40+ Foods That Start With V – Unique Dishes, Fruits & Fun Facts
Explore over 40 foods that start with the letter V—from Vada Pav to Victoria Sponge Cake. Includes meals, fruits, drinks, and fun facts to boost your food IQ!
Andrew
Looking to expand your food vocabulary or find ingredients for a fun food challenge Here’s a list of more than 40 foods that start with the letter V, ranging from everyday favorites to exotic delights. This guide is perfect for foodies, kids learning letters, or anyone writing about cuisine. Each food item includes a detailed description and a fun fact to make it both educational and engaging.
Main Dishes & Meals
1. Vada Pav
Image source: swiggy.com
A famous Mumbai street food consisting of a spicy mashed potato fritter (vada) dipped in gram flour batter, deep-fried, and placed inside a soft bread roll (pav). Usually served with green chili and spicy chutneys, it's a quick and flavorful snack loved across India.
Fun Fact: Nicknamed the 'Indian burger', it was created by Ashok Vaidya outside Dadar Station in the 1960s.
2. Vindaloo – A Goan curry dish originally made with pork, vinegar, garlic, and spices. It's tangy and fiery, a result of Portuguese influence during colonial times. Today, it includes versions with chicken, lamb, or tofu.
Fun Fact: The name comes from 'vinha d’alhos', Portuguese for meat marinated in garlic and wine.
3. Vegetable Biryani – A rich, aromatic rice dish made with spiced vegetables layered with saffron-infused basmati rice. Common vegetables include carrots, peas, beans, and potatoes. It’s typically cooked dum-style (sealed pot) to let flavors meld. Served with raita or curry.
Fun Fact: Though biryani originated in royal Mughal kitchens, the vegetable version gained popularity as a flavorful alternative in vegetarian households.
4. Vichyssoise – A creamy, chilled soup made with leeks, potatoes, cream, and onions. Served cold in summer, it's known for its silky smoothness. Though it has a French name, the dish was popularized in the U.S.
Fun Fact: Chef Louis Diat created it at New York’s Ritz-Carlton in 1917 based on his mother’s potato soup.
5. Vol-au-Vent – A light puff pastry shell filled with creamy meats like chicken, shrimp, or mushrooms in béchamel or velouté sauce. Often served at holiday dinners or French parties.
Fun Fact: The name translates to “blown by the wind,” referring to the pastry’s airy texture.
Fruits
6. Valencia Orange – A sweet, juicy citrus fruit with thin skin and few seeds, perfect for juicing. Grown in California, Florida, and Spain.
Fun Fact: It’s the most popular variety used in commercial orange juice production.
Image source: Pinterest.com
7. Victoria Plum – A soft, juicy plum with reddish-purple skin and sweet yellow flesh. Common in the UK for baking, jamming, and snacking.
Fun Fact: Named after Queen Victoria, this cultivar has been loved since 1844.
Image source: Pinterest.com
8. Velvet Apple – Also called Mabolo, it has reddish fuzzy skin like a peach and white, creamy flesh. Popular in Southeast Asia.
Fun Fact: Despite its sweet taste, it has a strong cheese-like smell when ripe.
Image source: greensofkerala
9. Velvet Tamarind – Small black fruit with a tart, sticky pulp. Found in West Africa and Southeast Asia, it’s used in drinks and natural remedies.
Fun Fact: In Ghana, it’s known as “Yoyi” and often sold by street vendors.
Image source: Pinterest.com
Vegetables & Legumes
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10. Vidalia Onion – A mild, sweet onion grown in a specific region of Georgia, USA. Used raw in salads or grilled.
Fun Fact: Legally protected—only onions grown in designated Georgia counties can be called Vidalia.
11. Vivaldi Potato – A golden-skinned, buttery-tasting potato with fewer calories than most varieties. Great for mashing or baking.
Fun Fact: It earned the nickname “Weight Watcher’s Potato.”
12. Velvet Bean – A tropical legume used in both food and Ayurvedic medicine. Its seeds contain L-DOPA, a precursor to dopamine.
Fun Fact: It's sometimes called “cowitch” and used in Parkinson’s treatments.
13. Vietnamese Coriander – A peppery herb used in Southeast Asian salads and soups. It has a spicy kick compared to regular cilantro.
Fun Fact: Known as “rau ram” in Vietnam, it’s a staple in bánh xèo and duck salad.
Spices, Sauces, and Condiments
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14. Vinegar – A sour liquid used for pickling, dressing, and marinades. Comes in many types: apple cider, balsamic, white, rice, and more.
Fun Fact: Vinegar dates back 5,000+ years and was found in Egyptian urns.
15. Vinaigrette – A salad dressing made from vinegar and oil, often with mustard or herbs.
Fun Fact: The classic French ratio is 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar.
16. Vadouvan – A French take on Indian curry powder, often including onion, garlic, and fennel. Adds warmth to soups and meats.
Fun Fact: A colonial fusion that combines Indian spices with European aromatics.
17. Voatsiperifery – A rare wild pepper from Madagascar with citrusy, floral flavors. Used by Michelin-star chefs.
Fun Fact: Grown only in Madagascar and harvested by hand from vines up to 20 feet tall.
18. Verjuice – Sour juice from unripe grapes or crab apples. Used in sauces and as a lemon substitute in medieval recipes.
Fun Fact: Was a key ingredient in cooking before citrus was widely traded.
Desserts
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19. Vanilla Ice Cream – A classic frozen dessert made with cream, vanilla extract, and sugar. One of the most universally loved ice cream flavors.
Fun Fact: Vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world after saffron.
20. Victoria Sponge Cake – A British teatime favorite with layers of sponge cake, jam, and whipped cream.
Fun Fact: Queen Victoria enjoyed it with her afternoon tea—hence the name.
21. Velvet Cake – Usually refers to red velvet cake, made with cocoa and buttermilk. Its smooth, soft crumb is iconic.
Fun Fact: The red color came from a natural reaction between cocoa and vinegar, not food dye.
22. Vlaai – A round, yeasted pie from the Netherlands filled with custard, fruits, or rice. Served in slices like cake.
Fun Fact: Originates from Limburg and is eaten during birthdays and special events.
23. Vasilopita – A Greek New Year’s cake flavored with orange or brandy, with a hidden coin inside.
Fun Fact: Whoever finds the coin is said to have good luck for the year.
24. Vanilla Pudding – A creamy dessert made from milk, vanilla, sugar, and thickener like cornstarch or egg yolk.
Fun Fact: Became a school lunch staple across the U.S. in the 20th century.
Drinks
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25. Vanilla Latte – Espresso with steamed milk and vanilla syrup. Creamy, sweet, and a café classic.
Fun Fact: One of the best-selling drinks at Starbucks since the early 2000s.
26. Vodka – A distilled spirit made from potatoes or grains. Clear and neutral in taste, used in cocktails.
Fun Fact: The word “vodka” means “little water” in Russian.
27. Vodka Tonic – A refreshing cocktail of vodka, tonic water, and lime.
Fun Fact: Tonic water originally contained quinine, once used to treat malaria.
28. Virgin Mojito – A non-alcoholic version of the mojito with mint, lime, sugar, and soda.
Fun Fact: Offers the same fresh flavors as a mojito without the alcohol buzz.
29. Vesper Martini – A James Bond cocktail combining vodka, gin, and Lillet. Served shaken, not stirred.
Fun Fact: Named by Bond himself in Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale (1953).
Snacks & Others
Image source: pinterest.com
30. Vienna Sausage – Small canned sausages often made from chicken or pork. Served hot or cold.
Fun Fact: Originally inspired by Austrian sausages but made popular in the U.S.
31. Vermicelli – Thin pasta used in savory and sweet dishes like seviyan (Indian dessert) or noodle soups.
Fun Fact: The name means “little worms” in Italian.
32. Vanilla Wafers – Crunchy cookies with vanilla flavor. Commonly used in banana pudding.
Fun Fact: Nabisco has sold its iconic Nilla Wafers since 1898.
33. Vegetable Chips – Baked or fried snacks made from beetroot, kale, carrots, or sweet potato.
Fun Fact: A nutritious alternative to standard potato chips.
34. Vegan Cheese – Cheese made from plant-based ingredients like nuts, soy, or coconut oil.
Fun Fact: Global demand is soaring—valued at over $2.5 billion in 2025.
35. Venison Jerky – Dried meat made from deer, often smoked and spiced.
Fun Fact: 'Jerky' comes from the Quechua word ch’arki, meaning “dried meat.”
36. Velveeta – A smooth, processed cheese product known for melting perfectly in sauces and dips.
Fun Fact: Developed in 1918, it was originally marketed as a health food due to its protein retention.
37. Vitello Tonnato – An Italian dish with sliced cold veal covered in tuna sauce. Served chilled as antipasto.
Fun Fact: A summer specialty from Piedmont, Italy—unusual for its fish-meat combo.
38. Volga Cake – A rich Eastern European cake made with chocolate, cream, and walnuts.
Fun Fact: Named after the Volga River and often served during major celebrations.
39. Viennoiserie – A category of French pastries including croissants, pain au chocolat, and brioche.
Fun Fact: Though popularized in France, the croissant’s origins trace back to Austria.
40. Vine Leaf Dolma – Grape leaves stuffed with rice, pine nuts, herbs, and occasionally meat.
Fun Fact: A staple in Middle Eastern and Greek cuisines—served hot or cold.
41. Vitamin Water – Flavored water enhanced with vitamins and minerals. A popular hydration drink.
Fun Fact: Rapper 50 Cent famously made over $100M from his investment in the brand.
Final Thoughts
From vibrant vegetables to vintage cakes, this complete list of 40+ foods that start with V showcases the delicious diversity of global cuisine. Whether you’re writing food content, teaching, or exploring alphabet cooking, this guide offers rich, accurate, and fun food knowledge.
FAQs
Q: What’s a healthy food that starts with V
A: Velvet bean, Victoria plum, Valencia orange, and vegan cheese.
Q: What’s a rare or exotic food with V
A: Voatsiperifery pepper and velvet tamarind are lesser-known but gourmet favorites.
Q: What desserts start with V
A: Vanilla pudding, Victoria sponge cake, velvet cake, vasilopita, and vlaai.
