Playing a culinary-inspired word game or simply wondering about more foods that start with the letter P?
Here is a list of 25 different foods that start with P, including fruits, veggies, snacks, dishes, and other foods beginning with his letter.
Read on to find out more, and see how much you guessed and how much didn’t come to mind before.
Fruits which start with the letter P
1. Papaya
Also known as papaws, the papaya is a fruit native to Mexico but grows naturally in Florida, the Caribbean, and other tropical climates. It has a bright orange-reddish color and is sweet and soft. This fruit is commonly added to various fruit salads, desserts, smoothies, and platters. Papaya is also known as an excellent tenderizer for tough meat cuts. It is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and other beneficial nutrients.
2. Passion Fruit
This is another nutritious and healthy tropical fruit that starts with the letter P. It is native to Brazil and the passionflower’s fruit from the Passiflora vine.
Passion fruit is round or oval-shaped and is most commonly yellow or purple in color. The rind is tough, but the center is juicy, sweet or sour, and full of edible seeds.
This exotic fruit is an excellent addition to different desserts, sauces, and drinks.
3. Peach
Prunus Persica is among the most common and loved fruits. The fruit comes in two varieties – peaches (with fuzzy skin) and nectarines (with glossy skin). But for commercial purposes, these two are considered different fruits, although they are the same species.
Peaches have a sweet floral taste and have hard corrugated pits, which, interestingly enough, have seeds that resemble and taste like almonds.
The peaches are usually consumed fresh or as part of various desserts, beverages, and creams or compotes. In different cultures, the peach is a symbol of other things, including youth, immortality in Asia, and femininity and sexuality in the western world.
4. Pineapple
Although it originated in South America, the pineapple is now one of the most consumed tropical fruits worldwide. The prickly fruit is brimming with beneficial elements, such as enzymes and antioxidants.
When completely ripe, it has a sweet and tangy flavor and is a key component in the well-known pina colada cocktail.
Today, pineapple is used in a wide variety of sweet and savory cuisines, as well as salads, pizzas, and barbecues.
5. Plum
Plums are believed to be one of the first cultivated fruits by humans and come in different types.
When dried, plums are called prunes. They are sweet fruits with singular seeds in the middle. Plums can be eaten fresh or used for making a wide variety of sweet and savory pastries and dishes, such as the classic Plum Torte, pies, plum jams, BBQ sauces. These fruits are used for making brandy in some countries in southeastern Europe.
6. Pomegranate
The pomegranate is a fruit that originated in the Middle East and is full of multiple edible seeds known as arils. The seeds are rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants and have a tangy and sweet flavor.
Today, the pomegranate is used for making fresh juices, smoothies, and cocktails. But also as an addition for green and fruit salads, jam, different desserts, and some delicious savory meals such as sticky grilled chicken.
7. Pomelo
The pomelo is the largest of all citrus fruits and is usually 6-10 inches in diameter. It comes from South East Asia and is a highly nutritious fruit low in calories. It is juicy, sweet, and sour and can be consumed fresh or squeezed into juice or in another beverage.
Although it is a very healthy fruit, like grapefruit, the pomelo is known to interact with some medications.
Vegetables that start with the letter P
8. Parsnip
The parsnip is a root that looks very much like a white-colored carrot. But its taste is very different from it. In fact, the flavor of the parsnip is nutty and earthy. This makes it an excellent ingredient for making a roast and for mashed potatoes. This veggie can be prepared into a main dish, a side, a puree, a dressing, salad, and even a Tarte Tatin.
9. Pea
These small round legumes grow in pods and are a household staple in many countries. Peas come in different variations, with snow peas and sugar snap peas being some of the most popular ones.
Peas are available in all forms but most often can be purchased frozen in bags. They are delicious when sautéed or when cooked in butter and are common ingredients for various dishes, including pea soup, puree, mashed peas, salad, and more.
10. Peppers
Peppers come from the Capsicum genus and are available in thousands of varieties. Some are of the hot varieties, commonly referred to as chili peppers. Others are of the sweet varieties, also known as bell peppers.
Bell peppers can be red, green, or sweet. The chili peppers come in different varieties with different heat scores measured in SHU (Scoville scale). Some of the more popular ones are jalapeno, habanero, cayenne, Scotch Bonnet, and Ghost pepper.
They are used for spicing up all types of dishes, salads, sauces, and in some cases, desserts.
11. Potatoes
Potatoes are the top vegetable crop grown in the USA and in many other countries worldwide. These starchy tubers are one of the most common ingredients and were brought to Europe from the Americas by the Spanish in the 16th century.
Today, potatoes are a staple food and are consumed cooked but in diverse forms. The most common potato meals are French fries, chips, crisps, potato salad, mashed, boiled, steamed, roasted, or boiled potatoes. They can also be used for soups and stews and for brewing vodka and other alcoholic beverages.
12. Pumpkins
While you probably associate them with the bright orange carved pumpkins used for decoration on Halloween, these plants are among the earliest domesticated by people.
These large round cultivars have an earthy and mild flavor and are eaten in the form of pumpkin soups, pies, muffins, or cakes, and both for sweet and for savory recipes.
Snacks that start with the letter P
13. Peanuts
Peanuts are possibly the most popular and widespread nuts in the world. They can be eaten raw and straight out of their shells, or they can be roasted or crushed too.
Peanuts are used to make peanut butter, for desserts, pastries and ice cream, sweets, salads, and for preparing various dishes.
14. Pistachios
You may think that the pistachio is a nut, but the truth is that it is a seed in a drupe fruit. This makes it a culinary rather than a botanic nut. Pistachios are mildly sweet and go well with different types of cooked meat, baked goods, pastries, ice cream, other desserts, and garnish.
Pistachios are rich in fiber, minerals, and vitamins, which makes them a favorite snack for health nuts (pun intended).
15. Popcorn
While you may associate popcorn with the butter-soaked popcorn sold in movie theaters, the fact is that this snack can be very healthy and low in calories when prepared without all of that additional butter.
In fact, a cup of popcorn has only about 30 calories, and you know how filling these puffy popped corn kernels can be.
16. Pretzels
This knot-shaped baked pastry is a traditional food in Germany, France, and other European countries and a favorite snack all around the world. Pretzels come in different sizes and forms. Some are seasoned with salt only, while others have more non-standard seasoning such as cheese, cinnamon, sugar, mustard, chocolate, seeds, nuts, and more.
In the past, pretzels were associated with Easter due to their association with fasting, lent, and the Easter prayers.
Dishes that start with the letter P
17. Pancakes
These fabulous flat cakes made in frying pans or griddles are the favorite breakfast choice and dessert or snack for young and older people worldwide.
The French pancakes are known as crepes. In North America, they are widely recognized as a breakfast food and eaten with maple syrup and other sweet toppings.
But pancakes can be savory as well, and you can even make a pancake sandwich with a filling of choice with them.
18. Pasta
Pasta is a traditional Italian food which though has become one of the favorite dishes for people worldwide. Pasta is made of unleavened dough made of wheat flour, water, and eggs and formed into sheets or other shapes. Pasta comes in over 350 different varieties. The most popular ones are spaghetti, fusilli, fettuccini, linguini, macaroni, penne, ravioli and more.
19. Pie
Pie is one of the most beloved baked goods in the USA and in many other countries around the world. It can be made as a special celebratory dish for an occasion, an everyday dessert, or even a savory dish.
Pies have dough casings but can be filled with whatever ingredient or filling you like. The most common pies are apple, lemon, pecan, cream, and custard pies, but there are many meat versions too.
20. Pizza
This is another favorite traditional Italian food that starts with the letter P. The delicious dish is made with a flat dough base covered with sauce or any toppings of your choice. The traditional Italian ingredients for pizzas are tomatoes, black olives, mozzarella, prosciutto, salami, anchovies, provolone, and fresh basil.
Around the world, though, you can find sweet pizza and pizza with pineapple and other untraditional toppings.
21. Poached eggs
Although you may think that making poached eggs is easy, some world-famous chefs claim that they are among the hardest dishes to master.
As a whole, a poached egg is made by cracking a whole egg in gently boiling water with some vinegar and cooking it. Then the egg is strained and served immediately or can be placed on an ice bath if you want to eat it later.
22. Polenta
This creamy porridge-like dish is of Italian origin and is a top preferred bed for different sauces. Polenta tough can be used as a solid piece of food that can be baked, fried, or sliced.
The taste of polenta is pretty close to grits because both are made of corn.
Polenta is an excellent alternative to pasta, potatoes, and rice in any meal.
Other food products which start with the letter P
23. Pepperoni
This is one of the most loved cured meats, which people adore due to its spicy and smoky taste. Pepperoni is a favorite pizza topping but can also be served in sandwiches, spread on salads, and can even be baked in bread or made into chips.
Related: How Long Does Pepperoni Last?
24. Pickles
Pickles are actually cucumbers brined in salty water, vinegar, or another solution that causes them to ferment. The method for making them is called pickling. The solution used for the brining of the cucumbers can vary and can be salty, sweet, and sometimes hot.
25. Pork
Pork is the top-consumed meat on Earth. Around the globe, pork is prepared and eaten in various ways. It can be roasted, fried, baked, grilled, cured, smoked, and otherwise made into a delicious dish or lunch meat.