Foods that Start with A

Wondering what grocery items and foods begin with the letter A? Or maybe you’re just looking for something new to try! Here is a list of the 17 best foods that start with A and how to use them. 

Are you struggling to incorporate different types of food into your diet? Do you find that no matter where you go out to eat, you order the same meal or something very similar to it? If so, don’t worry! 

Branching out and trying new foods can be really hard, especially when you’ve found comfort in a small range of meals. But at some point, you may discover a desire to learn more about different types of food – which is great!  You have probably heard of Apples, but how about Arame or Amaranth? 

When this desire strikes, you might feel overwhelmed by all of the available options. Foods that start with A are a wonderful place to start if you’re feeling this way. Keep reading to learn more!

What Are Some Foods That Start With A?

Whether you use this list to explore new-to-you culinary recipes or find ways to incorporate an already known ingredient into one of your favorite meals, you’re sure to learn something new. Let’s get right into it!

Achiote Seeds 

Also known as Annato, these seeds are most commonly used in the United States as a food coloring for foods like cheddar cheese. Achiote is commonly used in Mexican cooking, especially to make achiote oil for stews and rice dishes. 

Acorn Squash

A favorite autumn and winter ingredient, acorn squash is wonderful roasted as a side dish, on salad, or stuffed. This hard squash has green skin and sweet yellow flesh. 

Packed with Vitamin C, B Vitamins, and other vitamins and minerals, acorn squash is a great healthy choice for carbs. This Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe is healthy and delicious. 

Almonds 

With their mild flavor, almonds are one of the most versatile nuts. They are delicious as a snack, addition to salad, ground into almond butter, or turned into dairy alternatives like almond milk and plant0-based cheese. 

Like other nuts, almonds are a good source of plant-based protein and fat. 

• Gluten-Free Almond Biscotti 
• Healthy Brownies made with Almond Flour
• Chocolate Almond Milk
• Vegan Ricotta made with Raw Almonds!

Anchovies

Anchovies are small silvery saltwater fish that are eaten fileted. They usually come packed in oil or salt. 

A staple in Mediterranean cooking, anchovies pack a ton of salty flavor in a little package. They are often used on salads and pizzas, and as an ingredient in Caesar salad dressing. This is one ingredient that most people either love or hate. 

Angelica 

A type of wild celery, angelica has a bitter, sweet, and intense flavor that pairs well with ginger, lavender, rhubarb, apricots, cream, and almonds. 

You can enjoy angelica as you would celery: the stalks and leaves can be eaten raw in salads. Angelica stalks can also be cooked in stews and in baked goods, similar to rhubarb. Try adding some to your next Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp. 

Anise 

This flowering plant originates from the Mediterranean and Asia. Anise, also referred to as aniseed, is a warm spice with a licorice-like flavor that works especially well in baked goods. Star anise has a similar flavor but is actually a different species.

Anise seeds can be found and used whole or ground, and are used in cooking around the world. It’s also used in teas and may help digestion. 

Apples

Apples are probably what come to mind first when thinking of foods that start with the letter A. They are so healthy, sweet, and versatile that we couldn’t leave them out. 

• Apple Cider Vinegar Drink
• How to Make Apple Cider from Scratch
• Applesauce in the Slow Cooker
• Apple Crumble Pie 
• Autumn Apple Maple Scones 

Arugula

Also known as rocket, arugula is a popular leafy green from the cruciferous vegetable family. It has a fresh, peppery taste that makes it an excellent choice for salads. I love to top my pizzas with a handful of arugula for freshness and flavor.  

Try fresh arugula in these recipes: 

• Farro Salad 
• Panzanella
• Watermelon Feta Salad 
• Atop Homemade Pizza 

Asparagus

A favorite springtime perennial vegetable, asparagus grows straight up from the ground in pointy spears. Green, purple, and white varieties can be found in stores. Asparagus is delicious sauteed, roasted, or grilled, or pureed into a creamy soup. Try this elegant Asparagus Tart for brunch. 

Asparagus is a healthy choice, as it’s high in nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber, but low in calories. 

Avocados

They are cute crocheted, have had slogans made around them, and are on nearly every other post in your Instagram feed. Avocados have truly taken the world by storm in the past few years!

Surprisingly, though, evidence of humans eating avocados dates all the way back to 10,000 BC. Mostly grown in Mexico, this healthy food is found even further south and in places like California or southern Europe. 

The best part about avocados is just how much you can do with them. Learn how to Cut and Freeze Avocadoes, then find a few more ideas:

• Avocado egg rolls
• Stuffed avocados
• Avocado caprese sandwich
• Mango avocado salsa
• The best guacamole 

Words cannot describe how exciting it is to incorporate avocados into meals, snacks, and even desserts. Try some of these delicious recipes today!

Apricots

Did you know that apricots were cultivated in Central Asia and China? Even more shocking is that the apricot is part of the rose family, which means it is closely related to peaches, plums, almonds, and cherries!

As one of the tastiest foods that start with A, apricots can be made into jellies and jams, which can make for a fun summer activity. More recipes you can make with apricots include:

• Apricot almond bars
• Grilled apricot arugula salad
• Apricot-plum almond tart (this one combines most members of the rose family!)
• Orange cranberry apricot bread

These recipes are definitely worth a trip to the supermarket. Additionally, if you’re struggling to integrate healthy food options into your diet, apricots are an amazing sugar substitute!

Artichokes

Believe it or not, this vegetable has been living a life of mystery ever since it was made known to the world – because nobody actually knows where artichokes came from! 

People have estimated that the Mediterranean region is where artichokes originated since Ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans ate and harvested them. But to this day, the exact location remains a mystery.

Luckily, artichokes have found a home in America, and people love to use them in all sorts of dishes! Here are some staples:

• Potato artichoke frittata
• Spinach artichoke dip (the healthy version!)
• Gluten-free artichoke zucchini risotto
• Artichoke and pea risotto

If you’re in search of a more savory dish, these recipes are sure to deliver.

Acai Berries

Next on the list of foods that start with A comes acai berries! Something that makes acai berries stand out in their history is their invisibility in the western world until the 1990s.

Crazy, right?! With how long the other A-foods have been around, these little berries have only been a thing in the western world for roughly 30 years!

The people of the Amazon Rain Forest tribes discovered that acai berries strengthened the immune system and protected the heart. Additional benefits of acai berries include:

• Richness in antioxidants and nutrients
• Potential to improve cholesterol levels
• Potential to boost brain health
• Possible aphrodisiac qualities

These scrumptious little berries are typically enjoyed blended into an acai smoothie bowl with other toppings!

Amaranth 

Amaranth is an ancient grain that resembles quinoa and can be cooked in a similar fashion. It has a nutty, mild flavor that makes it versatile in cooking. Try it in both sweet and savory dishes.  

Highly nutritious, amaranth is naturally gluten-free and high in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Use amaranth as a breakfast porridge, in salads, and more. 

Arame

Do you like the sound of eating a sea vegetable? If not, you might feel inclined to try arame after learning more about it!

Arame, mostly popular in Japan, is an edible seaweed used to garnish other types of food or eaten as a side dish. Additionally, arame is sometimes enjoyed on its own and can be sauteed or boiled. 

This veggie from the depths of the sea is surprisingly rich in vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, and iodine! 

Alfredo Sauce

Pasta: a classic, simple-to-make meal on a busy weeknight that everybody ends up loving. But instead of going with an acidic tomato sauce, it’s good to switch it up every now and then.

That’s where Alfredo sauce comes in! 

This is one of the best Italian foods that start with A. Its creamy, thick texture paired with any type of pasta is so good you’ll go for seconds. Plus, you can add all sorts of vegetables that don’t taste so well with other kinds of sauces!

If you’re already an Alfredo admirer, try this cauliflower fettuccine recipe. It will not disappoint!

Agave

If you frequent Panera Bread, you might already be familiar with agave. As a natural sweetener, agave is used to replace a lot of drinks containing syrups or sugars.

Agave is a plant native to the Caribbean and Mexico but in Mesoamerica times, people utilized every part of the plant that they could.

From the leaves, Mesoamericans would make ropes, sandals, and fuel. From the heart, people would feast! Can you think of any other foods that start with A that people used for such things? 

A-Foods Are for Anyone – And Yes, That Means You!

Seven different types of food are here; some you may have already known, and some that may have caught you way out in the left field.

But regardless of what you knew and what you didn’t, the most important takeaway is that A-foods are for anyone. Yes, that means you, too! Think about the dance your tastebuds will be doing once you’ve tried a new recipe.

Or… how happy your tummy will be after a filling meal. These foods that start with A are exciting and you can be super creative with them.

What are you waiting for? Get cracking with the fun! Click here to subscribe to the Yummy Mummy Kitchen today for more invigorating ways you can love healthy food.