25 Foods That Start With N

If you’ve ever wondered what foods begin with the letter N, here we have listed 25 of the most well-known foods from across the world. 

1. Nachos

Nachos are a delicious Tex-Mex side dish that consists of tortilla chips and melted cheese with a variety of tasty toppings.

The most popular toppings include sour cream, refried beans, guacamole, and salsa. Pretty much anything that goes with melted cheese can be added to the top of nachos.

2. Noodles

Noodles are popular across the world, they are versatile and go with almost anything. They are made with unleavened dough and cut into the long, thin noodle shape we all know.

Typically they are cooked in oil or boiling water. 

3. Naan Bread

Naan bread is an oven-baked flatbread that is commonly found in Western Asia, Central Asia, India, and Indonesia.

Made from simple ingredients such as flour, butter, yogurt, and yeast. These simple pieces of bread come in a variety of flavors which you’ve probably tested out with your local Indian takeaway. 

4. Nectarines

Surprisingly, nectarines are the smooth-skinned peach from the rose family.

Historically, nectarines are thought to have been domesticated in China around 4,000 years ago but they are now grown across the world.

They naturally grow in climates that have cooler winters which allow for the trees to lay dormant for a few months.

5. Nutella

Nutella is a hugely popular type of hazelnut cocoa spread that is commonly spread on toast or bread and even pancakes.

The company has branched out to make a variety of other Nutella-based products including an on-the-go breadstick dipping pot and sandwich biscuits. 

6. Nuts

One of the largest types of food that begins with the letter N is nuts. There are around 53 different types of nuts found across the world, however, only around 20 of these are edible.

Some of the most popular nuts we eat are peanuts, cashews, pistachios, pecans, and almonds.

Nuts have so many health benefits as they are full of protein, fiber, and healthy forms of unsaturated fats which are essential for a healthy balanced diet. 

7. New Potatoes

New potatoes are the potatoes that get thinned out from the rest of the crop early on to make room for the rest of the potatoes to grow.

They aren’t actually a variety of potatoes themselves, they are just a smaller version of potatoes. Popular dishes that are made from new potatoes include delicious creamy potato salad.  

8. Napa Cabbage

Napa cabbage is a Chinese type of cabbage that originates from the Beijing region of the country. The appearance of napa cabbage is similar to green leafy lettuce and is mild in flavor.

It is used throughout Chinese cuisine and has now become quite popular in Europe, America, and Australia. 

9. Navy Beans

Navy beans are native to the Americas and are white in color. The dry white bean has a flat, oval shape and is super quick to cook.

These are commonly found in salads, stews, dips, and soups due to their mild flavors. The best thing about these beans is that they are packed full of fiber, with up to 19g per cup.

10. Nutmeg Fruit 

Nutmeg is commonly associated with the spice you buy from a grocery store. Nutmeg trees actually produce fruit around eight years after sowing and bear an appearance similar to an apricot.

When mature, the fruit splits bearing the shiny, brown nutmeg seed which is made into the well-known spice. The pulp of the fruit is usually eaten locally. 

11. Nougat 

Nougat is a form of confectionery made with sugar, honey, roasted nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts, whipped egg whites, and often candied fruits.

It’s a soft but chewy type of candy bar that comes into two forms: white nougat or Persian nougat. Candy bars you might associate with this chewy filling are Milky Way and Snickers bars. 

12. New York Cheesecake 

One of the most popular and famous forms of cheesecake is the New York style. There are baked versions, but usually, you can make one of these delicious desserts without much fuss.

This variety of cheesecake is larger, denser, and richer than regular cheesecake as it uses a lot of cream cheese and a few extra eggs. 

13. Navel Oranges

Navel oranges are a species of cultivar fruits such as blood oranges, Valencia oranges, and Cara Cara oranges.

These winter species are around 3-4 inches in diameter with quite a thick rind. In terms of taste, these oranges are sweet and tangy with quite a tart flavor. For an orange, they have low levels of acidity. 

14. Nettles

No, we aren’t joking. The leaves of nettles are edible at any stage of the plant’s growth. If you cook or dry the leaves then this denatures the sting in order for you to eat it. 

Although we usually avoid them, they are a nutritious plant and commonly used in Western herbal medicine as they can help reduce blood pressure, blood sugar, and inflammation. 

15. Nasi Goreng

This Southeast Asian fried rice dish is one of Indonesia’s national dishes and is typically served with meat and vegetables.

Traditionally, this dish is served for breakfast. It is easy to customize the dish to your liking and to suit any dietary requirements. 

16. Nashi Pear

The Nashi pear is known by many different names, but it is essentially an Asian pear that is native to East Asia.

It is a refreshing mix of apples and pears, blending the crispness of an apple with the texture and flavor of a pear. 

17. Nigella Seeds

Nigella seeds are one of the oldest known spices to be used in cooking, with seeds found in Tutankhamun’s tomb!

The seeds are small and black with a slightly bitter, pungent flavor similar to that of an onion. They are widely used in sweet and savory cooking such as pancakes and flatbreads. 

18. Nori

Nori is a dried form of edible seaweed that is popular in Japanese cooking. Those that are fans of sushi will be familiar with the taste and texture.

The thin, dry sheets of seaweed resemble paper and are used to wrap up all the delicious sushi ingredients in a tight roll. 

19. Nameko Mushroom

Another Japanese ingredient that is an important part of their cuisine is the Nameko mushroom.

These mushrooms have long white stems and smooth caps that come in all different shades of orange to brown. The most common place you might find these mushrooms is miso soup. 

20. Neufchâtel Cheese

Similar to Camembert and Brie, this dry French cheese has a white, edible rind.

Made with cow’s milk it’s salty and sharp compared to similar forms of cheese. This is one of the oldest types of cheese produced in France.

21. Nerds

The pink and purple pieces of candy known as Nerds are popular in America. Each color represents a different flavor, the most commonly seen pink and purple varieties represent strawberry and grape flavors.

Many spin-off Nerd products have been created, including Rainbow Nerds, Jumbo Nerds, Sour Nerds, and even Nerds cereal. 

22. Naranjilla Fruit

Indigenous to the highest elevations of South America, naranjilla is related to the eggplant and the tomato despite what its Spanish-sounding name indicates. 

When ripe, the fruit turns orange and is covered with sticky hairs. The fruit can be eaten by squeezing the juice into the mouth and tastes like a combination of a lemon and a pineapple. 

23. Neapolitan Ice Cream 

Neapolitan ice cream is found in many countries and is composed of three different flavors: chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla. 

This is a classic dessert that is popular in the U.S and Europe. It can be enjoyed alongside any type of cake or sweet or even by itself. 

24. Nance Fruit

Nance fruit is bite-sized, pitted fruit that looks similar to a cherry. Found growing across many regions of the Caribbean, it has a unique flavor that can range from sweet to acidic.

The flavors can resemble a combination of banana, lychee, and pear on one end of the scale and a mild-cheesy flavor on the other. 

25. New Zealand Spinach 

This perennial vegetable that’s planted in the warm parts of the year when normal spinach doesn’t grow. It can be used in the exact same way as regular spinach but is not related.

The leaves of this type of spinach resemble the flavor of lettuce. 

Closing Thoughts

There are so many foods that begin with the letter ‘N’, here we have included 25 of the most well-known foods. Can you think of any more?

We hope you found this article interesting and perhaps have even learnt a few new foods that begin with the letter ‘N’.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Fruit Or Vegetable Begins With N?

There are many fruits and vegetables that begin with the letter N. Interestingly, many of these are from Asia such as the Nashi pear, Nori seaweed, Napa cabbage, and Nameko mushrooms.

Other parts of the world have fruits and vegetables such as the new potato, nettles and nectarines.