F is for flavor, freshness, and fun. From familiar favorites like figs and French fries to more unique finds such as fennel or fontina cheese, there are plenty of foods that begin with the letter F. This list brings together fruits, vegetables, fish, herbs, cheeses, and other tasty staples to inspire your cooking, broaden your food knowledge, or simply satisfy your curiosity.
Fruits
Sweet, tangy, or even exotic, these fruits bring variety and flavor to the table.
- Fig – A sweet, soft fruit with a chewy texture and tiny edible seeds.
- Feijoa – A tropical fruit also called pineapple guava, tangy and aromatic.
- Finger Lime – A citrus fruit with pearl-like vesicles that burst like caviar.
- Fuji Apple – A crisp apple variety with a balanced sweet-tart taste.
- Farkleberry – A wild berry from the southern U.S., similar to blueberries.
- Forest Strawberry – A tiny wild strawberry with intense sweetness.
- Flat Peach – A donut-shaped peach with juicy, low-acid flesh.
- Fairchild Tangerine – A hybrid citrus known for its easy-to-peel skin.
Vegetables & Herbs
From tender greens to aromatic roots, these vegetables and herbs add depth to meals.
- Fennel – A bulb with a sweet, anise-like taste.
- French Beans – Slim, tender green beans often used in side dishes.
- Frisée – A curly, slightly bitter salad green.
- Flat-leaf Parsley – A bright, fresh herb used in countless cuisines.
- Fat Hen – An edible leafy plant, also called lamb’s quarters.
- Field Peas – A legume popular in Southern cooking.
- Fingerroot – A ginger-like root common in Southeast Asian dishes.
Cheeses & Dairy
Cheese names can be unusual, but each one brings its own story and flavor to the table.
- Fontina – A creamy, nutty Italian cheese that melts beautifully.
- Feta – A crumbly, tangy Greek cheese.
- Fromage Blanc – A fresh, soft French cheese similar to yogurt.
- Farmer Cheese – A simple, mild cheese made from curdled milk.
- Friesekaas – A Dutch cheese with a smooth, mild flavor.
Pastries & Baked Goods
Whether sweet or savory, these baked treats offer comfort and indulgence.
- Funnel Cake – A fairground classic made of fried batter sprinkled with sugar.
- Fruitcake – A dense loaf filled with dried fruit and nuts.
- French Toast – Egg-soaked bread fried until golden.
- Focaccia – An Italian flatbread flavored with olive oil and herbs.
- Florentine Biscuit – A nutty, fruity cookie often coated with chocolate.
- Financier – A delicate French almond cake.
- Fougasse – A leaf-shaped French bread.
- Fried Dough – Deep-fried dough served with sugar or honey.
Fish & Seafood
From everyday choices to regional specialties, seafood under F is diverse and delicious.
- Flounder – A flat, mild-flavored fish.
- Flying Fish – A Caribbean staple known for gliding above the water.
- Flathead – A popular Australian white fish.
- Freshwater Eel – A delicacy often grilled as Japanese unagi.
- Fangtooth Fish – A deep-sea fish with a fierce look but edible flesh.
Meat & Dishes
Hearty, flavorful, and comforting, these meals show just how versatile food can be.
- Franks (Frankfurters) – Classic sausages often served in buns.
- Frittata – A thick Italian egg dish baked with fillings.
- Fricassée – A French stew of meat simmered in a white sauce.
- Fajitas – A Tex-Mex dish of sizzling grilled meat served with tortillas.
- Fufu – A West African staple made from boiled, pounded starches.
- French Fries – Deep-fried potato sticks enjoyed worldwide.
- Fried Chicken – Crispy, golden chicken pieces seasoned to perfection.
- Fish Tacos – Tortillas filled with fried or grilled fish and toppings.
- Fish Curry – A spiced dish made with fish, common in South Asian cuisine.
Nuts
Nuts beginning with F are rare, but there are a couple worth mentioning.
- Filbert – Another name for hazelnut, known for its sweet, nutty flavor.
- Foxnut (Makhana) – Seeds of the water lily, eaten roasted or puffed, especially in Indian cuisine.
Miscellaneous
Some foods don’t fit neatly into one category but are still delicious and worth noting.
- Falafel – Deep-fried balls made from ground chickpeas or fava beans, a Middle Eastern favorite.
- Farro – An ancient grain with a chewy texture and nutty taste, used in salads and soups.
- Fettuccine – A type of flat pasta often paired with creamy sauces.
- Frosting – A sweet, creamy topping for cakes and cupcakes.
- Fondue – A Swiss dish of melted cheese or chocolate served with dippables.
- Fried Rice – Rice stir-fried with vegetables, eggs, and sometimes meat.
- Fufu Flour – A flour mix used to make the West African dish fufu.
- Fish Sauce – A salty, fermented condiment common in Southeast Asian cooking.
Drinks
From refreshing soft drinks to sophisticated wines, these beverages cover every mood.
- Frappe – A cold, frothy coffee drink from Greece.
- Fruit Punch – A sweet mix of fruit juices.
- Fennel Tea – A soothing herbal infusion made from fennel seeds.
- Fanta – A fizzy fruit-flavored soda popular worldwide.
- Fireball Whiskey – A cinnamon-flavored liquor.
- Flat White – A creamy espresso drink with velvety milk foam.
- Fermented Milk (Kefir) – A probiotic dairy beverage.
- Frizzante – A lightly sparkling Italian wine, softer than champagne.
Who knew the letter F could be so filling? From French fries to fig, feta, and falafel, there’s a whole alphabet of flavor packed into just one letter. Next time you’re in the kitchen or at the market, see how many F foods you can spot…you might be surprised!
