Are you and your fellow foodies playing a game? Or perhaps you’re attempting to improve your home cuisine by using some novel and surprising ingredients, or what other meal begins with “U”?
Why not give some of these dishes that begin with a U a try? Some of the unique and delectable meals we have chosen come from every continent, which may surprise and intrigue you.
Here are for you 22 meals and ingredients from all around the world that begin with the letter U.
22 Foods That Start With U
U-No Bar
The U-No Bar is a candy bar very similar to the famous 3 Musketeers candy.
It too is wrapped in a silver package and has a chocolate center, encapsulated in a fluffy truffle and a thin and delicious milk chocolate layer that has ground almonds in it.
It sounds delicious, and it is!
The U-No Bar used to come in original and mint flavors, but the mint one was discontinued by the Annabelle Candy Company not long ago.
The U-No Bar is high in calories and fat but is an absolute must for those of you with a sweet tooth!
Ube
The ube is a root plant that has an unusual and eye-catching purple color. The tuber can be a darker violet to a brighter lavender color and is a variety of purple yams.
Ube is a common ingredient used in the Philippines, mainly for making striking-looking, bright purple desserts, such as cookies, cupcakes, ice cream, pancakes, donuts, and other sweet treats.
With some ube you can bring some unexpected and, at the same time, all-natural coloring to your baked or cooked foods!
Udon
If you are a Japanese food fan, then you are probably familiar with the udon noodles.
These thick wheat flour noodles are satisfyingly dense and chewy and work well in all kinds of stir fry recipes as well as in broths.
Plus, they will provide you with a healthy amount of fiber and carbs and can be eaten cold or hot.
The benefit of udon noodles as compared to ramen is that the former contains less MSG and sodium than the latter.
When compared to soba noodles, the udon noodles are thicker than the grainier soba, which is made of buckwheat flour.
Related: Does Ramen Noodles Expire or Go Bad?
Ugali
Ugali, which is also known as corn fufu, bogobe, nshima, or a variety of other names, is popular thick maize or corn porridge from Kenya and throughout the rest of Africa.
While it is a simple side dish, it is delicious when combined with stews, veggie dishes, curries, and others.
It is similar to polenta and is a staple in Kenya, where ugali is eaten on a daily basis. In Kenya, the Ugali is often used as a scooping utensil by the locals when eating stew.
Ugli
Ugli, or ugli fruit, is a Jamaican tangelo and is a citrus fruit that is the perfect hybrid between a pomelo and a tangerine.
It is usually a bit larger than a grapefruit and is very juicy and sweeter than the grapefruit. Plus, it has fewer seeds too.
This fragrant and juicy citrus fruit has a flavor that resembles that of a tangerine and is very rich in vitamin C.
The name ugli comes from its rather unsightly appearance, but don’t let its looks fool you! If you have a chance, you should definitely try this mouthwatering and healthy fruit from Jamaica.
Ukrainian Rolls
As the name suggests, these rolls come from Ukraine, where they are commonly referred to as “pampushki.”
These small, fluffy and soft rolls pull apart beautifully and are usually served drizzled with aromatic herbs and garlic.
They are a common side for borsch and other soups and stews, but you can eat them as snacks and even make delicious hamburgers with your Ukrainian rolls.
Umami Burger
So, Umami Burger is not really a food, but it is a famous US restaurant chain that offers unique burgers with an umami flavor.
As you probably know, umami is the Japanese word for “essence of delicious” and is the latest discovered fifth taste.
It was discovered back in 1908 by Dr. Kikunae Ikeda, a Japanese scientist, as the fifth taste alongside bitter, sweet, sour, and salty.
Umami is the taste of an amino acid known as glutamate, which can be found in multiple types of
plant and animal-based foods.
Umble Pie
The Umble pie is a traditional simple dish originating from the UK, which is a pie that is filled with the cheapest parts of the animal. The minced heart, lungs, kidneys, or liver of deer or other animals are commonly used as a filling for the umble pie. It is seasoned with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
Its name comes from the French word nomble, which means the insides of a deer.
Umbrella Fruit
Umbrella fruit is often referred to as ambarella or June plum and grows on tropical and equatorial trees.
It is a sour fruit that is eaten as a fruit but also used for adding flavor to different broths, soups, and other dishes in tropical areas.
Although it is grown in South Florida, the umbrella fruit has not gained too much popularity in the USA yet. So, why not try out this crunchy and slightly sour fruit yourself?
Umbricelli Pasta
Even if you are a die-hard Italian food fan, the chances are that you may not have heard of the umbricelli pasta.
It is strand-type pasta that originates from Siena and is hand-rolled and thicker than spaghetti.
The pasta is made from dough made only of durum flour and water and without eggs, and as such is thicker and chewier than other past of this type.
Umbricelli pasta goes well with different sauces, including tomato, truffle, or cream sauce with mushrooms.
Unagi
Unagi is the Japanese name of the Japanese freshwater eel, which is a common ingredient in Japanese cuisine.
Unagi can be served in different dishes, including on a bed of rice, as an element of a unagidon, and even as sushi or in a pie.
Since this freshwater eel is highly toxic when it is raw, it is always served cooked.
An interesting fact is that there is a special day dedicated to eating unagi in Japan, which is known as the day of the Ox and occurs in the middle of the summer.
Uni
Uni is yet another food that starts with a “U” and is a staple in Japanese cuisine.
Uni is the sex organ or gonads of the sea urchin. The sea urchin is a spiky and delicate creature that is commonly referred to as the hedgehog of the sea.
In Japan, and elsewhere you can enjoy a bite of delicious uni on sushi or other dishes.
But since it is hard to harvest and clean, uni can be quite pricey!
Upma
Upma is popular breakfast food in South India. It is made of roasted Rava, which is the Hindu name for semolina or cream of wheat.
In Mumbai, upma is served for breakfast with lemon slices and sev, but in other parts of the country, it is also enjoyed with lemon pickle or coconut chutney too.
It is a simple and yet filling and hearty breakfast dish.
Upside-Down Cake
An upside-down cake is a single-pan cake that has been baked upside down with all of the toppings placed on the bottom of the pan. It is served with the bottom side up, and hence the name.
It is usually made with different sliced or chopped fruits on the bottom, with pineapples, apples, peaches, or cherries being a common choice.
The French version of this upside-down cake is the Tarte Tatin.
Urad Dal
Urad dal is also known as vigna mungo and is a small-sized black lentil related to the mung bean.
It is commonly used in Indian cuisine and has multiple health benefits, including energy-boosting, strengthening of the bones, improvement of the digestive system, and the health of the nervous system.
Urfa Pepper Flakes
These pepper flakes come from Turkey and the Middle East and have an exotic flavor combining spiciness, smokiness, and a slight sweetness.
While it is part of the red chili pepper family, the urfa biber pepper becomes dark maroon color when it ripens.
Its Scoville scale score is about 30,000 to 50,000 SHU.
Urgelia Cheese
Urgelia cheese is made in the Catalan Pyrenees mountain region in Spain from cow milk. The cheese is a semi-soft, aromatic, and creamy one, with a slight saltiness and nuttiness.
One of its best characteristics is that it holds its shape when melted, so it is perfect for grilling and baking. But it will work well in salads, with antipasti and served with wine and fruits.
Uszka
Uszka is a dumpling from Poland, which there is called “vushka” meaning “little ears.”
The Uszka is a small and twisted pierogi-type dumpling, commonly filled with minced meat and wild forest mushrooms.
These dumplings can be enjoyed as snacks or as a side dish, but in Poland are usually served in a stew or soup.
Utah Scones
These Utah scones we inspired by the pastries made by Native Americans, and what makes them unique is the buttermilk.
They have an airy and light texture and are best served with honey butter or with fruits and chocolate.
Utthappam
This traditional Indian dish is also known as uttappam and is very similar to a pizza.
The Utthappam is thicker than the more popular dosa and is made with toppings including vegetables, herbs, eggs, or others.
The uttapam batter is made of rice and urad dal, which is another product included in our list of foods starting with a U.
Umeboshi
Once again, we are back in Japan with this quite unique food. The Umeboshi is a pickled plum, also known as Japanese plum, and has a strange but very intriguing salty and sour flavor. There are also sweet versions available.
Umeboshi is considered a superfood, and even the Samurai used to eat the Japanese plums before battle to get a boost of power and endurance.
Usal
The usal (or oosal) from India is the last food which starts with a U on this list. It is a type of spicy curry which is made of either sprouted matki or moth beans, lentils, or dried beans.
The beans are left to soak for a few days until they sprout and then are stir-fried with curry leaves, onions, and spices, with water and oil.
The usal is served with rice or bread and is a hearty and filling dish.