You might be surprised, but there are more than a dozen foods that begin with the letter Y. From yogurt and yam and yucca, there are plenty of healthy, scrumptious foods to choose from, and they all deserve a place on your plate. Here are a few of our favorites.
1. Yakisoba
Yakisoba is one of the quintessential comfort foods in Japan, a country famous for its culinary culture. It’s a stir-fried noodle dish that is made with broth, wheat noodles, cabbage, pork, and often topped with green onions.
It’s not difficult to make and the ingredients are inexpensive, which is why it’s nearly as popular in homes as it is in restaurants.
2. Yakitori
Yakitori is the Japanese word for grilled chicken skewers, and in Japan, they’re a popular street food. The skewers are usually served with grilled scallions, ginger, and other flavorings — and you can eat them standing up, walking down a street, or at a bar.
Yakitori are usually cooked over coals, so they have a smoky and slightly charred flavor. They’re pretty easy to make, and they’re even easier to eat.
3. yakult
Yakult is a Japanese-style fermented milk drink that has been enjoyed by Japanese people for many years now. It was originally developed in Japan in 1935 by a man named Minoru Shirota, who was working for the Yakult food company.
Yakult is available in many different countries these days, often with different brand names, and it’s been a part of the Japanese diet for so long that it’s now considered a kind of national food. That’s why Yakult is often called “the champagne of milk” in Japan, and 30% of the country’s population drinks it every day.
4. Yam
Yam is a starchy tuberous root vegetable that is closely related to other gourds and is popular as a food crop in many tropical regions.
Yam originated from Africa and Asia. It is known as a staple food crop and is the third largest source of food carbohydrates in the world, after sugarcane and maize.
The word “yam” is derived from the African word nyami or nyam, while the names of most other yam species are of West African origin.
5. Yeast
Baked goods like breads, cakes, and pastries are all made with yeast, a fungus that lives on top of the dough as it rises and acts on sugars in the flour through fermentation.
While the process of fermentation may sound disgusting to some, you’ve probably consumed plenty of fermented food in your life, including some of your favorite alcoholic beverages. After all, yeast basically turns sugar into alcohol, which isn’t so bad in moderation.
6. yellow tea
Yellow tea is a unique beverage that is produced in a very different way than green or white teas. The tea leaves are not fermented during the production of yellow tea. Instead, the leaves are sun-dried and then rolled. This gives yellow tea a very different flavor than the other kinds of teas. In addition, yellow tea has a higher caffeine content than green tea.
Yellow tea is produced primarily in China. China has a massive base of yellow tea production, with Yunnan being the primary region. In fact, China accounts for over eighty percent of the yellow tea that is produced in the world.
7. Yellowfin Tuna
The yellowfin tuna is one of the larger species of tuna that can be eaten and is often found in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
Most of the tuna tuna that is caught is canned for use in canned tuna, however, the yellowfin tuna is also found as fresh tuna in some cases.
8. yema de huevo
Yema de huevo translates to egg yolk in English, and is a traditional, sweet, creamy pudding that’s a favorite in Latin America.
It’s made from egg yolks, sugar, and milk, and sometimes cinnamon as well. It’s a very simple dessert to make, requires only a few ingredients, and can be made in a matter of minutes.
9. yerba mate
Yerba mate, also known as yerba, maté, or simply mate, is a species of the holly family, and is native to subtropical South America, primarily found in the region of Paraguay, where it is the national beverage.
Brewed from the leaves of the yerba mate plant, it is enjoyed by millions of people throughout the world. In fact, it is the world’s most consumed beverage after water.
Mate is traditionally drunk from a hollow calabash gourd through a metal or bamboo straw called a bombilla ; this straw is used to filter the tea leaves.
10. Yogurt
Yogurt is a dairy product made by fermenting milk with a bacterial culture. It is often flavored with fruit, and is used as a food, as a fermented milk product, and as a component of many dishes and cuisines. Yogurt is produced using a culture of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria bacteria that consumes the milk sugar lactose. Fermentation of lactose by these bacteria produces lactic acid, which is responsible for the tart taste of yogurt. Some yogurts are made from rice, coconut, soy, and other non-dairy products. Yogurt is a staple food in many countries, especially the Mediterranean region (Greece, Italy, Turkey, etc). Yogurt was first made in Turkey, around 2300 BC.
11. Yolk
Egg yolks are one of the most nutritious parts of an egg, containing healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Unfortunately, public health officials have spent the last 40 years trying to scare us into believing that eating egg yolks will increase the risk of heart disease.
12. Yorkshire Pudding
The Yorkshire Pudding is a savory side dish that is typically served alongside roast beef and gravy. This is a traditional British dish that was first made in the 19th Century and is made by baking a batter made of flour, eggs, and milk into a large flat pancake in the oven while the roast is cooking. The idea is to serve the pudding as soon as the beef is ready, alongside the gravy.
13. Youtiao
The Chinese word youtiao literally translates to “oil stick” that is why it is also known as Chinese cruller. Although it looks like a batter cooked doughnut, the youtiao is more like a cross between an oil stick (French cruller) and a doughnut. It is made from a batter of flour, water, salt, and a bit of oil – deep fried in oil. The most popular versions of youtiao are the plain (buttered) ones. There are also red bean filled, cream filled, cheese filled, chocolate filled and other variations of youtiao, but these are mostly available in Chinese bakeries. In China, youtiao is usually eaten with congee (rice porridge).
14. Yuca
Yuca is a root vegetable that is part of the same family as cassava, taro and manioc (or “cassava”). It’s also known as cassava or mandioca (in other parts of the world) and is a popular staple in Central and South America. The word yuca itself comes from the Carib people of the Caribbean, meaning “large tuber”.
15. Yukon Gold Potatoes
Yukon Golds are a breed of potato, meaning they are a type of potato that has been specially cultivated to have particular characteristics. While Yukon Golds happen to be the best all-purpose potatoes for roasting and mashing, they aren’t the largest. In order to be classified as Yukon Golds, the potatoes must have a yellow flesh and be of a medium size, with a high starch content.
16. Yuzu
The yuzu is a Japanese citrus fruit that is popular for its zesty and fragrant taste. It is commonly used in cooking and is often served as a dessert garnish. The yuzu is closely related to the Chinese mandarin orange and looks like a smaller, brighter orange. The yuzu can be eaten whole or used in juices, sorbets, and garnishes.
