There are many foods that start with ‘R’ including savory and sweet dishes, as well as fruits and vegetables. Some of these could be familiar to you, while others might sound like exotic dishes. Keep reading to learn more about these delicious ‘R’ foods!
Table of Contents
Rosemary
Rosemary is a fragrant herb, native to the Mediterranean. It is a staple in many kitchens and is known for its rich aroma and flavor. It can be used as a seasoning for a variety of dishes, such as soups, stews, and salads. Rosemary goes well with red meat and fish.
Rambutan
Rambutan is a fruit native to Southeast Asia. It has a hairy red and green shell that is covered with soft spikes. The Rambutan is usually eaten fresh with the skin peeled. The flesh on the inside is white, translucent, and tastes like a lychee with hints of sourness.
Ragù
Ragù is an Italian sauce that is made by combining minced meat, onions, tomato puree, and red wine. You can make this sauce with a variety of meats including veal, pork, lamb, or chicken, but beef ragù is the most popular type. It can be eaten on its own or served with pasta.
Radish
Radishes are a root vegetable (like onions and garlic) with brightly colored crunchy flesh. They are a very popular vegetable so there are many varieties of radishes that vary in appearance and flavor. Generally, raw radishes have a sharp and spicy taste and are great in salads.
Raisins
Raisins are a popular dry food around the world. They are made by drying grapes for up to three weeks. They are of various colors, but usually a dark brown. You can eat raisins raw and also add them to dishes. The most popular use of raisins is in baking, by adding them to bread, fruit cakes, and cookies.
Ramen
Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup which consists of wheat noodles in a meat or fish-flavored broth. It is a very popular dish and you can find instant ramen at supermarkets around the world. However, traditional ramen is made fresh, often flavored with soy sauce and miso. It contains toppings such as sliced meat, eggs, and scallions.
Rice
Rice is a staple food item in many kitchens around the world. There are many varieties of rice such as white rice, brown rice, and red rice. They can be cooked in many ways and are included in popular recipes from many different cultures. Sushi, biryani, jambalaya, and paella are all popular rice dishes from around the world.
Rice Noodles
Rice noodles are a simple gluten-free alternative to wheat noodles. They are made by combining rice flour and water. Additionally, including tapioca and corn starch can make the noodles chewier and more gelatinous. You can prepare rice noodles the same way as ramen noodles.
Raita
Raita is a popular side dish in Indian and Pakistani cuisine, served alongside savory dishes. It uses yoghurt along with raw or cooked vegetables. Popular forms of raita include onion, cucumber, mint, roasted cumin, and green chilies.
Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a French dish made with stewed vegetables (yes, it is the same as the one in the movie!). It uses fresh produce from the end of the summer such as tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, and bell pepper. It is a hearty and aromatic dish that anyone would love.
Red Cabbage
Red cabbage is a variety of cabbage, known for its vibrant dark red/purple color. It is also a healthier alternative to green cabbages, since red cabbage contains at least ten times more vitamins and antioxidants. Raw red cabbages have a bitter and sour flavor, but they develop a sweet flavor when cooked.
Romaine Lettuce
Romaine lettuce, also known as cos lettuce, is a variety of lettuce that has sturdy, dark green leaves with firm ribs down the center. Unlike other varieties, Romaine lettuce can tolerate heat very well. Grilled Romaine lettuce tastes amazing with parmesan cheese and herbs.
Red Velvet Cake
Red Velvet cake is a red, red-brown, scarlet, or crimson layer cake made with chocolate cake and ermine frosting. Common ingredients include butter, cocoa, buttermilk, vinegar, and flour. The cake gets its vibrant color from non-Dutched cocoa powder which is red in anthocyanin (a pigment found abundantly in red and purple fruits and vegetables).
Rice Cakes
Rice cakes are a flat hard food made with puffed rice. They are a gluten-free alternative to wheat crackers and bread. You can either eat rice cakes as a snack with a topping of cheese, chocolate, vegetables, and fruits.
Ricotta
Ricotta is an Italian whey cheese that uses sheep, cow, goat, or Italian water buffalo milk whey left over from the production of other cheeses. It is made by a process that combines heat and citric acid. You can also make Ricotta cheese at home with whole milk, citric acid, and salt.
Rigatoni
Rigatoni is a tube-shaped pasta variety from Italy. It is bigger than the penne and ziti varieties and also slightly curved. The Rigatoni is covered with ridges that hold onto the sauce. You can also stuff it since it is a large size.
Rum Cake
Rum cake is a traditional Caribbean dessert that uses rum, dried fruit, and sugar. It is a holiday season dessert that descends from holiday puddings. To prepare a rum cake, the dried fruit is soaked in rum for months before the holiday season. There are many varieties of rum cake such as a chocolate rum cake,
Rice Pudding
Rice pudding is a dish that uses rice, milk, water, and spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, and raisins. They can either be sweet or savory, sometimes referred to as a rice porridge instead. A popular form of rice pudding is the Indian kheer which is a sweet rice pudding.
Rocky Road Ice-cream
Rocky Road ice-cream is a chocolate ice-cream that includes nuts and diced marshmallows. The nuts used are usually roasted almonds and the white marshmallows add a contrast. Rocky Road ice-cream is a popular favorite around the world, usually served in a fresh waffle cone.
Ravioli
Ravioli is an Italian pasta dish, made with thin pasta dough and a filling. You can prepared ravioli with thinly rolled pasta dough along with a filling of choice. The ravioli is in a broth or sauce which complements the flavor of the filling. Ravioli is usually square but circular and semi-circular varieties are also popular. The best fillings for ravioli include ground beef, ricotta cheese, Italian sausage, and eggs.
Ribs
Ribs of pork, beef, and venison are a cut of meat, prepared by barbequing. In American cuisine, ribs usually refers to the less meaty part of the chops that are barbecued and served with a variety of sauces. A set of ribs, called a rack, contains five or more ribs cooked and served as a slab.
The best way to prepare ribs is either by slow cooking or barbecuing with a glaze on top. Sticky ribs are very popular at many American restaurants, served with a side of fries or mashed potatoes.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is the edible stalk of the rhubarb plant and is a dietary vegetable. It ranges in color from light pink to ruby red, sometimes even yellow and green. It is similar in appearance and texture to celery, but the flavor is astringent and sour. The Rhubarb stalk is usually an ingredient in desserts so many don’t know it’s a vegetable. Rhubarb does well in pies, cobblers, and jams. When cooked with sugar, it tastes great in desserts that also include strawberries.
You can also slice an pickle Rhubarb and use it in salads and meat dishes that include duck and quail.
Reuben Sandwich
The Reuben Sandwich is a North American recipe that combines corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing, and rye bread. This is a grilled sandwich is a delicious combination of tender meat, creamy Swiss cheese, complemented by the slight char on grilled rye bread.
You can easily prepare the Reuben sandwich at home as long as you have all the ingredients. Coleslaw is a good substitute for sauerkraut, while you can also use Gruyere or Emmental instead of Swiss cheese.
Risotto
Risotto is a rice dish from the north of Italy, cooked with broth until it has a creamy consistency. The broth can be a meat, fish, or vegetable broth, in which the rice is slow-cooked till it turns to a thick porridge-like consistency. There are many types of Risotto that include butter, parmesan cheese, white wine, and onions.
Risotto is a very popular dish in Italy, in fact it is the most common way that Italians eat their rice. A bowl of warm Risotto is a comforting and hearty meal that many will find irresistible.
Rarebit
Rarebit, originally known as Welsh Rabbit or Welsh Rarebit, is a British dish that consists of a cheese-based sauce served on toasted bread. The original name of the dish was “Welsh Rabbit” but it was changed to “rarebit” since it contains no rabbit. There are many variants of this recipe such as English rabbit, Scotch rabbit, buck rabbit, golden buck, and blushing bunny.
Some simply melt grated cheese on toasted bread, while others make a sauce with ale, mustard, and cheese and garnish with cayenne pepper. There are recipes that include wine, Worcestershire sauce, and béchamel sauce.
Roulade
A roulade is a dish where pastry or meat is rolled with a filling inside. Roulades are a traditional item in many European cuisines, while the term ‘roulade’ comes from the French word rouler, which means “to roll”. There are many varieties of roulades such as a meat roulade or pastry roulade. Typically, a meat roulade consists of a slice of steak which is rolled around a filling such as cheese, vegetables, or meats. Then the roulade is browned on a pan and cooked in wine or stock.
A dessert roulade includes pastry or sponge cake which is rolled around a filling such as jam, nuts, or flavored buttercream.
Roquefort
Roquefort is a cheese made from sheep milk in Southern France and is the most popular variety of blue cheese in the world. Although similar cheeses exist around the world, the Roquefort is the most well-known and is also known as “The King of Cheeses” or “The Cheese of Kings” in France. The cheese is white, tangy, and crumbly, with a slightly moist texture and distinctive veins of blue mold.
Roquefort is great when paired with almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts, dried fruits, fresh baguette, crackers, and honey.