is readily available in grocery stores in North America with the Mott’s brand being the leading producer.

Apple Pie

Apple pie is one of America’s favorite desserts. It is a pie with a crust made with apples for the filling. Various types of apples can be used with the other primary ingredients being sugar, cinnamon, and butter.

Apricot

An apricot is a stone fruit that is similar looking to a peach, but much smaller. The skin has a bit of fuzz with a yellow-orangish/pinkish exterior and interior. An apricot is often eaten fresh, pitted and dried, or used in jams. It can also be used as a flavoring, or in desserts. It is known for its tart flavor with a desirable sweetness.

Arrowroot

Arrowroot powder is commonly used to thicken sauces and stews. It is often used as a gluten-free alternative to cornstarch. It has no taste. Its purpose is to enhance the structure of foods as a thickening agent.

An artichoke grows from a plant that is a member of the aster family. It is a thistle with the edible portion of the plant being a flower bud. The actual “choke” portion is the white interior that is revealed after all the green “leaves” are pulled away. However, the heart, just below the choke, is the tastiest and most desirable portion that is worth all the work to get to. Its tender flesh is an amazing treat, especially when dipped in garlic butter or a variety of other sauces.

Arugula

Arugula is a spicy leafy green that can found in the lettuce section of the grocery store. This vegetable is sold as a bunch or as loose leaves. Arugula is known for its peppery kick that is often used in spring salads, sandwiches, pizza, pasta, and soups. It is in the Brassicaceae (mustard) family which includes cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, wasabi, turnip, and radish.

Asparagus

Asparagus is a member of the lily family. It grows in spears out of the ground and can be consumed in whole except for the woody steam near the bottom of each spear. It is eaten as a vegetable, often on its own, with a bit of seasoning added such as olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.

Au Jus

Au jus is typically made from beef drippings to create a sauce or thin gravy. The sauce is used to enhance the flavor of a meat dish. The French dip sandwich is an example of a meal that uses au jus as a dipping sauce similar to the picture.

Avocado

The avocado is a fruit (a berry) and not a vegetable. It is characterized by its dark green skin, lighter green fleshy body, and large seed in its center. It likely originates from Mexico and is used in many Mexican dishes. Popular uses of avocado in cooking include guacamole, as a sandwich topping, a salad topping, or eaten raw with a bit of salt.