Are you curious about What Food Starts With P? FOODS.EDU.VN is here to present you with a delightful list of foods that start with the letter “P”, from savory dishes to sweet treats. We’ll explore a variety of “P” foods, including fruits, vegetables, meals, and desserts, offering a comprehensive guide to satisfy your culinary curiosity. Unlock the secrets of “P” cuisine, understand its dietary benefits, and find inspiration for your next meal with our detailed guide.
1. What Fruits Start With P?
Fruits starting with the letter ‘P’ are not only delicious but also packed with essential nutrients. Let’s dive into some popular and unique “P” fruits:
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Pineapple: A tropical delight known for its sweet and tangy flavor. Pineapples are rich in Vitamin C and bromelain, an enzyme that aids digestion. According to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, bromelain has anti-inflammatory properties ( Варнина et al., 2021).
Pineapple
Alt text: Fresh and juicy pineapple chunks, a tropical fruit that starts with the letter P.
- Peach: This juicy fruit is a summer favorite, offering a sweet taste and velvety texture. Peaches are a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants.
- Pomegranate: Known for its vibrant red seeds, pomegranates are packed with antioxidants and have been linked to various health benefits. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that pomegranates may help lower blood pressure (Aviram et al., 2004).
- Pear: With its sweet and slightly tart flavor, pears are a versatile fruit that can be enjoyed fresh or cooked. They are also an excellent source of fiber.
- Papaya: This tropical fruit is known for its smooth texture and sweet taste. Papayas are rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and enzymes like papain, which aids in digestion.
1.1 Uncommon “P” Fruits
Beyond the well-known fruits, here are some more exotic “P” fruits to explore:
- Passion Fruit: This tangy and aromatic fruit is often used in desserts and beverages. It’s a good source of Vitamin C and dietary fiber.
- Plum: Plums come in various colors and offer a sweet and slightly tart flavor. They are also a good source of vitamins and antioxidants.
- Prune: Dried plums, known as prunes, are famous for their high fiber content and ability to promote digestive health.
- Persimmon: With its unique sweet and honey-like flavor, persimmons are a fall fruit rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
- Pomelo: This large citrus fruit is similar to grapefruit but has a sweeter and milder flavor. It’s rich in Vitamin C and potassium.
- Pawpaw: Native to North America, pawpaws have a creamy texture and a flavor reminiscent of banana and mango.
- Phalsa (Falsa): A small, sweet, and tangy fruit popular in South Asia, often used in refreshing drinks during the summer.
- Pineberry: A unique fruit that looks like a white strawberry but tastes like pineapple.
- Plumcot (Pluot): A hybrid of plum and apricot, combining the best characteristics of both fruits.
2. What Vegetables Start With P?
Vegetables beginning with ‘P’ bring a variety of flavors and nutritional benefits to your plate. Let’s explore some of these veggies:
- Potato: A staple in many cuisines, potatoes are versatile and can be prepared in numerous ways. They are a good source of carbohydrates, Vitamin C, and potassium. A study by the University of Idaho found that different potato varieties have varying levels of antioxidants (Brown, 2005).
- Parsnip: With its sweet and nutty flavor, parsnips are a root vegetable that can be roasted, mashed, or added to soups. They are also a good source of fiber and vitamins.
- Pea: These small green legumes are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They can be eaten fresh, frozen, or dried.
Alt text: Freshly shelled green peas, a nutritious vegetable starting with the letter P.
- Pumpkin: This versatile vegetable is often associated with fall and can be used in pies, soups, and roasted dishes. It’s a good source of Vitamin A and antioxidants.
- Plantain (Cooking Banana): Plantains are a type of banana that is typically cooked before eating. They are starchy and less sweet than regular bananas.
2.1 Less Common “P” Vegetables
Discovering less common vegetables expands your culinary options and nutritional intake:
- Pointed Gourd: Also known as parwal, this vegetable is popular in South Asia and used in curries and stir-fries.
- Pok Choi (Bok Choy): A type of Chinese cabbage, pok choi is rich in vitamins and minerals and can be stir-fried, steamed, or added to soups.
- Peperoncino: A type of chili pepper used to add heat and flavor to dishes.
- Prickly Pear: The fruit of the cactus, prickly pear can be eaten raw or cooked and is a good source of antioxidants and fiber.
- Pimiento: A sweet and mild chili pepper often used in Spanish cuisine.
- Pattypan Squash: A type of summer squash with a unique disc-like shape and mild flavor.
- Palmyra Sprout: The sprouted seed of the palmyra palm, eaten as a vegetable in some parts of Asia.
- Pitogo: The seed of the fish-tail palm, consumed as a vegetable in the Philippines.
- Pignut: A type of hickory nut, sometimes eaten as a vegetable.
- Paracress: Also known as the toothache plant, paracress has a unique flavor and is used in some traditional medicines.
- Polynesian Arrowroot (East Indian Arrowroot): A starchy root vegetable used as a thickening agent in cooking.
- Pearl Onion: Small, mild onions often used in stews and roasted dishes.
- Potato Onion: A type of onion that produces multiple bulbs from a single plant.
- Prussian Asparagus: A variety of asparagus known for its tender and flavorful spears.
- Purple Bauhinia (Butterfly Tree): The leaves and flowers of this tree are sometimes eaten as vegetables in Southeast Asia.
- Prairie Turnip: A root vegetable native to North America, traditionally used by indigenous peoples.
- Poke: A leafy green vegetable, also known as American pokeweed, used in some regional cuisines (Please note that raw pokeweed can be toxic and must be properly prepared before consumption).
3. What Nuts and Seeds Start With P?
Nuts and seeds that start with ‘P’ offer healthy fats, protein, and essential nutrients. Here’s a look at some popular choices:
- Peanut: Technically a legume, peanuts are often considered nuts due to their similar nutritional profile. They are a good source of protein, healthy fats, and vitamins.
- Pine Nut: These small, creamy nuts are used in pesto and other dishes. They are rich in healthy fats and minerals.
Alt text: A handful of pine nuts, a popular nut that starts with the letter P and is used in various culinary dishes.
- Pecan: Known for their rich, buttery flavor, pecans are a popular ingredient in pies and other desserts. They are also a good source of antioxidants and healthy fats.
- Pepita (Pumpkin Seeds): These seeds are a good source of protein, healthy fats, and minerals like zinc and magnesium.
- Pistachio: These green nuts have a distinct flavor and are often eaten as a snack or used in desserts. They are a good source of protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
4. What Meat, Fish, and Seafood Start With P?
‘P’ labeled meats, fish, and seafood provide a variety of protein sources and flavors. Here are some notable examples:
- Pork: A versatile meat that can be prepared in numerous ways, from roasted pork loin to bacon. Pork is a good source of protein and vitamins.
- Prosciutto: An Italian dry-cured ham that is thinly sliced and often eaten as an appetizer.
- Pancetta: Italian bacon made from pork belly, often used to add flavor to pasta dishes and other recipes.
4.1 “P” Fish and Seafood
Exploring “P” fish and seafood can add variety to your diet:
- Prawn: A type of shellfish similar to shrimp, prawns can be grilled, sautéed, or added to seafood dishes.
- Pollock: A mild-flavored white fish often used in fish sticks and other processed seafood products.
- Pike: A freshwater fish with a distinctive flavor, often enjoyed grilled or baked.
- Parrotfish: A colorful fish found in tropical waters, parrotfish is sometimes eaten in coastal communities.
- Plaice: A type of flatfish with a mild flavor, often served grilled or pan-fried.
- Perch: A freshwater fish with a delicate flavor, perch can be baked, fried, or grilled.
- Pomfret: A type of fish popular in Asian cuisine, pomfret is often steamed or fried.
- Porgy: Also known as scup, porgy is a type of fish with a mild, slightly sweet flavor.
- Pacific Salmon: A popular type of salmon known for its rich flavor and healthy omega-3 fatty acids. According to the National Institutes of Health, omega-3 fatty acids are essential for heart health (National Institutes of Health, 2022).
- Pacific Cod: A mild-flavored white fish that is often used in fish and chips.
- Pacific Sardines: Small, oily fish that are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin D.
- Pacific Halibut: A large flatfish with a firm texture and mild flavor.
- Pelagic Red Crab: A type of crab found in deep ocean waters, known for its sweet and delicate flavor.
- Pacific Oyster: A type of oyster native to the Pacific coast, known for its briny flavor.
5. What Cheese Starts With P?
Cheeses starting with ‘P’ bring unique textures and flavors to the cheese board. Here are some to consider:
- Parmesan: A hard, granular cheese with a nutty flavor, often grated over pasta dishes. Parmesan is a good source of calcium and protein.
- Paneer: A fresh, non-melting cheese popular in Indian cuisine. Paneer is a good source of protein and calcium.
Alt text: A dish of Paneer Tikka Masala, showcasing paneer cheese, a popular Indian cheese starting with the letter P.
- Provolone Cheese: A semi-hard cheese with a mild, slightly tangy flavor, often used in sandwiches and pizzas.
- Pecorino Romano: A hard, salty cheese made from sheep’s milk, often grated over pasta dishes.
6. What Sauces, Spices, and Condiments Start With P?
‘P’ labeled sauces, spices, and condiments add flavor and depth to your culinary creations. Here are some popular choices:
- Pâté: A spreadable paste made from meat, poultry, or fish, often served as an appetizer.
- Pesto: An Italian sauce made from basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil.
- Parsley: A versatile herb used to add flavor and garnish to dishes. Parsley is a good source of vitamins and antioxidants.
- Pinole: A traditional flour made from ground toasted corn, often used in beverages and desserts.
6.1 Other Flavorful “P” Ingredients
Explore these additional “P” sauces, spices, and condiments:
- Pepper (Peppercorn): A widely used spice that adds heat and flavor to dishes.
- Purée: A smooth, creamy sauce made from cooked fruits or vegetables.
- Pickles: Vegetables that have been preserved in brine, vinegar, or other solutions, offering a tangy and crunchy flavor.
- Panela (Piloncillo): Unrefined whole cane sugar, often used in Mexican cuisine.
- Paprika: A spice made from dried red peppers, used to add color and flavor to dishes.
- Pumpkin Spice: A blend of spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, often used in fall baking.
- Piri-Piri Sauce: A hot sauce made from piri-piri peppers, popular in Portuguese and African cuisine.
- Ponzu Sauce: A Japanese citrus sauce made from soy sauce, vinegar, citrus juice, and other ingredients.
7. What Meals Start With P? (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Foods)
Meals that start with ‘P’ offer a range of culinary experiences, from simple snacks to elaborate main courses.
7.1 Snacks, Appetizers, and Side Dishes
- Pizza: A popular dish made from a flatbread crust topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and various toppings.
- Popcorn: A snack made from corn kernels that are heated until they burst open.
- Puffed Rice: A light and airy snack made from puffed rice grains.
Alt text: A bowl of freshly popped popcorn, a classic snack that starts with the letter P.
- Potato Chips: Thinly sliced potatoes that are fried or baked until crispy.
- Popcorn Chicken: Small pieces of chicken that are breaded and fried until crispy.
- Pakora: Indian deep-fried fritters containing vegetables, meats, and spices.
- Poke: Hawaiian raw fish salad, typically made with tuna, soy sauce, sesame oil, and other ingredients.
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich: A classic sandwich made with peanut butter and jelly on bread.
- Pastrami on Rye Sandwich: A sandwich made with pastrami, mustard, and pickles on rye bread.
- Potato Salad: A cold salad made with potatoes, mayonnaise, and other ingredients.
- Panini: A grilled sandwich made with Italian bread.
- Pita Bread: A type of flatbread that is often used to make sandwiches or wraps.
- Puri: Indian deep-fried flatbread served with savory curries.
- Popover: A fluffy pastry similar to Yorkshire pudding, made with flour, eggs, and butter.
- Pierogi: European dumpling dish, often filled with potatoes, cheese, or meat.
- Poutine: A Canadian dish with French fries, cheese curds, and gravy.
- Pambazos: Mexican sandwiches dipped in guajillo pepper sauce.
- Piroshki: Russian boat-shaped stuffed buns.
7.2 Main Course Dishes
- Paella: An iconic Spanish dish with rice, meats, and spices.
- Peking Duck: A famous Chinese dish made with roasted duck and served with pancakes, scallions, and hoisin sauce.
- Pilaf: Various rice dishes with meat and vegetables.
- Pulled Pork: Slow-cooked pork that is shredded and served on sandwiches or as a main course.
- Pho: Vietnamese noodle soup with beef.
- Pad Thai: Thai stir-fried noodles with peanuts.
- Pork Tenderloin: A lean and tender cut of pork that can be roasted, grilled, or pan-fried.
- Porterhouse Steak: A large cut of beef that includes both the tenderloin and the strip steak.
- Pork Chop: A cut of pork that is often grilled or pan-fried.
- Pork Ribs: Ribs made from pork, often barbecued or grilled.
- Pot Pie: A savory pie filled with meat, vegetables, and gravy.
- Pot Roast: A tough cut of beef that is slow-cooked until tender.
- Polenta: Italian boiled cornmeal dish.
- Pernil: Puerto Rican slow-roasted pork.
- Paneer Tikka: Indian grilled cheese and vegetable skewers.
- Pappardelle with Ragù: Wide pasta with rich Italian meat sauce.
- Picadillo: Traditional Latin American meat stew with olives.
- Panang Curry: Thai red curry with creamy peanut sauce and lemon.
- Poi: Polynesian staple food made from taro.
7.3 Sweets and Desserts
- Pancake: A flat cake made from batter and cooked on a griddle or frying pan.
- Pretzel: A baked snack with a knotted shape and a salty flavor.
- Pecan Pie: A pie filled with pecans and a sweet, buttery filling.
- Pudding: A sweet dessert made from milk, sugar, and a thickening agent.
Alt text: A slice of pecan pie, a popular dessert that starts with the letter P.
- Popsicle: A frozen dessert made from flavored water or juice.
- Plum Pudding (Christmas Pudding): A traditional Christmas dessert made with dried fruits, spices, and molasses.
- Pumpkin Pie: A pie filled with pumpkin and spices.
- Pop-Tarts: A brand of toaster pastries filled with various flavors.
- Praline: A confection made from nuts and sugar.
- Pastries: A variety of baked goods made from dough, such as croissants, danishes, and éclairs.
- Parfait: A layered dessert made with ice cream, fruit, and whipped cream.
- Peanut Brittle: A brittle candy made from peanuts and sugar.
- Peppermint Bark: A chocolate candy with peppermint flavoring and crushed peppermint candies.
- Pineapple Upside Down Cake: A cake made with pineapple slices and a caramelized topping.
- Panna Cotta: Italian heavy cream dessert.
- Pandowdy: Baked fruit dessert.
- Profiterole: Cream-filled French pastry balls.
- Pavlova: Meringue dessert with fruit and cream.
- Poached Pears: Pears that have been cooked in a liquid, such as wine or syrup.
- Peach Cobbler: A baked fruit dessert with a biscuit topping.
- Pastel de Tres Leches: Mexican sponge cake soaked in milk.
- Petit Fours: French fancy bite-sized cakes.
- Panocha: Mexican wheat pudding with panela.
- Pandoro: Traditional Italian cake.
- Panettone: Italian fruitcake.
- Paska: Ukrainian decorative sweet bread.
8. What Drinks and Beverages Start With P?
‘P’ drinks and beverages offer a wide range of refreshments, from tropical cocktails to fine wines.
- Piña Colada: A tropical cocktail made with rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice.
- Punch: A mixed drink made with fruit juice, alcohol, and other ingredients.
- Port: A fortified wine from Portugal.
Alt text: A glass of Pinot Grigio wine, a refreshing drink that starts with the letter P.
- Pinot Grigio (Wine): A dry white wine known for its crisp acidity and refreshing flavor.
- Pinot Noir (Wine): A red wine known for its fruity aromas and smooth tannins.
- Prosecco (Sparkling Wine): An Italian sparkling wine, often used as an aperitif or in cocktails.
- Pink Lemonade: A lemonade with a pink hue, often made with cranberry juice or grenadine.
- Painkiller: A tropical cocktail made with rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, coconut cream, and nutmeg.
- Pink Gin: Gin with a pink hue, often flavored with berries or other fruits.
- Pepsi: A popular carbonated soft drink.
- Perrier: A brand of naturally carbonated mineral water.
9. FAQ
What are some popular Christmas foods that start with ‘P’
Some iconic Christmas desserts include pecan pie and plum pudding. Peppermint bark and pignoli are also often enjoyed during the holidays.
What popular Thanksgiving foods have names starting with ‘P’
Traditional Thanksgiving foods starting with ‘P’ include pecan pie, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin soup. Persimmon pudding is another seasonal favorite.
What is Poutine
Poutine is a Canadian dish made of french fries and cheese curds topped with brown gravy. It originated in Quebec in the late 1950s.
What is Pad Thai
Pad Thai is a stir-fried rice noodle dish commonly served as street food and in most restaurants in Thailand. It is made with rice noodles, shrimp, chicken, tofu, peanuts, scrambled eggs, and bean sprouts, among other ingredients.
What is Parma Ham
Parma Ham, or Prosciutto di Parma, is a type of dry-cured ham produced in the Parma region of Italy. It’s known for its delicate flavor and smooth texture.
What is Peking Duck
Peking Duck is a famous duck dish from Beijing that has been prepared since the imperial era. The duck is prized for its thin, crispy skin, with authentic versions of the dish serving mostly the skin and little meat.
What is Pesto Sauce
Pesto is a sauce originating in Genoa, Italy. Traditionally it consists of crushed garlic, basil, and European pine nuts blended with olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and Pecorino Sardo cheese.
What is Provolone Cheese
Provolone is an Italian semi-hard cheese made from cow’s milk. It is known for its smooth texture and mild to sharp flavor depending on its age.
What is Pepperoncino
Pepperoncino is the generic name for a variety of chili peppers, mostly of the Capsicum annuum species, widely used in Italian cuisine.
What is Pomfret Fish
Pomfret is a type of perciform fish belonging to the family Bramidae. It is a popular fish in Asian cuisine, known for its delicate, slightly sweet flavor.
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References:
- Aviram, M., Dornfeld, L., Rosenblat, M., Volkova, N., Kaplan, M., Coleman, R., … & Hayek, T. (2004). Pomegranate juice consumption inhibits serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and reduces systolic blood pressure in hypertensive individuals. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 71(5), 1062-1076.
- Brown, C. R. (2005). Antioxidants in potatoes. American Journal of Potato Research, 82(2), 163-172.
- National Institutes of Health. (2022). Omega-3 Fatty Acids. NIH.
- Варнина, В. П., & Кулакова, С. В. (2021). Изучение противовоспалительных свойств бромелайна. Всероссийский журнал научных публикаций, 7(14), 6-8.