If you love to cook or to try new foods, you are in the right place. Since the letter “A” is quite popular, you will find quite a few common foods along with some exotic, unknown ones. This is a good opportunity to explore new cuisines and perhaps even find a new favorite! Keep reading to find out more than 50 food items that start with A!
In the Post
Food That Starts with A – a Lengthy List
- Allspice – combined flavors of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves.
- Almonds
- Anchovies
- Apples
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Arugula
- Avocado
- Aniseed
- Aduki beans
- Alfalfa sprouts
- Andouille sausage
- Ancho chiles
- Aioli is a sauce made of garlic and mayonnaise.
Image Source: The Lot Dallas - Ambrosia
- Aubergine
- Acorn squash
- Aspic is a jell made of meat stock and might contain pieces of eggs, meat, or seafood.
- Arrowroot is a starch used in sauces and soups.
- Achacha is a tropical fruit from Bolivia.
- Amala is a meal popular in Yorubas, Nigeria, made with boiled yam flour.
- Asida is a dish in North Africa made of cooking flour dough with butter and honey.
- Attieke is a dish from Cote D’Ivoire made with fermented cassava, which is a wooden shrub also known as manioc.
- Ackee is a fruit shaped like a pear and a nutty flavor, often paired with salted dried fish.
- Arroz con heuvos is a Caribbean dish consisting of rice and a fried egg.
- Andouille is a type of pork sausage.
- Arancini is a small ball of rice filled with a savory filling.
- Ahi tuna is used for raw fish dishes, such as sushi.
- Arame is a spice from Asian cuisine.
- Ajvar is a relish made of pepper and eggplant.
- Alheira is a Portuguese sausage.
- Ajika is a paste made of chili peppers, walnuts, garlic, and fresh herbs.
- Alfredo sauce is a white sauce made of heavy cream, butter, and parmesan cheese.
- Akara is a dish made of grinding beans and them frying them in oil.
- Acerola is a fruit similar to cherries which is used for jellies.
Image Source: The Lot Dallas - Amchoor is a fruity spice powder used to season food.
- Abacha is made of oil bean and chopped garden egg leaves.
- Ahriche refers to cooking tripe which is wrapped around sticks and placed on hot coals.
- Arborio rice is a common type of rice used for making risotto.
- Angelica might refer to the plant or its edible leaves.
- Annon is a fruit with a thick rind and shiny black seeds.
- Apricot
- Ashcake is a type of cake baked in hot ash.
- All-purpose flour
- Artichoke heart
- Afang is a soup in Nigeria made of water leaves.
- Akkawi is a type of cheese.
- Achu is a yellow soup enjoyed in Cameroon.
- Arroz con maiz is a dish that consists of corn and rice.
- Adjika is a sauce similar to red pesto or tomato salsa.
- Anko is a Japanese paste made of azuki beans.
- Avgolemono soup is a combination of warm broth, eggs, and lemon.
Food That Starts with A – Interesting Recipes to Try Out
1. Achu
Achu is a specialty dish found in Bamenda, Cameroon. Essentially, it is a yellow soup called “sauce jaune” in French. It consists of canwa, which is limestone, water, boiled cocoyams, spices, and palm oil.
When served, the soup is often accompanied by fish or beef. The protein is served either fried, boiled or even smoked. The soup is also known as yellow soup due to its vibrant color. The water becomes yellow after adding the palm oil.
Nutritionally, the achu soup must be enjoyed occasionally due to its high-calorie content since it can reach approximately 450 calories per serving.
The main energetic source is the cocoyam which is rich in carbohydrates, but also proteins in the meat, and fats from the palm oil. The soup can help to fix minor stomach issues.
2. Arroz con maiz
If you visit Latin America, it is impossible not to hear of arroz con maiz. Although basic, it is incredibly flavorful and it consists of cooking rice and corn together.
You may find numerous variations of this dish in Dominica, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. For example, the Cuban version also includes chicken stock, chorizo, white wine, and annatto seeds.
Arroz con maiz, translated simply to rice with corn, is an excellent side dish that can be paired with any protein source for a delicious and quick meal. This arroz con maiz recipe, for instance, is easy to make and has only 261 calories per serving.
3. Arancini
Sicilian dishes often have a mysterious origin rooted in numerous folk tales. The first documented arancini recipe goes back to the 19th century and it was made of ricotta cheese, spices, sugar, and milk.
After the arrival of new ingredients, particularly tomatoes, the entire Sicilian cuisine changed considerably. More and more recipes started to use tomatoes, including arancini. As a result, the dish started to be salty instead of sweet.
Nowadays, Arancini are Sicilian balls of rice. They are deep-fried and consist of a gooey, cheesy filling and a crunchy coating made of breadcrumbs.
Other recipes call for a filling made of ragu, the Italian slow-cooked mince with spices and tomato sauce. The arancini produced in eastern Sicily do not have the typical round shape, but rather a conical one which is inspired by the volcano Etna.
Arancini balls are deep-fried, so they should be consumed moderately. They are not suitable for people with intolerances to cheese, nuts, or gluten.
4. Adjika
Adjika is the perfect dish when you are looking for the best sauce for your roasted or grilled meat. It is similar to the Italian red pesto or tomato salsa. Popular in Russia and Ukraine, it is used to elevate the flavor profile due to its intense fragrance.
Adjika originated in Georgia and the traditional recipe does not include any tomatoes, but there are different varieties across the continent. It is made of hot chili peppers, garlic, salt, and numerous spices that can be added to taste.
The burning chili peppers help to stimulate blood flow, strengthen the immune system, and have a natural bactericidal and antiviral property. The sauce also stimulates appetite and is ideal for the cold season.
5. Ajvar
The favorite dish in the Balkan cuisine is ajvar, usually consumed during the cold months. It is a flavorful side dish prepared from roasted red peppers and eggplants, mashed together, and left to simmer for numerous hours.
Ajvar is used to garnish grilled meats or enjoyed by itself by spreading it on a slice of bread. The dish can also be spicy by adding chilies.
How To Make Ajvar: This Is An Easy To Make Ajvar Recipe Anyone Can Try
Ajvar is rich in red peppers, which are a great source of minerals and vitamins. To preserve these, you must cook ajvar on very low heat and for a much shorter time compared to the traditional recipe.
At the same time, the eggplant is rich in B vitamins, manganese, folate, potassium, and even fiber. Consumption helps to block the formation of free radicals and reduces cholesterol levels.
The dish is low in calories, approximately 100 per serving size. This makes it suitable for weight watchers, but you should keep in mind what you add to the meal; for instance, having it on toast can quickly increase the calorie count, especially if you spread fats on the slice.
6. Anko
Anko is a Japanese paste made of azuki beans. It is used as a sweet filling in most sweets in Japan, but also in other Asian countries.
Azuki is translated to “small beans” in Japanese, and the azuki beans used in the recipe are usually from the Hokkaido area. There is a bigger variety of beans, too, known as Dainagon, but they are also more expensive.
Azuki beans are rich in fiber, proteins, and manganese. Their main health benefits include weight loss when consumed moderately, improved digestion, and decreased risks of heart diseases and type 2 diabetes. A portion of 100 grams or 3.5 ounces has only 128 calories.
7. Avgolemono
Avgolemono is a Greek dish made of eggs, warm broth, and lemon, and the word literally means “egg lemon”. The sauce is added to different soups to thicken them or used to garnish meats and vegetables.
Avgolemono can be used to elevate any dish. The vibrant egg and lemon taste is subtle and has a velvety, luscious texture.
Nutritionally, lemon is an excellent ingredient that supports weight loss, helps digestion, and is a rich source of vitamin C.
Eggs are an excellent source of proteins and good cholesterol that provides cell energy and helps with hormone production and should be part of any healthy individual’s meal plan.
Summary
This concludes an almost never-ending list of food that starts with A – how many others can you think of that were not included here? If you want to spice up your diet, you can choose a few dishes to try each week or each month.
Now that you know so many other foods that start with A, it’s time to surprise your friends and family with a new exotic twist!
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