Turns out there’s a lot to choose from, ranging from fruits and desserts to veggies and dairy products. There’s a bit of traveling involved, too, with exotic B foods from Europe, Asia, and South America in the mix. So if you don’t know your bananas from your breadfruits, or your bannock from your borscht, read on. This round-up of foods that start with B will give you plenty of ideas for dinner, along with some interesting, tasty trivia!
Foods That Start With The Letter B
1. Bananas
Here’s a fun banana fact – the common yellow fruit isn’t a fruit at all, and it doesn’t grow on trees. Bananas are technically large herbs, and they’re closely related to lilies and orchids. America’s most popular fruit, bananas are prized for their versatility. Under-ripe and green, they’re a good source of healthy prebiotic fiber. Fully ripe, they can be blended into smoothies or eaten as-is. Spotty and blackened? Give those old bananas new life by mashing them into moist banana bread or nutritious banana muffins.
2. Breadfruit
Prickly breadfruit is a popular sweet snack or dessert in Asia and the Pacific region. Pacific Islanders like their breadfruit roasted in an underground oven warmed by heated rocks, but there’s no need to remodel your kitchen just yet. Ripe fruits can be baked, boiled, or steamed. For the full tropical experience, bake your breadfruit stuffed with coconut and sprinkled with sugar.
3. Bannock
Bannock is a type of flatbread, baked in a round disc and cut into wedges before serving. Originating from Scotland, bannock was considered a ‘journey’ cake, which is a filling snack that could be wrapped up and put in a pack for sustenance during a long trip. Bannock was brought to North America sometime in the 18th century by European explorers and has been a favorite of wilderness wanderers ever since.
4. Broccoli
Broccoli is one of the healthiest greens you can eat. This cruciferous vegetable has twice the vitamin C of an orange and is high in disease-fighting antioxidants. Pick the eye-catching purple variety for maximum nutrition. These contain more antioxidants than their green cousins. If you’re wondering what to do with your broccoli, science says steam rather than boil, as this preserves the nutritional content better.
5. Bratwurst
If you’ve ever attended Oktoberfest, you’ve probably eaten bratwurst. This is a traditional German sausage served at festive occasions, dinner parties or mid-week dinners. Made from seasoned pork and veal, flavorful Bratwurst is welcome at any dinner table, any time.
6. Borscht
Borscht is a beet stew, popular in Eastern Europe. It’s a striking soup, instantly recognizable, thanks to its vibrant red color. Anything goes with borscht. Different regions have put their own spin on the dish, so you may find it with chunks of tender potato, with cabbage, or even beef. One thing never changes though – that rich beet base.
7. Brisket
Okay, okay, brisket isn’t technically a food, but it does make for a tasty meal. This cut of meat is usually slow-cooked and smoked until perfectly juicy, salty, and spicy. Unsurprisingly, brisket gets a lot of love in the southern US, and it’s considered the unofficial national dish of Texas.
8. Bacon
I think we can all agree that a world without bacon would be a world without joy. (Sorry, vegans.) This crunchy, juicy pork treat is generally considered a breakfast food, but I say, dream bigger. If you like your desserts salty and sweet, try bacon brownies, bacon-wrapped dates, or candied bacon.
9. Bok Choy
Bok choy is a type of Chinese cabbage. It’s subtle flavor and refreshing crunch make it ideal for aromatic stir-fries and summer-worthy salads. Slightly sweet, bok choy is best when paired with flashy flavors like ginger, garlic, and anise.
10. Beans
Beans are a vastly under-rated kitchen staple. Keep a cupboard-full in your pantry, and you’ll always have dinner options. Kidney beans are perfect for a rich, hearty chili. Black beans are ideal for Caribbean-style rice. Cannellini beans are a hearty option for an herby Tuscan stew. Buy your beans in bulk, and your budget and belly will thank you.
11. Brownies
In recent years, enterprising home cooks have taken brownie-making to a whole new level with tasty and tantalizing concoctions. There are brownies for every diet – keto brownies, Paleo brownies, and vegan brownies. There are even brownies that fool kids into eating healthy, like avocado brownies, sweet potato brownies, and beet brownies. You can even add bacon to this classic chocolate dessert. Speaking from personal experience, you won’t regret it.
12. Bread Pudding
Bread pudding is a traditional English dessert that’s a meal in itself. It’s comfort food at its finest. Stale bread is baked in a custardy mix of eggs, cream, and sugar. Of course, you can switch up the classic recipe by adding cinnamon or chocolate. For a fun, boozy version add raisins and rum!
13. Banoffee Pie
Many years ago, a creative cook decided to put bananas and toffee together in a pie. The rest is banoffee pie history. This is a show-stopping dessert with a sweet cookie crumb. Its popularity has waned somewhat since the banoffee pie hey-day of the late 70s, but this definitely deserves a culinary comeback.
14. Bell Peppers
Sweet, crunchy bell peppers are known as the ‘traffic light fruits’ because of their distinctive red, yellow, and green varieties. There’s a reason health-enthusiasts try to eat the rainbow. Colored produce contains high levels of antioxidants. So don’t just eat your greens, make sure to get your reds, yellows, and oranges, too!
15. Buckwheat
Buckwheat is a gluten-free grain, similar to quinoa. You may see it in gluten-free cereals, flours, or baked goods. It’s high in fiber, iron, and magnesium, so it’s a good choice if you’re starting a healthy diet and want a nutritious alternative to wheat.
16. Butter
Edged out of the market by margarine, butter is making its way back into the mainstream. And why not? There’s a reason humanity has been churning cream into butter for centuries. It gives richness to baked goods, livens up just-cooked veggies, and is simply heaven dolloped into a golden baked potato.
17. Buttermilk
Buttermilk used to be the waste product of churning butter. A thin, sour liquid that was siphoned off and discarded. Then some forward-thinking baker realized that this buttermilk stuff was great for baking. Why? Because the acidity in buttermilk reacts with raising agents like baking soda to produce moist, fluffy scones, bread, and cakes.
18. Butternut Squash
Like most of the squash family, butternut squash can be both savory and sweet. This orange veggie can be roasted and sprinkled with sea salt and herbs for a flavorful side. Or it can be pureed with cinnamon, brown sugar, and nutmeg for a festive dessert. It’s high in fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin A, so it’s a great choice for your health, however you eat it.
19. Brown Rice
Higher in fiber than white rice, the brown variety is also denser with a chewy, nutty taste. Sure it takes longer to cook, but it’s healthy, filling, and it’s the perfect vehicle for rich sauces and hearty flavors.
20. Barley
Barley is a healthy cereal grain which can lower cholesterol to boost heart health. It’s equally at home simmered in a flavorful broth to thicken stews, ground into flour, or scattered into a salad. Pro tip – get some barley porridge going in the slow-cooker overnight, and you’ll be greeted with a hearty Crockpot breakfast in the morning.
21. Brie Cheese
A soft, tangy cow’s milk cheese, brie is a gift from France to the cheese-loving world (thank you France). I like mine baked and drizzled with honey, but it’s equally amazing spread over a chunk of crispy, buttered baguette.
22. Blueberries
The American blueberry season runs from April to September, so get these healthy berries in summer to enjoy them at their best. Scattered over yogurt, blended into fruity smoothies, or made into pie, these purple fruits are a crowd-pleaser. You can also whip up a blueberry sauce for pancakes, or try something different with a blueberry meat marinade.
23. Banh Mi
Banh mi is the Vietnamese word for bread but usually describes an Asian sandwich, made with shredded vegetables, pickles, pate, pork, and chilies. It’s a common street snack in Asia, with an unmistakable taste, thanks to its sweet and spicy mix of flavors.
24. Brussels Sprouts
I roast my Brussels sprouts until blackened, my sister shreds them and pan-fries them with a dash of white wine and lemon (yep, she’s the fancy sibling). However you like your sprouts, these green globes of goodness are a healthy choice for dinner, as they’re very high in vitamin C and vitamin K.
25. Blue Cheese
There’s no avoiding it. Blue cheese is… icky, even for cheese-lovers like myself. This blue-tinged hard cheese is full of mold. Thankfully, it’s a very tasty and digestible mold, which gives blue cheese its ripe taste and smell. Tangy, tart, and fragrant, it’s delicious crumbled into salads or made into a creamy dip.
26. Basil
This aromatic herb is commonly associated with Italy, taking center stage in a variety of Mediterranean dishes like lasagna, bolognese, and pesto. Thai cuisine also heavily features basil, but while the Italians favor sweet basil, the Asian variety is a different, more fragrant plant.
27. Boston Cream Pie
No trip to Boston is complete without a slice of this decadent pie. Classic vanilla sponge cake is filled with sweet pastry cream and topped with lashings of rich chocolate icing. It’s gooey, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth good.
28. Basmati Rice
Translated from Hindi, basmati means ‘fragrant,’ and that’s a big clue to how this flavorful rice tastes. A long-grain aromatic rice, this is one of India’s biggest commercial crops. It pairs well with dishes from that region, so serve it as a side next time you’re in the mood for a warming, creamy curry.
29. Black-Eyed Peas
If you’re thinking of the hip-hop group, lower your expectations. These pantry staples are not rock stars. They’re barely even peas, being more commonly classified as a bean. Soaked until tender, black-eyed peas show up in some exotic places. These legumes can be a hearty base for some amazing soul food, such as Caribbean stews, Cajun rice, and Creole platters.
30. Black Pepper
We know it as a mundane table seasoning, but black pepper is a flowering vine that packs a punch (and doubles as a tongue twister). Sharp and smoky, it goes with almost anything. Black pepper is also considered a medicinal plant in many ancient traditions like Ayurveda. This Indian healing art considers it a potent detoxifier and cleanser.
31. Baklava
Long associated with Greek and/or Turkish cuisine, baklava is a sweet pastry dessert. Light sheets of phyllo dough are stacked with chopped nuts and honey syrup for a dainty cake that can also be flavored with cinnamon or clove. If you want to get really authentic, eat it on November 17, which is Baklava Day.
32. Bagels
A ring-shaped bread popular in the Jewish community, bagels are basically savory doughnuts. A versatile side, snack, or breakfast food, they’re usually sprinkled with poppy or sesame seeds and eaten with meat, cream cheese, eggs, or butter.
33. Beets
Beets are a sweet root vegetable with some very sweet health benefits. Packed with anti-inflammatory antioxidants and high in fiber and folate, they deserve their reputation as a superfood. Puree, juice, roast, or steam them. There’s no wrong way to prep your beets. Just be sure to wear gloves and wipe down surfaces immediately. These bright red veggies stain and your kitchen can quickly go from pristine to crime scene if precautions aren’t taken (I speak from a very frustrating experience). Click on a star to rate it!
Average rating 3 / 5. Vote count: 2 No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.
Share on social media: Let us improve this post!
