Have you ever gotten bored with your family’s meal rotation? Why not get super creative and make something from a list of foods that start with a specific letter? This can really be fun if you’re cooking with kids, and it’s a great way to introduce new foods to children.
While it can be easy to find foods that start with A, B, C, and D, it’s much more challenging when you get to the letters near the end of the alphabet, such as X and Z. It’s not impossible, though, and tasty xigua popsicles are the proof of that.
In this article, I will cover 26 foods that start with X, so you don’t have to waste time looking for dishes starting with one of the hardest letters in the alphabet!
Xylitol is an additive that occurs naturally in some plants and is categorized as a sugar alcohol.
While xylitol looks and tastes like sugar, it has 40% fewer calories and doesn’t raise blood sugar levels.
As a result, it is often considered as a weight-loss friendly sweetener, and is often marketed to be preferable over sugar. Dentists often recommend chewing gum that has been sweetened with xylitol.
It is a common ingredient found in foods such as chewing gum, peanut butter, and candies.
2. XO Sauce
Developed in Hong Kong, XO sauce is a luxurious condiment named after XO cognac.
The sauce contains a rich blend of dried seafood including dried scallops and dried shrimp, chili peppers, ham, and dried garlic. Its unique flavor has made it a staple in many Chinese regions.
This condiment is used to enhance the umami that brings the dish together, and can give any savory dish a huge boost in flavor.
If you’ve ever spent the time reading the back of packaged foods before, you’ve likely heard of xanthan gum. Xanthan gum is a popular food additive that’s commonly added to foods as a thickener or stabilizer.
3. Xanthan Gum
It is created by a sugar that’s fermented by a bacteria. Xanthan gum is included in many foods, personal care products and industrial products because of its stabilizing and thickening properties.
In addition to this, it is becoming a popular additive to use in gluten-free products.
Xaiver soup is a classic Italian soup. It features delicious parmesan dumplings, rich chicken broth, and fresh parsley.
Xavier soup is named after Saint Francis Xavier, and is now served during the feast of St. Francis which falls in December.
Xavier soup is made with rich ingredients such as heavy cream, butter, and egg yolks. In addition to this, it also makes uses of spices, including nutmeg, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes. Delicious!
Xavier steak is a simple grilled steak with the addition of a few delicious toppings to make it super delicious.
This recipe celebrates simple ingredients, turning them into something truly delicious when paired together.
Xavier steak is grilled to perfection, and is served with asparagus that is seasoned and drizzled with olive oil before it is covered with slices of swiss cheese.
It is then broiled until the cheese is melted and served.
If you’re a fan of spicy food, then xnipec is for you! Xnipec is a fresh salsa made with fresh habanero peppers, tomato, onion, sour orange juice and more.
The fresh habanero peppers in this salsa give it a nice kick, while the citrus from the orange juice gives it a nice zing that is super refreshing. Once you try it, you won’t be able to stop!
You can serve this salsa as an appetizer along with chips, or as a garnish for tacos or tostados.
7. Xigua
Xigua is the Chinese name for watermelon, meaning ‘western fruit’ as this reflects that it is not native.
Xigua, or watermelon, is super refreshing and is a popular breakfast food all around the world, especially in Europe.
Xigua can be found with a bright red or orange flesh and it’s used and eaten just like any watermelon. They can be added to salads, made into chilled desserts, or eaten on their own!
8. Xinomavro Grapes
Xinomavro is a dark-skinned grape that has become one of Greece’s most popular red grape varieties in the last decade.
Xinomavro grapes originated in Macedonia and are considered to be an excellent grape for making wine.
That being said, when they are growing in the vineyard, these types of grapes can be inconsistent and therefore require careful management.
Xinomavro’s acidity and tannins give the wines good cellaring potential, and also make the wine a good accompaniment to a variety of foods. They are also great to snack on!
When translated from Chinese, xia mi means “rice shrimp”. The dish doesn’t actually contain any rice but is just made with very small, dehydrated shrimp. Dried shrimp is a very common ingredient in Asian cuisine.
Dried shrimp, and dried seafood as a whole are often added to a variety of Chinese dishes to enhance the umami flavor. They are also used in XO sauce, the spicy, savory seafood-based condiment made in Hong Kong that I mentioned earlier!
This dish includes a variety of ingredients, including white poppy seeds, sliced or grated coconut and large dried red chilies.
The meat in Xacuti is cooked in a deliciously rich gravy. The gravy is usually made out of spices like black pepper (meerya), chilli, clove, nutmeg, turmeric, onion, and cinnamon.
If you’re looking to try a new sweet treat, xi gua lao is a Beijing jelly dessert.
This sweet treat is made with watermelon, cherries, vanilla, and agar. Water is mixed with agar, vanilla powder and sugar and boiled into a syrup.
Following this, the cherries are cut into small slices and the watermelon is crushed for the watermelon juice, and mixed with the syrup and then cooled. This yummy dessert is often made into fun watermelon shapes.
13. Xoconostle
Xoconostle cactus fruit is a sour prickly pear variety, botanically classified as Opuntia matudae.
Xoconostle cactus fruit is rich in various nutrients, such as fiber, vitamin C and calcium. They are also packed with antioxidants!
In Mexico, Xoconostle cactus fruit is found both in the wild, and can also be grown in home gardens and cultivated.
Xoconostle cactus fruit lends a sour flavor to sauces and salsas, and is often used in Mexico in a variety of different dishes.
Source: chinasichuanfood
14. Xingren Doufu
Xingren is a traditional dessert of Beijing. This sweet treat is a gelatin dessert that is made from almond milk, agar, and sugar.
The mixture is strained, sweetened, and heated with a gelling agent. When chilled, the milk mixture solidifies to the consistency of a soft gelatin dessert.
Although the agar-based recipe is vegan, you should proceed with caution, as there are a variety of nontraditional recipes that are not. Gelatin is a common substitute for agar, and many recipes are made with dairy products and a small amount of flavored extract.
15. Xylocarp Cupcakes
Xylocarp is a fruit that is described to be hard and woody, such as a coconut.
You can add this delicious fruit to a variety of different cake batters, and even the icing for a delicious sweet treat.
Simply whip up cupcakes as you normally would, with butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and extract.
Add in the fruit, and you will be left with a tropical and fruity cake that makes a nice change from your standard sponge cupcakes.
16. Xoi
Xoi simply means “sticky rice” in Vietnamese. Xoi is commonly eaten as a breakfast but you can eat it in a variety of ways and make it a lunch, dinner, or dessert! Rice can go with anything after all!
For instance, sweet, sticky rice, xoi can be a Vietnamese breakfast or dessert. The sky’s the limit when it comes to eating xoi.
17. Xigua Popsicles
As I mentioned above, xigua is watermelon and can easily be cut up and made into popsicles by freezing. These popsicles are great to help you cool down on a hot summer’s day!
To make xigua popsicles, simply blend the watermelon until it resembles a puree.
Use a jug to carefully fill your molds with the watermelon puree.
Freeze until it is partially frozen, then slide a stick gently into the centre of the mold. Waiting for the mixture to partially freeze should mean that the stick will stand on its own without falling over. Return to the freezer and freeze for a further 30 minutes.
Enjoy!
18. Xmas Cookies
Xmas, or christmas cookies is a broad term for a variety of festive baked cookies around the holiday season.
Xmas cookies often refers to simple, vanilla sugar cookies cut out in Christmas shapes and iced with colourful festive frosting.
You can experiment with different colored icings, sprinkles, and really get creative with the designs that you choose.
It’s a super fun activity to get the whole family involved around the holidays!
19. Xouba
Xouba, or sardines are a nutrient-rich small fish. They are commonly caught and come in tins filled with oil, as sardines don’t tend to last very long when they’re fresh.
Xouba is used in a variety of different European dishes, and makes a simple and cheap recipe for you to enjoy with your friends.
Xouba can also be eaten as an adult fish but is much more tender when young and small.
Xocolatl is a rich chocolate beverage that is only lightly sweet, and is typically spiced with chili or cinnamon.
Think of it as the original hot chocolate, before all the sugar was added. Also known as Mexican hot chocolate, modern xocolatl is a strong, spicy version of the milky sweet hot cocoa that is found in the US.
22. Xiaolongbao
Xiaolongbao, also known as a soup dumpling, is a Chinese steamed bun from Jiangsu province. These buns are steamed Chinese dumplings filled with meat (traditionally pork) and then served in hot broth.
Making these buns takes a lot of patience, and eating them can be a little tricky, but it’s well worth it.
While these buns are traditionally filled with delicious meat, they can also be eaten plain.
Source: food
23. Xampinyons En Salsa Mushrooms
Xampinyons en salsa is a classic Spanish tapas dish, and translates to “Mushrooms in Sauce.” This yummy tapas dish is traditionally made with wild, foraged mushrooms and cooked with sherry, herbs and lots of garlic.
Chill in the refrigerator overnight. Serve the mushrooms cold, sprinkled with the chopped fresh parsley. Delicious!
Xidoufen is a very spicy, Chinese soup. This delicious dish is made with peas, garlic, ginger, pepper oil, and chili flakes, and you can make it as spicy as you would like!
This flavorful dish is often called ‘pea porridge’, and is most popular in the Yunnan region of China.
25. Xiang Cao Jing
If you are ever looking for vanilla extract in China or a Chinese grocery store, you are ultimately looking for xiang cao jing – the word for vanilla in Chinese.
This ingredient can be used in a variety of baked goods and sweet dishes.
26. Xiphias
Xiphias is a seafood dish, and is the Greek word for swordfish. Swordfish are also known as broadbills in some countries, and are large, highly migratory, predatory fish.
It is one of the most tender, sought after fish available, and when cooked right, is absolutely priceless.
If you are in Greece and you enjoy seafood, then you will have to try a fillet of xiphias cooked in olive oil and served with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Tuck in and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
What fruits or vegetables begin with the letter X?
Xigua is a type of watermelon originating from Africa, and it is a popular fruit that starts with the letter X. Another example is the xerophyte plant, which includes various species adapted for surviving in dry climates.
Which breakfast items contain ingredients starting with X?
For a breakfast option with an ingredient starting with X, you can try incorporating xanthan gum into your gluten-free pancake or waffle recipes to improve their texture. Xylitol, a sugar substitute, can also be used in preparing low-calorie breakfast dishes like oatmeal, smoothies, and yogurt.
What are some healthy snack options starting with X?
Keep an eye out for xigua, which can be sliced and enjoyed as a refreshing, low-calorie snack in the summer months. Other healthy choices include xylitol-sweetened granola bars or incorporating xeric plants and their fruits into your diet to help support gut health.
Can you recommend a kid-friendly food item that starts with X?
If your child enjoys sweet flavors, xylitol-sweetened treats like sugar-free chewing gum or low-sugar yogurt can be a great option. Slices of xigua can also be an appealing and hydrating snack with its sweet, crunchy taste.
Are there any traditional American dishes with ingredients starting with X?
Although ingredients with X may not be common in traditional American cuisine, some recipes, like gluten-free baked goods, may incorporate xanthan gum to improve their texture. Xanthum gum is also frequently used in salad dressings and sauces to enhance their viscosity.
What beverages or drinks feature ingredients that start with X?
You can find drinks containing xylitol, such as sugar-free sodas and certain types of flavored water. Xanthan gum is sometimes used as a thickener and stabilizer in drink recipes such as smoothies and milkshakes. Finally, xigua could be blended into a fruity, refreshing summer beverage.
26 Foods That Start With X: Ultimate List
These options are sure to be a hit. So, gather your family and friends and enjoy. Let us know your thoughts!
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
