Have you ever seen how many new foods are out there that you didn’t know about? If you look up foods alphabetically, this will be the case. So, why not start with the letter Q next time you are wondering?
List of Foods that Begin With The Letter Q
Here is our list of fruits, vegetables, cooked food, and whole foods that begin with the letter Q:
Condiments, Spices, and Additives
#1. Quatre Epices
Quatre epices is French for “four spices,” which usually consists of a mixture of pepper, ginger, nutmeg, or cloves. In some cases, these spices may vary depending on personal choice. This mix of spices can also be found in many Middle Eastern cuisines.
#2. Quassia
This plant is also known as amargo, bitter-ash, and bitter-wood, and it is used in aperitifs, beer, and some fortified wine.
Often, this herb is used to treat indigestion and constipation, while others think of it as a purgative. Quassia is native to the southwestern desertic regions of the United States.
#3. Qizha
Qizha is a black seed paste commonly used in Palestine. This paste comes from nigella seeds and it has a sharp and bitter flavor. Normally, qizha is used along with other ingredients, like tahini, or inside the bread, pastries, and pies.
Fruits and Vegetables
#4. Quince
Quince is a small and round yellow fruit that looks similar to a pear but it is quite sour. Since quince is very high in pectin, many people use it to prepare jam and jelly, or in pies and tarts. To get more sweetness and softness out of it, quince is better served cooked.
#5. Quandong
Also known as the desert quandong, this fruit is native to central deserts and the south of Australia. This fruit tastes slightly sour and salty with some hints of sweetness. Often, this fruit is picked and dried to make jam, jelly, chutneys, or pies.
#6. Quararibea
Quararibea is also called South American sapote or chupa-chupa, and it is a fruit native to Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru. This orange and yellow fruit is very soft and juicy, sometimes resembling mango and peach.
Quararibea is hard to find even in South America, as it is not widely cultivated.
#7. Quenepa
Quenepa is also called Spanish lime, mamon, limoncillo, and huaya, and it is common to Central America and the Caribbean. This fruit looks like lime on the outside, but the pulp inside is orange, juicy, and a bit gelatinous.
Quenepa is bittersweet, and some say it tastes slightly like wine.
#8. Quinoa
Quinoa is a seed in the amaranth family that is often referred to as a grain. This food is considered a “superfood” because it contains high amounts of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Quinoa is becoming popular everywhere, but it has been a traditional food in the Andes regions of South America for centuries.
See More: Does Quinoa Go Bad?
#9. Quadrettini
Quadrettini is a style of pasta that is flat and is either shaped as a square or a triangle. In Italy and other cuisines, quadrettini is often served in soups. This pasta originated as a means to save leftover pasta intended to be made into fettuccine during special holidays.
Prepared Dishes
#10. Quiche
A quiche is a French tart made with a pastry crust that is filled with custard, meat, cheese, fish, or vegetables.
Quiche Lorraine is the most popular kind of quiche, and it consists of a custard made with eggs, bacon, and cheese. A quiche can be served cold or warm and it is often considered an appetizer or a snack.
#11. Quenelle
Quenelle is a word used to describe a dish made with meat or fish, cream, eggs, and breadcrumbs. This dish is formed into an egg shape and then cooked, usually by poaching.
Quenelle was meant to be served as a garnish in gourmet cuisines, but may now be found as a main dish.
#12. Quick Bread
Quick bread is the term that refers to any bread that is leavened with a chemical agent and not yeast or sourdough starter.
Many baked goods are a quick bread, but some common ones include brownies, cookies, cakes, banana bread, and biscuits. The chemical leavening, in this case, is baking soda or baking powder.
#13. Quesadilla
A quesadilla is a Mexican dish consisting of a corn or flour tortilla filled with cheese, spices, vegetables, and sometimes meat.
A full quesadilla is one made with two tortillas that hold everything between them, like a sandwich. The quesadilla dates back to colonial Mexico but has now become popular everywhere else.
#14. Queso
Queso, or queso dip, is an appetizer or side dish made with melted cheese, chili peppers, and spices. This food is traditionally served in Tex-Mex restaurants and is accompanied by corn or flour tortilla chips.
Often, queso is made with Velveeta or another processed cheese, Monterey Jack, pepper jack, and cream cheese.
#15. Quark
Sometimes called quarg, this is a dairy product made by warming sour milk until there is enough curdling, which is then strained. Traditionally, quark is made without rennet, but modern manufacturing does include it. Unlike yogurt, quark is soft and relatively sweet, not acidic.
#16. Quarter Pounder
If you like fast food, then you know of the quarter pounder. This is a hamburger prepared by the company McDonald’s, and it gets its name from the fact that it contains ¼ beef. The quarter pounder is one of the most popular dishes on the menu at this famous fast food joint.
Fish, Poultry, Meat, and Others
#17. Quail
Quail is a small, short-tailed bird that is often hunted and eaten as a main dish. Like other birds, quail is a good source of protein and contains a high number of vitamins and minerals. While some people eat quail and its eggs, some have this bird as a pet.
#18. Quahog
Quahog is an edible clam from North America, particularly the Atlantic coast. These clams are common in restaurants along the coast and are eaten raw. Throughout history, the shells of quahog have been used by Native Americans as beads.
#19. Quorn
Quorn is a meat substitute from the United Kingdom and is primarily sold in Europe. The texture of this product is supposed to resemble animal meat, but it is completely vegetarian. There is also a vegan alternative that doesn’t contain any eggs and uses only potato starch.
Cocktails and Beverages
#20. Quinine
Quinine is the chemical name of tonic water, a common beverage used in making cocktails. This compound is very bitter, and it comes from the bark of the cinchona tree. Originally, quinine was invented as a medicine to fight malaria.
FAQs
Some fruits that start with the letter Q include quince, quandong, and quararibea. Of these, quince is the most common fruit.
Healthy foods by the letter Q include quinoa, quince, quorn, and quark. The health benefits of each food vary, but these are all nutritious, and you can have them in moderation.
A typical Mexican food by the letter Q is the famous quesadilla. However, some people consider queso to be of Mexican descent, though it belongs in the Tex-Mex category.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of options if you want to try cooking and eating foods by the letter Q. These are all tasty ingredients and foods that you can try any time you feel like experimenting. It’s time to get started on this list of food names by the letter Q!
Up next: Foods That Start With U
