Having trouble thinking of foods that start with ‘T’? We’ve got your back! This list includes everything from the familiar taco to the mysterious tamarind. The best ‘T’ foods are included in this list so keep on reading to find out!
Table of Contents
Tacos
Who doesn’t love tacos? They are a very popular Mexican street food, now eaten around the world. It consists of a small hand-sized tortilla, either made with wheat or corn, topped with a filling. Tacos are very versatile and you can use multiple ingredients as filling.
You have many protein choices such as chicken, beef, pork, and fish. They also include vegetables and cheese, making them a delicious yet balanced meal. The best part about the taco is the condiments including guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.
Tamales
Nothing is as comforting as a fresh and warm Tamale. Tamales are a traditional Mesoamerican dish that uses a corn-based maize dough and a filling of various meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and chilies.
Depending on individual preferences, the filling and cooking liquid can also be seasoned. The Tamale is cooked by steaming in a corn leaf or banana leaf to maximize flavor. Prior to eating, you can either remove the leaf or use it as a plate.
Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh, also known as tabouleh, tabbouli, tabouli, or taboulah, is a Levantine salad consisting of chopped parsley, tomatoes, mint, onion, and bulgur. The seasoning includes lemon, olive oil, salt, and sweet pepper. There are variations that use lettuce and semolina as well.
This is a popular appetizer in Arab cuisine, which has recently become popular in Western cultures.
Tahini
Tahini or Tahina is a Middle Eastern condiment, made with toasted and ground hulled sesame. It has an appearance similar to peanut butter but the taste is very different. Tahini has a unique taste that is strong, earthy, and slightly bitter. In Middle Eastern cuisine, Tahini is usually a dip, but it also serves as an ingredient in other recipes such as hummus.
Tahitian Limes
Tahitian Limes, also known as Persian limes, seedless limes, and Bearss lime, are a popular variety of limes. They are the the type commonly found in grocery stores. They are seedless and have a green or yellow inside that is both tender and tart. Since Tahitian limes have a thicker skin than Key limes, they hold better over time. The juice of these sweet limes is a great way to beat the heat.
Tamarind
The fruits of the Tamarind plant are bean-shaped pods that are a cinnamon brown on the outside. Inside the pods, the flesh of this fruit is tender and succulent with a subtly sweet and sour flavor. The pulp of the Tamarind fruit is used in a variety of cuisines such as Indian and Mexican. You can use it in both sweet and savory dishes.
Tangelo
The Tangelo is a cross between a tangerine and a pomelo. There are many varieties of Tangelo such as Minneola, Jamaican, Honeybell, and Seminole tangelo. These fist-sized fruits are tart and tangy with a skin that is easy to peel.
They can serve as a substitute for mandarin oranges in recipes since they have a natural sweetness. You can use them in cakes, marmalade, or juice. They are also great when simply eaten fresh.
Tangerine
Tangerines are a type of orange that are often confused for mandarin oranges, although they are a separate variety. The word ‘tangerine’ comes from ‘Tangier’, a city in Morocco where sweet oranges grow abundantly.
Tangerines are smaller and less rounded than regular oranges. Their taste also differs, since it is less sour and more on the sweet side. The peak season for Tangerines is between autumn and spring.
Tapioca Pudding
Tapioca pudding is a sweet pudding made with tapioca and milk or cream. In some cuisines, coconut milk takes place of milk for a stronger flavor. There are various ways to prepare Tapioca pudding, depending on the desired consistency and the form of tapioca used. This is a sweet, comforting, and hearty pudding.
Tea
Tea is the most popular beverage in the world after water. It refers to the aromatic beverage made by seeping tea leaves in hot or boiling water. Due to its popularity, there are many varieties of tea that differ in preparation methods, serving temperature, and flavor.
The practice of drinking tea became popular during the Chinese Tang dynasty and to this day, nothing is more comforting than a warm cup of tea.
Tofu
Tofu, also known as bean curd, is a food prepared in a method similar to cheesemaking. Soy milk undergoes a condensation process after which the resulting curd is pressed into solid white blocks. There are many varieties of Tofu on the basis of texture. While low in calories, tofu is high in protein and iron. This is also why it is often a substitute for meat in recipes.
Tomatoes
Surprisingly enough, tomato is actually a fruit even though its common use is in savory dishes. They are one of the most popular food items in the world, used in multiple cuisines as a food staple. If tomatoes didn’t exist, we wouldn’t have many of our favorite foods including pizza.
Tortilla Chips
Nachos are everyone’s favorite snack and they wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for tortilla chips. Tortilla chips use corn tortillas, which are cut into triangles for baking or frying.
There are many varieties of tortilla chips depending on the type of corn used, but the yellow ones are the most popular. They don’t contain a lot of seasoning because they are served alongside dipping sauces such as salsa and guacamole.
Truffles
Truffles are edible fungi, just like mushrooms. They are a very expensive ingredient, costing as much as thousands of dollars per pound. There are many varieties of truffles but the most popular ones are the white and black. The white variety is from Italy, while the black one is from France.
They are one of the most prized ingredients in the world since it is very difficult to grow them. Truffles are valued for their complex aroma and flavor which is earthy, musky, and garlicky.
Trout
Trout is a popular freshwater fish eaten as a food item around the world. Known for its mild flavor and delicate texture, it has a place in many seafood dishes. Since the flesh of the Trout fish is generally bland, you can prepare it with a variety of seasonings.
The meat separates easily into pieces and falls apart in your mouth when cooked properly. There are many species of Trout eaten as food but Rainbow trout is the most popular.
Tuna
Believe it or not, Tuna became America’s favorite fish after World War I. Although it started as a way to feed troops during the war, it became widely popular in America since it was conveniently available in cans.
This popular saltwater fish has a tender flesh that falls apart, even when raw. You can use tuna in salads, sandwiches, toasts, and sushi. The most popular way to eat tuna is in sushi and sashimi.
Turnips
Turnips are a root vegetable, closely related to kale, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. They are small and round with a creamy white color and a purple top. Turnips are also used for feeding livestock, while smaller tender varieties are fit for human consumption.
Like other root vegetables, raw turnips are slightly spicy and peppery but when cooked, they acquire a sweet, earthy, and nutty flavor. You can prepare turnips in a variety of ways, including steamed, pickled, and mashed turnips.
Turkey
The meat of the Turkey bird is a popular poultry item included in many recipes. It is very popular in North America, eaten on culturally significant events such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Turkeys are available in super markets as sliced, ground, or “whole” in a manner similar to chicken.
Whole frozen turkeys are the most popular, while sliced cuts are great for sandwiches. Surprisingly, farm-raised turkeys and wild turkeys differ vastly in flavor, with the latter having darker, more flavorsome meat.
Tapenade
Tapenade is a mixture of puréed or finely chopped olives, capers, and anchovies. It can serve as a spread, condiment, or culinary ingredient and is a part of French cuisine. In Southern France, they eat Tapenade on toast as an appetizer or use it as stuffing for poultry meats.
It usually consists of black olives but you can also make Tapenade with green olives. In some regions, they use garlic, herbs, brandy, lemon juice, and anchovies to season the Tapenade.
Tart
A tart is a baked dish consisting of a pastry base and a filling. There are sweet and savory recipes, but modern tarts usually include sweet filling. Many believe that tarts are a product of Medieval pie making, although Medieval tarts had savory meat fillings.
However, sweet tarts that contained fruit-based fillings such as jam and custard became the most popular. There are many popular varieties of tarts such as a treacle tart, a Meringue tart, the French Tarte Tin, and jam tarts.
Tempura
Tempura refers to seafood, meat, or vegetables that are battered and deep-fried. It is a part of Japanese cuisine, inspired by fritter-cooking techniques from the 16th century.
The vegetables, meat, or seafood are thinly sliced and coated with a light batter consisting of water, eggs, and soft wheat flour. They are then deep-fried until golden brown and crispy. The most popular form of tempura is prawn tempura eaten with a dipping sauce.
Teriyaki Beef
Teriyaki is actually a cooking technique in Japanese cuisine that involves boiling and grilling food with a glaze of soy sauce, mirin, and sugar. You can use many different types of meat and seafood but Teriyaki beef is a very popular recipe.
The preparation of Teriyaki beef involves grilling with a glaze of soy sauce, mirin, and sugar applied during cooking. You can serve Teriyaki beef with noodles, rice, or eat it on its own.
Tiramisu
Tiramisu is a classic no-bake Italian dessert that uses coffee, ladyfingers (sponge cake), rum, cocoa, and mascarpone cream. It is a very popular dessert within Italy, but is also a popular item on many restaurants’ dessert menu outside Italy.
Although not everyone’s cup of tea, it is definitely something one should try at least once. Many describe a well-made Tiramisu as light, airy, and bitter all at once. Tiramisu is easy to prepare even though it is an elegant dish.
Trifle
Trifle is a British dessert made with fruit, sponge cake, and custard. Trifles have been around for ages and as a result, there are a variety of ways to prepare it. It is a well-known classic and is a perfect dessert for hot summers.
The modern Trifle consists of layers of sponge cake soaked in a fortified wine, thinly sliced fruit, fruit-flavored jelly, and a topping of whipped cream. If you would prefer a chocolate or coffee trifle, such varieties also exist.