A-Z of Vegetables and Fruits
List of Vegetables A-Z
A
Asparagus belongs to the family of onions and garlic and is a staple ingredient used in different cuisines. Asparagus is garnished and roasted, making it the perfect side dish for many popular recipes.
B
Bell Peppers come in a variety of colours red, yellow, orange and green, each with an excellent nutritional profile. You can stuff them, saute them, add them to pizzas and salads or even pickle them.
C
Carrots are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fibre and are a popular ingredient in salads and soups. Carrots are also used to prepare desserts in some cuisines.
D
Dill – it’s more of a herb than a vegetable, and both its leaves and seeds of dill are used as garnishing and seasoning agents
E
Eggplant, also known as brinjals and aubergines, are known for their subtle taste and high nutritional content.
F
Fenugreek leaves and seeds are commonly used in Indian cuisine and are typically known for their high anti-inflammation properties.
G
Green beans, when young and unripe, taste the best! They are high in vitamin K, calcium and folate – these essential vitamins and minerals we need to keep our bodies safe from different lifestyle ailments.
H
Hass Avocado, usually classified as berries, are considered to be vegetables as they are mostly used in savoury dishes. Their creamy and rich texture makes them the perfect addition to toasts, spreads, tacos, burritos and a lot more.
I
Iceberg lettuce is just the crunch and flavour you require in your salads, wraps and sandwiches! Loaded with fibre, iceberg lettuce is rich in calcium, vitamin C and folate too.
J
Jackfruit has lately become popular as a meat substitute in many recipes. Considering the health benefits of raw jackfruit, it is a wholesome food for not just vegans but everyone out there!
K
Kale is a superfood known for its high antioxidant fibre content. It belongs to the leaf cabbage family, making it the perfect addition to salads, tossed veggies, pastas, chips, scrambled eggs and a lot more!
L
Lentils are the dried seeds of the legume plant, and they meet almost 32% of our daily fibre requirement. You can prepare lentil-based soups, curries or porridge. Sprouted lentil salads, too, are super healthy breakfast fixes.
M
Mushrooms are a popular ingredient in different cuisines across the world, known for their distinct taste and excellent nutritional profile. Mushrooms go well with pizzas, soups, gravies, sandwiches and a lot more!
N
Nettles, when fresh and green, feature the highest nutritional content. You can prepare a nettle soup, add it to pesto or simply saute them with seasonings of your choice.
O
Onions are a staple in many recipes – you can use them raw, cook them al dente, or simply fry them; onions will taste amazing either way! The sulfur content in onions helps tackle stubborn cholesterol in our bodies, helping us lose weight faster.
P
Potato – when in doubt, potato it out! Potatoes are known for their neutral taste and ability to blend into any recipe. Boil them, fry or saute them with the right seasonings – you’re in for a complete delight!
Q
Quandong, the new Aussie superfood, is known for its sweetish, tangy flesh. So if you’re looking to add a dash of tanginess to your dips and sauces, quandong, rich in vitamin C, is the perfect fit!
R
Radish belongs to the root family and has an excellent nutritional profile – right from antioxidants to essential vitamins and minerals, radish is loaded with it all. The pungent flavour and crunchy texture of radish make it a perfect addition to salads and other healthy recipes.
S
Shallots are similar to onions but come with slightly different physical features. High in antioxidants, shallots can be eaten raw, cooked or even pickled.
T
Turnips are root vegetables loaded with plant chemicals that can help prevent different types of cancer. Spice them, add them to rice or soups, use them as sides, roast them or add them to whichever recipe you wish to derive the nutritional benefits of.
U
Ube, also known as purple yam, is found in two colours – white and purple. Its subtle taste makes it a great addition to savoury and sweet recipes.
V
Velvet Beans are tropical legumes native to Africa and Asia. They have been used since ancient times as a remedy to treat anxiety, depression, blood pressure and many other ailments.
W
Wasabi has its origins in Japan but is now popular across the world for its pungent yet delicate flavour and great nutritional profile.
X
Xigua is rich in antioxidants and has a delectable flavour too. It helps deal with bad cholesterol and improves blood circulation in the body. It’s a perfect item to snack on to deal with those untimely hunger pangs. boiled, pickled, sauteed or even consumed raw. It has its origins in the Americas but is now one of the widely used ingredients in cuisines across the world!
Y
Yams are tuber vegetables and are loaded with resistant starch and fibre. Both these elements are essential to maintain digestive health. The neutral taste of yams makes them a staple in a variety of sweet and savoury recipes.
Z
Zucchini has a stellar nutritional profile and can be baked, boiled, pickled, sauteed or even consumed raw. It has its origins in the Americas but is now one of the widely used ingredients in cuisines across the world!
List of Fruits A-Z
A
Apricots are fresh, bright fruits that have a tangy taste. Loaded with carotenoids, apricots are perfect for the health of your eyes. You can prepare apricot cookies, cakes, smoothies, and chutneys – the list is endless!
B
Berries – strawberries, mulberries, blackberries, blueberries! The berry family is known for being a powerhouse of antioxidants. You can easily add these berries to desserts, smoothie bowls, cakes, fruit salads, juices and a lot more!
C
Canary melons are an indigenous variety of melons and are known for their subtle, honey-like flavour. Loaded with soluble fibre, these water-laden melons are a perfect snack for the hot summer days -add them to your fruit salads and juices for a dash of natural sweetness.
D
Dragon fruits are super rich in vitamin C and are popular immunity boosters. You can easily add this refreshing fruit to salads, juices or smoothies for a fresh start to your day.
E
European Pears have a lovely, distinct taste that can instantly elevate the flavour of any dessert you add it to. You can poach the pears, bake them or even add them to a cake recipe.
F
Figs are a powerhouse of calcium and potassium and are perfect for bone health. They are the perfect ingredient in jams, chutneys, pies, tarts, salads, cakes, and even puddings.
G
Guavas are loaded with pectin, which works as a natural thickener. Guavas are the right fit for pies, jams or any other dessert recipes.
H
Honey berries thrive in spring and are a perfect sweet snack. They’re a cross between blueberries and raspberries and have the best of both flavours. Honey berries perfectly complement salads, fresh fruits, ice creams and other sweet recipes.
I
Ice apples look like lychees but taste like coconut flesh. Rich in iron, potassium, antioxidants and vitamin B too. The fruit is hydrating and has a subtle, sweet taste.
J
Jujube is a Chinese red date and can be consumed fresh or dried. They are natural sweeteners and a staple in different dessert recipes across cuisines in the world.
K
Kiwi is a superfood and is a powerhouse of vitamin C, fibre and antioxidants. These tangy-sweet fruits have their origins in the far East but are currently cultivated extensively in China. Add these superfoods to your breakfast smoothies, bread, salsa, muffins, and jams, or simply slice them and eat them raw.
L
Lychees are an excellent source of a number of vitamins and antioxidants. If you have a bunch of lychees, you can easily prepare a pudding or juice using them. In some cuisines, lychees are also spiced, pickled and made into sauces.
M
Mango, the king of fruits, is known for its rich texture and amazing flavour. Apart from their taste, mangoes are rich in vitamin C, fibre and other nutrients too. Bake a mango cheesecake, prepare a delicious mango smoothie or mousse or add chunks of mangos to your salad bowl for a healthy, refreshing snack.
N
Nectarines are a member of the peach family and are packed with vitamins A, C, among a range of other nutrients. Tarts, crisps, cakes, pies, syrups – nectarines are a perfect taste enhancer for a wide range of recipes.
O
Oranges are loaded with vitamin C, which not just boosts our immunity but helps protect our cells from damage too. These tangy fruits are star ingredients in many recipes, such as orange bars, cakes, juice, lemonades, and even meat-based recipes.
P
Pineapples are tropical fruits and require almost two years to grow! Indigenous to South America, pineapples are a star ingredient in a number of breakfast and dessert recipes.
Q
Quince is another member of the pear family with a similar nutritional profile. The only difference is that quince cannot be consumed raw and has to be cooked before consumption, which makes it the perfect ingredient in desserts and other baked sweet recipes.
R
Rose apples are also known as java apples, but have a different taste as compared to regular apples and can be used to make delicious jams and juices.
S
Star fruits have a refreshing, tangy taste and have their origins in South Asia. The sourness of the fruit can be easily balanced when paired with the right ingredients in dessert recipes.
T
Tangerines are sweetish, sour in taste and packed with an excellent nutritional profile. These fresh, delicious fruits can be used to make marmalades, sauces, smoothies and a lot more.
U
Ugli is a hybrid of grapefruit and tangerine, so no guesses here – the fruit is sour and tangy in taste. It has rough skin but is filled with a juicy, fleshy interior.
V
Vanilla fruit is a widely used ingredient in Mexican and Spanish cuisine. It works as a wonderful taste enhancer in puddings, fruit salads, smoothies, cakes and custards.
W
Woodapple is a staple in jams, juices and pickles and is known for its unique taste. It is known to cure digestive ailments thanks to its excellent laxative properties.
X
Y
Z
Zebra melons have a subtle taste and pair well with nuts, cheese, mint and even meat. You can easily use this melon to enhance the taste and texture of your dishes. It offers excellent health benefits too.
Summing Up
There’s no dearth of ingredients when it comes to experimenting in the kitchen, and we can actually dish out a number of vegetarian or meat-based recipes with them. And here’s something you need to know not every lavish spread of food features expensive ingredients you can cook the best, delicious food with the simplest of ingredients as well!
But the truth is not many of us are aware of how to use all these ingredients and ensure you get the best out of them both flavour and nutrition wise. And that’s precisely why we’re here to help you cook up a storm in your kitchen! We’ll take you on a culinary journey across different cuisines and unusual ingredients so stay tuned to know more about our cool, affordable recipes that aren’t just tasty, but equally healthy too!