51 Foods That Start With O

I’m sure you can name several different foods that start with O like oranges, olives, and okra, but can you name more than 50? In this post, I review more than 50 foods that start with O including fruits, vegetables, and more!

As I’ve been working my way through the alphabet I’ve discovered new and exciting produce to try. So far I’ve discovered fruits that start with E, vegetables that start with F, fruits that start with B, and fruits that start with N. Today I’m focusing on the letter O! You’ll find many familiar foods, but I know you’ll discover some new foods to try as well!

Below you will find a list of 50 foods that start with O, and then a brief description of each one including what it is, how to prepare it, and the vitamins and nutrients that can be found in each one.

Jump to:

• 50 Foods That Start With O
• Oatmeal 
• Oatcakes
• Oatmeal Cookies
• Oat Milk
• Obbattu
• Oblea
• Obusuma
• Ochazuke
• Octopus
• Oeufs en Meurette
• Ogbono Soup 
• Ogi
• Ohitashi 
• Oil Down
• Oil Palm
• Okonomiyaki
• Okowa
• Okra
• Okroshka
• Olallieberry
• Olan
• Olives
• Olive All’ascolana
• Olive Oil
• Olive Oil Cake
• Omelet
• Omurice
• Onigiri
• Onions
• Onion Bhaji
• Onion Kulcha
• Oolong
• Opera Cake
• Oranges
• Orangelo
• Orange Juice
• Orange Peppers
• Oregon Grapes
• Oregano
• Oreos
• Oroblanco
• Ortanique
• Orzo
• Oshiruko
• Osmanthus Cake
• Ossobuco
• Osumashi
• Ovos Moles de Aveiro
• Oysters
• Oxheart Cherry
• Oxtail
• More Alphabet Food Lists!

50 Foods That Start With O

1. Oatmeal
2. Oatcake
3. Oatmeal Cookies
4. Oat Milk
5. Obbattu
6. Oblea
7. Obusuma
8. Ochazuke
9. Octopus
10. Oeufs en Meurette
11. Ogbono soup
12. Ogi
13. Ohitashi
14. Oil Down
15. Oil Palm
16. Okonomiyaki
17. Okowa
18. Okra
19. Okroshka
20. Olallieberry
21. Olan
22. Olives
23. Olive all’ascolana
24. Olive Oil
25. Olive Oil Cake
26. Omelet
27. Omurice
28. Onigiri
29. Onions
30. Onion Bhaji
31. Onion kulcha
32. Oolong
33. Opera Cake
34. Oranges
35. Orangelo
36. Orange Juice
37. Orange Peppers
38. Oregan Grapes
39. Oregano
40. Oreos
41. Oroblanco
42. Ortanique
43. Orzo
44. Oshiruko
45. Osmanthus cake
46. Ossobuco
47. Osumashi
48. Ovos moles de Aveiro
49. Oysters
50.  Oxheart Cherry
51. Oxtail

Oatmeal 

Oatmeal is a prepared form of oats that have been de-husked, steamed, flattened, and either steel-cut or milled into a coarse flour. Ground oats are also called white oats, while steel-cut oats are called coarse oatmeal, Irish oatmeal, and even pinhead oats. Enjoying oatmeal provides a variety of health benefits, such as, lowering blood sugar, promoting healthy gut bacteria, helping you feel satiated and full, helping ease constipation, relieving itchy and irritated skin, and lowering your chances of having colon cancer and heart disease. Studies have also shown that oats provide antioxidants and are among one the healthiest grains on the planet. Generally, oats are gluten-free, and a good source of minerals, vitamins, and fiber. Oatmeal comes in a variety of flavors and taste profiles. 

Oatcakes

Oatcakes are similar to crackers and biscuits and are a kind of flatbread made from oatmeal. They’re very popular in Scotland and have been called “the mainstay of Scottish bread for centuries”. Oatcakes are a good source of providing and maintaining your energy levels. They have a low glycemic index and are fantastic for helping you monitor your blood glucose levels. When you eat an oatcake, each bite has a hint of sweetness and a bit of saltiness. They pair well with a cup of coffee or hot tea. Oatcakes are usually gluten-free and made of whole grain oats, providing you with a good source of fiber, zinc, iron, folate, magnesium, thiamin, and vitamin B6. 

Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal cookies contain healthy carbohydrates that provide you with energy and leave you feeling satiated. Many oatmeal cookies are made with old-fashioned oats, also called rolled oats, and usually have a chewy and nutty texture because of the thicker oats from the old-fashioned oats. Oftentimes oatmeal cookies are made with raisins to add a bit of extra natural sweetness to the cookies. These cookies are a good mineral source of calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium. If you’re looking for a healthy oatmeal cookie, be sure to try my vegan oatmeal cookies!

Oat Milk

Oat milk is a dairy-free cow’s milk alternative. It can be a good source of various vitamins and minerals, such as calcium. Manufacturers also commonly fortify oat milk with other nutrients such as Vitamin B12. Consuming oat milk can also provide you with the nutrition you would get from eating oats, like regulating your blood sugar levels and reducing your cholesterol. When drinking oat milk, you will consume a good source of fiber which can help deal with GI issues such as IBS and constipation. Oat milk is thicker in consistency, similar to cow’s milk. It is great for baking and is a good alternative for coffee creamer and steamed milk for coffee drinks. 

Obbattu

Obbattu is a sweet flatbread that comes from Southern India and is made from flour, lentils, jaggery, and cardamoms. It has a variety of other names and variations, such as Puran Puri, Puran Poli, Holige, and Bobbattu. It can be served both hot or cold. Obbattu helps boost immunity and is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and other antioxidants.

Oblea

An oblea is a traditional Mexican snack, made of two wafers with different types of fillings inside. It’s made of wheat flour, corn oil, and water. They’re usually a sandwich-type dessert that sometimes may have fruit, cheese, jams, whipped cream, dulce de leche, and other fillings inside. Oblea hails from Mexico and other Latin American countries and would be thought of as a pastry in America. 

Ogi

Ogi Is another popular Nigerian dish. It is also called Akamu. It is a fermented cereal pudding that is usually made from maize, sorghum, or millet. To make ogi, you soak the grains in water for up to three days before wet milling to remove the husks. This cereal is then left to ferment for up to 3 days until it turns sour, before being boiled into a Pap, or a creamy pudding. Due to the fermentation, this ogi dish is sour in taste. It is high in protein, a good source of carbohydrates, fats, and multiple B vitamins. It’s also a good immune booster, being rich in iron, zinc, and other minerals.

Ohitashi 

Ohitashi is a Japanese cooking technique for making vegetable dishes. It’s commonly made with spinach and other greens. These vegetables are steeped in a dashi-based sauce for up to 3 days, giving them an umami subtle flavor but mostly still taste like the original vegetables. Depending on what vegetables you choose will vary it in what nutrition benefits it will provide. 

Oil Down

Oil Down is the national dish of Grenada. It’s a stew made of salted meat and vegetables. Oftentimes this dish includes dumplings, coconut milk, and a variety of seasonings that bring a lot of flavors. 

Oil Palm

Oil palm is primarily used for cooking in developing countries. It has many non-food uses as well. It’s native to West and Central Africa, as well as Malaysia and Indonesia. One oil palm stem can reach as tall as 66 feet in height. Oil Palm has many tiny flowers on the small branches that turn into clusters of edible fruits. When those fruits turn black with a red bass they produce 1 oil seed known as the colonel. These colonels are used to create palm oil.

Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese street food dish. It’s like a pancake, made from flour, eggs, shredded cabbage, a protein, and is topped with a laundry list of options that create a variety of flavors. It can taste sweet yet spicy, savory, and even smokey. It’s common to serve this dish with miso soup or yakisoba noodles.

Okowa

Okowa is another Japanese dish made with steamed white rice (sticky rice), meat (often chicken), and various vegetables. It’s common to find Okowa made blended with Azuki beans that will give the dish an overall red color. This recipe has many variations- other common ingredients for this recipe include bamboo shoots, chestnuts, Japanese mountain vegetables, and Japanese sweet potatoes  This dish has a fantastic savory flavor.

Okra

Okra can be prepared in a variety of ways. It’s a low-calorie food but is packed with many great nutrition benefits. Eating okra helps support a healthy immune system because it is high in vitamin C. It’s also rich in Vitamin K and antioxidants. Okra has a grassy, sweet flavor that gets even more flavorful the longer you cook it. The texture may vary depending on how you prepare it. You can eat okra raw or cooked and the entire plant is edible. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked like other green veggies. Even the pods can be eaten raw. 

Okroshka

Okroshka is a Russian dish. It’s a cold soup with a yogurt base. It’s made up of radishes, hard-boiled eggs, cucumbers, scallions, and boiled potatoes. All of these ingredients bring various textures to this chilled soup. Okroshka tends to taste salty, smooth yet crunchy and tangy. It’s perfect for a hot summer day when you’re craving something refreshing and cold. The liquid portion of the soup is made from kvass, which is a liquid made from fermented black or rye bread. It brings another unique flavor to the soup. 

Olallieberry

Olalllieberries are juicy, shiny, and large berries that are related to blackberries. Similar to blackberries, they’re very juicy and the excess juice will stain whatever it touches. Olallieberries have a more intense tart flavor than blackberries and they to have a shorter growing season. You can find them growing best in Southern California. It’s commonly used in jams. 

Olan

Olan is a popular dish from Kerala in South India. It’s a coconut milk-based curry that pairs perfectly with a bowl of steamed rice. It’s light in flavor and commonly prepared from a white pumpkin gourd with black-eyed peas, coconut milk, and ginger seasonings. 

Olives

Olives grow on olive trees and are small fruits that are related to mangoes, cherries, peaches, almonds, and pistachios. Olives are rich in Vitamin E, other antioxidants, and may help lower your risk for many health conditions. 

Olive All’ascolana

This dish is basically deep-fried olives stuffed with a filling made of meat. This dish comes from Asconi Piceno, in Italy. They’re very popular all over Italy. Due to the olives, they’re also a good source of Vitamin E and some antioxidants. 

Olive Oil

Olive oil is made from the liquid fat from olives grown in the Mediterranean Basin. To make olive oil, you take whole olives, press them, and extract the oil. As we know, olive oil is often used in cooking and frying foods, and is commonly used in salad dressings. Olive oil is also high in vitamin E and a good source of antioxidants, great for lowering cholesterol and blood pressure too. The healthiest kind of olive oil is extra virgin olive oil because it contains the natural chemical compounds that provide even more health benefits. 

Olive Oil Cake

Olive oil cakes are just that, cakes made with olive oil instead of butter or other fat sources. They’re very moist and will continue to moisten the longer they sit. These single-layer kinds of cakes are very commonly served at Italian restaurants for dessert, cut in a fat wedge, and usually have more olive oil drizzled on top and are served with fruit on top or on the side of the cake. 

Omelet

Omelets can be spelled like omelet (the American way), or omelette (the British English way). Omelets are made from beating eggs that are fried with butter or oil. It’s common to make omelets with vegetables, like mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes, meats, cheese, onions, and chives.  

Omurice

Omurice is a Japanese comfort food style dish made from scrambled eggs with Japanese fried rice with a squirt of ketchup and a splash of soy sauce. It’s soft, savory, and tastes like a mix between fried rice and an omelet. 

Onigiri

Onigiri is also known as omusubi, nigirimeshi, or called a rice ball. It’s another Japanese dish made from white rice that is formed into triangles or cylindrical shapes and is often wrapped in nori. It looks similar to sushi but is different as it doesn’t contain any raw fish or uses sushi rice which has been flavored with vinegar. Onigiri is a cheap and easily made meal. 

Onions

Onions are root vegetables that have a variety of wonderful health benefits. They are rich in antioxidants and sulfur-containing compounds. These sulfur-containing compounds are why onions have such a sharp taste and strong smell. These compounds are also helpful for reducing your cholesterol levels and some studies have shown them to be helpful in breaking down blood clots which can help lower your risk for heart disease and stroke. Onions also have various antibacterial properties that are great for improving digestive health and improving overall immunity. Plus we know how wonderful onions are for bringing fantastic flavors to your recipes. If you’re looking to grow onions at home be sure they have an adequate amount of sun and good drainage. Onions come in a variety of flavors, colors, and sizes. 

Onion Bhaji

Onion Bhaji is an Indian recipe, kind of like onion fritters. They’re a popular snack and street food in India. They consist of thinly sliced onions that have been coated in a chickpea flour batter and then deep-fried in oil until they are nice and crispy. These onion bhajis may also be called onion pakora, kanda bhajia, kanda bhaji, and pyaz ke pakode, or other names, depending on where you are in India.

Onion Kulcha

Onion Kulcha is an Indian recipe made of whole wheat leavened bread that’s stuffed with onions. Kulcha bread is similar to naan. They’re similar in texture but naan is leavened with yeast and has an oval shape while kulcha bread is leavened with baking powder and is round in shape. Both are made with flour and can be stuffed with anything. 

Oolong

Oolong is a Chinese tea that’s semi-oxidized and produced through the process of withering the plant under the strong sun and oxidation before curling and twisting. This tea is rich in L-theanine, an amino acid that has a few cognitive effects, like improved brain activity, improved sleep quality, and reduction in stress levels according to various studies. 

Opera Cake

Opera Cake is a French, layered almond sponge cake that has been soaked in coffee syrup, chocolate filling, and coffee french buttercream. This cake got its name because of the many layers, similar to the levels in an opera house. Traditionally, this cake has the word Opera written on top of the chocolate glaze topping. It’s fantastic for many special occasions and has a very unique and recognizable look and taste. 

Oranges

Oranges are a citrus fruit from the Rutaceae family. The most common variety of orange is the sweet orange that most people recognize and enjoy in fresh fruit and juice. Sweet oranges came from China thousands of years ago and are now grown all over the world, popular in Florida in the United States and other warmer climates like Mexico and Spain. They’re packed full of essential vitamins, minerals, and of course, antioxidants. Oranges are mainly made up of carbs and water, with little protein and fat, and are low in calories. Oranges are also a good source of fiber which is great for heart and GI health. Oranges are rich in Vitamin C and are great for boosting immunity and making natural collagen. 

Orangelo

Orangelo is a fruit that can vary in shape from round to pear-shaped and is about the size of a grapefruit. It’s believed to have come from Puerto Rico and is a cross between an orange and a grapefruit. It has an easy-to-peel skin that’s bright yellow and the inner part is what you eat. The flesh is sweeter than a grapefruit and it has a yellow-orange color inside. It tastes like a cross between an orange and a grapefruit. You eat them by cutting them in half and using a grapefruit spoon.

Orange Juice

Orange juice is the liquid you get when you squeeze the orange fruit. It’s a beverage that can come from various orange varieties and tastes slightly different with each one, but all are generally sweet in flavor. Orange juice is high in vitamin C, folate, and potassium. It’s good for heart health and boosts your immune system. Drinking this on an empty stomach will help you benefit more fully from the health benefits as it’s easier for your body to absorb the nutrition. 

Orange Peppers

Orange peppers are orange-colored bell peppers that are low in calories and packed with vitamins and minerals. They are a great source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium. They also contain folate, iron, and some fiber. When they ripen they become sweeter in taste. They are relatively easy to grow in many areas and can be found in numerous recipes.

Oregon Grapes

These grapes can be commonly found growing in the Pacific Northwest. These grapes are not usually enjoyed as they are very tart. The fruit is commonly used in jams and jellies where they can be combined with other sweeter fruits and flavors. The root of the fruit is also used for medicinal purposes. 

Oregano

Oregano is native to the Mediterranean and is a flowering plant that’s related to the mint family. Oregano is an herb used to flavor many different types of recipes. It can also be used as a dietary supplement or aromatic oil. Cooking with oregano is not just delicious and flavorful, but it also has many health benefits such as helping relieve inflammation, fighting off bad bacteria, and helping regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels. You’ll find it used in many pizzas, tomato sauces, Italian dishes, sprinkled on meats, stuffings, bread, and just about anywhere that you can use herbs and spices. 

Oreos

Oreos are a chocolate sandwich cookie that has two chocolate wafers with a sweet cream filling in between the chocolate wafers. It has been around since 1912 and now has more than just the classic chocolate and sweet cream filling. 

Oroblanco

Oroblanco may also be called sweeties. They’re small, seedless citrus similar to a grapefruit. It is a hybrid fruit, a cross between an acidless pomelo and a white grapefruit. They were created through cross-pollination and are high in vitamin C. They can be pale yellow, green, or chartreuse in color with white gold color on the inside.  

Ortanique

Ortanique is a medium-sized fruit that smells like citrus and has a slightly sweet taste. They’re very pale in color and have juicy seedless flesh. They can be found in fruit salads. Originally when this plant was created, it was called the “tangelo” since it was a cross between a tangerine and a sweet orange. 

Orzo

Orzo is a small pasta similar in size and shape to long grain rice. It may also be called risoni. Traditionally, orzo is made from flour but you may also find it made of whole grain. It is extremely versatile and can be used in many recipes. 

Oshiruko

Oshiruko is a Japanese dessert soup that’s commonly made in the winter. It is usually served hot to help warm everyone up. This soup may also just be called Shiruko made from a red bean paste, cooked with sugar, mochi, and water. It’s sweet and rich in flavor. 

Osmanthus Cake

Osmanthus cake is a Chinese pastry that’s made with rice flour, honey, osmanthus, and rock sugar. Osmanthus is a flower that has a sweet scent that’s often ground and used in teas and baking dishes or used as a flavoring for wine-braised meat recipes. This cake is moist with a subtle sweetness from the osmanthus. Oftentimes, this dessert cane is served with whipped cream and berries, great for a brunch dessert or regular dessert.

Ossobuco

Ossobuco is a cut of veal shanks that have been braised with vegetables, a broth, and some white wine. Traditionally it’s served with risotto alla milanese or polenta and is often garnished with gremolata. 

Osumashi

Osumashi is another Japanese dish. It’s actually the name for the clear soup that you get at a Hibachi restaurant. It may also be called Japanese clear soup, hibachi soup, Miyabi soup, or Japanese onion soup. Osumashi is made of meat broths and vegetables that have been simmered down and will bring a nice flavor to your clear soup. 

Ovos Moles de Aveiro

Ovos Moles de Aveiro is a pastry from Aveiro, Portugal. It’s a pastry that’s made of egg yolks, and sugar and sometimes has chocolate. 

Oysters

Oysters are salt-water mollusks varying in shape with a handful of different ways to cook them. They shouldn’t taste fishy, instead, they should have a subtle ocean flavor with hints of mineral flavoring depending on the type of oyster it is and the way it was prepared. Oysters are rich in vitamin D, copper, zinc, and manganese. 

Oxheart Cherry

An oxheart cherry is a sweet cherry that has a tender, juicy, heart shape.

Oxtail

An oxtail is the tail of cattle. Long ago, it was the tail of an ox but now comes from a cow of either gender. The tail gets skinned and cut into portioned sections, each having a tailbone with marrow in the center and a bony portion of meat. Oxtail tastes like beef and when cooked has an even deeper, richer flavor. Oxtail is a good source of collagen and is high in fat yet low in carbs, so a great choice for those following a keto or paleo diet. 

I hope you found this article helpful and discovered some new foods to try!

More Alphabet Food Lists!