Here are 100 foods that start with the letter I. There are so many wonderful foods that come from different parts of the world, giving your tastebuds a tour of cultures across the planet!
Check out these 100 foods starting with I that will introduce you to a new world of flavors!
Foods That Start with the Letter I – Alphabetized
Here is an alphabetically arranged chart of 100 foods that start with the letter I that you can use to quickly reference a food. You’ll find a quick explanation of each food underneath the chart!
| Iberian chorizo | Idli | Indian Sherbet Berry | Irish Potato Candy |
| Iberico ham | Ikan goreng | Indian Spiced Peas | Irish Soda Bread |
| Iboga | Ikayaki | Indian Squash | Irish Stew |
| Icacina | Ikura | Indian Strawberry | Irish Stout |
| Icaco | Ilama Fruit | Indian Wild Pear | Irish Whiskey |
| Ice apple | Illawarra Plum | Indonesian Fried Noodles | Isaw |
| Ice cream | Imarti | Indonesian Fried Rice | Isi Ewu |
| Ice cream cake | Imbe Fruit | Indonesian Ginger Chicken | Israeli Falafel |
| Ice cream sandwich | Imitation Crab | Indonesian Lime | Israeli shakshuka |
| Ice cream soda | Inca Berries | Indonesian Satay | Ita Palm Fruit |
| Ice Plant | Indian Almond Fruit | Inebriant | Italian Flag Salad |
| Ice Pops | Indian Chai-Spiced Hot Chocolate | Inga Edulis | Italian Ice |
| Iceberg Lettuce | Indian Chutney | Ingefaer snaps | Italian Kisses |
| Iced Coffee | Indian Corn | Insalata caprese | Italian Meatballs |
| Iced Gems | Indian Cucumber | Instant Coffee | Italian Parsley |
| Iced Tea | Indian Curry | Instant Noodles Or Instant Ramen | Italian Plum |
| Icelandic Cocoa Soup | Indian Fig Fruit | Instant Oatmeal | Italian Prosciutto |
| Icelandic Hot Shot | Indian Gooseberry | Instant Pudding | Italian Red Onion |
| Icelandic Rye Bread | Indian Hog Plum | Iraqi Cardamom Cookies | Italian Rice Balls |
| Icelandic Salmon Grill | Indian Jujube Fruit | Iraqi White Bean Stew | Italian Sausage Bread |
| Icelandic Skyr | Indian Mango | Irish Coffee | Italian Sweet Peppers |
| Ichigo | Indian Mustard Plant | Irish Colcannon | Italian Wedding Soup |
| Icing | Indian Peas | Irish Cream | Itokonnyaku |
| Idaho Potatoes | Indian Potato Cake | Irish Moss | Iwashi |
| Idiyappam | Indian Prune | Irish Potato And Leek Soup | Iyokan |
Foods That Start With I
From Iberian chorizo to iyokan, here are 100 foods starting with the letter I!
Iberian Chorizo
This mouth-watering traditional sausage from Spain is made mainly of pork marinated in spices. The greatest characteristics are the strong garlic and paprika elements, giving the distinct spicy flavor and red color.
As the name suggests, this sausage has to be made from Iberian pigs, or pigs at least 50% or higher of the Iberian breed.
Iberico Ham
Iberico ham, or “Jamón ibérico,” is a type of cured leg from pork made in Spain and Portugal. The special thing about this delicious meat is that it has to be from either pure-breed Black Iberian pigs or a crossbred pig with at least 50% Black Iberian mixed only with Duroc pigs.
It has a smooth texture, and a rich, savory taste with a relatively high fat content. When done traditionally, Iberico ham has a slight nutty flavor due to the pigs’ diet of acorns and other natural foods from the forest!
Iboga
Native to Central Africa, Iboga is a plant that contains psychoactive compounds traditionally used for spiritual purposes. It’s a controlled substance in the USA, but is illegal in many countries.
The Iboga plant looks like a shrub, with long yellow fruits shaped like chili peppers.
Icacina
Another plant native to Africa, Icacina produces fruit that looks similar to kiwis. The root of the plant is traditionally used as medicine to treat things like fever, diarrhea, and other infections.
Icaco
Icaco is very similar to plums, with their oblong shapes and thick black/red skin. The sweet taste is perfect for making things like jam, but can also be eaten straight to enjoy the delicious flavor.
Icaco is also used in traditional medicine, and is said to be really healthy and helpful as an antioxidant, antifungal, and in hyperglycemic individuals.
Make sure to keep the seeds and roast them for a delicious snack!
Ice Apple
Also known as Nungu, the ice apple has a sweet flesh that looks somewhat transparent. It’s native to South Asia, and looks similar to a coconut with its brown skin from the outside, but the transparent flesh is where it got its name – it looks like ice!
Ice Cream
We all know and love ice cream, one of the most popular types of desserts – especially in the summer!
There are many shapes and sizes that ice cream comes in, often made with toppings like chocolate chips, syrups, nuts, and more. On top of that, you got a ton of flavors to choose from – from bubble gum to green apple to vanilla to pretty much anything you can imagine!
If you’ve never tried Maple-Walnut ice cream, I HIGHLY recommend it!
Ice Cream Cake
My favorite type of cake, ice cream cake, is simply cake with an ice cream base. It’s a popular treat for birthdays, especially in the summer.
It comes in many flavors, with vanilla and chocolate being the most popular bases. Then, you can get creative with the toppings, adding frosting, Kit-kats, Oreos, cookies, and whatever else your heart desires!
Ice Cream Sandwich
A delicious treat of ice cream sandwiched between two biscuits, wafers, cookies, or other baked goods. Ice cream sandwiches are one of the top variations of ice cream outside of the classic ice cream scoop on a wafer cone.
Depending on where you are in the world, the outside “bread” part of this sandwich can differ. Ireland loves using wafers, for example, while the USA often uses a type of cookie!
Ice Cream Soda
Moving past cones and cookies/biscuits, ice cream soda is a delicious version of ice cream that involves a cold glass of your favorite soda with a scoop of ice cream on top – it’s as easy to make as it is delicious!
The ice cream soda’s cousin is the ice cream float, which is very similar in practice. Try out my favorite variation: a cool glass of sparkling Coca-Cola topped with the smooth taste of classic vanilla ice cream.
Ice Plant
Not to be confused with the flower, ice plant is a vegetable that comes from South Africa. It’s very hardy with a crunchy texture, and can be cooked and added into your stir fries. This “frosty” vegetable has a fresh, salty, and slightly lemony flavor that’s sure to make your dish more interesting!
Ice Pops
Ice pops, or popsicles, are a massively popular dessert loved by all! They’re essentially flavored water frozen into long, slender shapes that are perfect for summer. You can get basically any flavor, including root beer, lemon, orange, grape, and so many more!
If you want a healthier alternative to this sugary dessert, try freezing pureed fruit in popsicle molds!
Iceberg Lettuce
One of the more popular types of lettuce, iceberg lettuce is a leafy green vegetable that has a really high water content – perfect for adding a little extra freshness into your salads!
You can tell iceberg lettuce by its characteristic light green/white leaves and cabbage-like shape.
Iced Coffee
My personal go-to summer drink, iced coffee is a drink loved by many! Now, there are so many variations of it that nearly everyone can find a type that they like. For example, some people like brewing black coffee, cooling it, and then enjoying it straight with some ice cubes while others love to add sugar, milk, creams, flavoring, and syrups to create some sweet and delicious drinks!
Iced Gems
Iced gems are a popular biscuit in the United Kingdom. They’re usually made by taking sweet, buttery dough, forming them into little, round shapes, and then baking them until golden brown. Then, you top them off with icing and sprinkles or small candies!
Iced Tea
For all you tea lovers that don’t want to drink piping hot water in the summer, iced tea is the perfect solution. Either drunk by cooling off steeped tea, you can add sugar and flavoring as you like – however, a more popular version of iced tea is very sweet and sugary. In fact, I’d say that variation is less tea and more soft drink…but each to their own!
Icelandic Cocoa Soup
This is Iceland’s take on chocolate soup – yes, my mouth is watering too!
Made with potato starch and cocoa, this soup is often topped with cinnamon or vanilla to get some delicious flavors. It’s a great treat for anybody trying to warm up on a cold winter’s day – plus it’ll serve your sweet tooth!
Icelandic Hot Shot
One of the smoother variations of the hot shot, the Icelandic hot shot is made using espresso, Galliano (a type of liqueur produced in Italy), and some whipped cream. Like the name suggests, it’s a shot that’s meant to be drunk in one go!
Go with one ounce of each ingredient, mix them, let them sit, add a little whipped cream, and you’re all set!
Icelandic Rye Bread
A traditional bread coming out of Iceland, it’s made from rye flour, baking powder, sugar, and sometimes even molasses. The dark, dense bread gives off a sweet and earthy flavor, perfect to pair with some smoked salmon and butter!
Something cool about Icelandic rye bread is that it’s often baked in a pot placed in a hot spring or buried in the ground before being left to cook for several hours. This slow, unorthodox cooking process gives it that distinct taste and texture!
Icelandic Salmon Grill
I’m an absolute fish fanatic, and Icelandic salmon grill is something everyone needs to try!
It’s light flavor and firm but fatty texture is absolutely delicious, and doesn’t have to be complimented by many other ingredients. In fact, keep it to just some sliced onions and light seasoning to get the most out of this gorgeous-looking fish meat.
Unlike a lot of our fish in North America, Icelandic salmon is raised in ice-cold currents, which is one of the reasons it has such a distinct flavor.
Icelandic Skyr
Finishing off our tour of Icelandic foods, Skyr is similar to Greek yogurt, but differs in that it has a more creamy flavor with a more dense texture. Skyr also tends to be less sweet, and used as a healthy snack often mixed with berries, honey, and even peanut butter!
Ichigo
Ichigo means “strawberry” in Japanese, and is used in many traditional Japanese sweets like strawberry mochi – “Ichigo Daifuku,” this visually appealing dessert is delicious with its sweet and slightly sour flavors!
Icing
Icing is that sweet cream you use to decorate your cakes, cookies, desserts, and baked goods. You can add food coloring for some extra fun, while it’s usually made from a mixture of butter, milk, water, and powdered sugar.
Icing is great for decorative purposes because you can make it fluffy, smooth, thin, runny, thick – whatever you need to get your desired effect! And you don’t just have to decorate a cake with it – you can use icing to fill pastries and other baked goods!
Idaho Potatoes
A type of russet potato, Idaho potatoes are, you guessed it, grown in Idaho. They’re great for baking, mashing, or even turning into French fries and potato salads!
They have a whitish flesh and brown skin, and you really can’t go wrong with the versatility of these!
Idiyappam
A speciality stemming out of Sri Lanka, idiyappam is also known as string hoppers – rice flour noodles that you dip into a curry before eating. You can enjoy it in a stew, with a side of chicken curry, vegetables, and eggs.
It’s even used as a dessert in some cases, being served with shredded coconut, sugar, and ghee.
Idli
Coming out of South India, idli is an ancient recipe that is very similar to rice cakes. It’s a popular breakfast meal, and is usually made by steaming fermented black lentils and rice together to create a soft, fluffy textured food.
There are several types of variations found throughout the years, and are definitely something to try!
Ikan Goreng
Ikan goreng literally translates to “fried fish” in the Indonesian and Malay languages, and is a very popular dish in those regions. It’s generally a fish that is marinated with a mixture of spice pastes before being fried to crispy-golden perfection.
Ikayaki
Ikayaki is a very popular fast food in Japan, often found as a street food. It’s simply a grilled squid on a stick topped with soy sauce. You can find it served as the whole body of the squid, just the tentacles, or as cut rings from the body.
Ikura
Ikura is the Japanese word meaning the “roe of salmon,” which is essentially caviar (fish eggs). It’s popular in Russia as well, and often used as a topping for sushi, rice dishes, or breads.
Ilama Fruit
You can find this tropical fruit in Central and South America, with its green/brown skin covered in soft fuzz. Once you’re past the outer skin, you’ll find a sweet, creamy, and juicy flesh on the inside that is full of vitamins and minerals!
Add it to your desserts or drinks for a bit of extra fruity goodness!
Illawarra Plum
Also known as the Brown Plum, the Illawarra Plum comes from Australia. You can tell it for its small, dark purple/black body, and tart flavor that is great in jams and chutneys! The Illawarra Plum has been used by Indigenous Australians for thousands of years to treat many ailments, but is more of an ornamental fruit these days.
Imarti
Imarti is a dessert from India, and is also known as Jalebi. It was once only served in royal courts, but is popular for all people today.
It looks like a circular pretzel, and its orange-red dough is sugary and chewy. The dough is fermented, and then poured into a hot oil in a spiral-shaped funnel.
Imbe Fruit
This small fruit comes from a tree native to Southern Africa. It looks similar to a cherry, except has more of an orange/yellow color when ripe. Its sweet and tangy flavor is great in jams and jellies.
Imitation Crab
Imitation crab is fake crab meat made from fish flesh that’s been deboned, washed, cleaned from any fat, then minced into a paste. The paste is then mixed with other ingredients to create more of that crab flavor before being pressed into shapes that mimic crab meat.
Inca Berries
Found in the tropical areas of Peru, these berries have a mixture of sweet and sour flavors that offer a healthy snack.
Fun fact: Inca berries are more closely related to tomatoes than actual berries!
Indian Almond Fruit
Coming from the tropical areas of Asia, Australia, and Madagascar, this red and green fruit has seeds with a nutty taste similar to almonds (hence the name).
It has some great minerals, and the oil from the seeds can be used to cook!
Indian Chai-Spiced Hot Chocolate
A fancy hot chocolate, Indian chai-spiced hot chocolate is made by taking fennel seeds, cardamom seeds, peppercorns, nutmeg powder, ginger, and cloves. Crush all these into a fine powder before adding to heated milk with a couple drops of vanilla extract. Finally, add some chocolate powder, stir well, and enjoy this delicious drink on a cold winter’s day!
Indian Chutney
This condiment originates out of India, and can be made from fruits, vegetables, and herbs. It’s gluten-free, and adds a distinct flavor to your dish depending on how it’s made and what you’re serving it with.
Indian Corn
Indian corn has many names, including field corn, maize, and flint corn. This variety of corn is usually larger and harder than the ones we eat, as is mainly grown for use in animal feeds. It can also be used as decoration with its colorful kernels! Sometimes, it’s used to make cornmeal.
Indian Cucumber
Native to North America, this vegetable is part of the lily family. You can find it growing in forests, and can eat its roots as well!
Another name for it is the Medeola Virginiana.
Indian Curry
This is one you’ve likely heard of – or at least smelled! This strong, spicy sauce is often enjoyed with rice, naan, and flatbreads, but is often put on salads and chutney as well! Indian curry is usually made with turmeric, cumin, and red chilies, giving that distinct taste and smell.
Indian Fig Fruit
This fruit comes from the prickly pear cactus, and is native to the Americas. The oval-shaped fruit is covered in small spines, covering a juicy, sweet flesh that can be yellow, red, or purple.
Indian fig fruit is great in salads and smoothies, and is sure to add a freshness to your meal!
Indian Gooseberry
Also known as amla, Indian gooseberry comes from India and Southeast Asia. This small and round fruit has a light green/yellowish color when ripe, and is rich with vitamins. This sour and slightly tangy flavor is great for Indian cuisine, such as making chutneys. It can also be used in jams!
Indian Hog Plum
Growing in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and India, the Indian hog plum is an oblong-shaped, yellow/green fruit with a hard and fibrous middle. It’s also called “ambarella,” and is full of vitamins and minerals that can be enjoyed in jams, chutneys, smoothies, and more!
Indian Jujube Fruit
This small, round, green-colored fruit is home in South Asia. It can be eaten fresh, dried, or made into jams and drinks!
Some other names for this sweet fruit are “ber” or “bor.”
Indian Mango
As the name implies, this mango is native to India. It’s the most widely cultivated mango variety in the world – there’s a good chance you’ve had one! The large fruit has a juicy and rich flavor, with sweet flesh that is full of vitamins. Try it out in your next smoothie or salad!
Indian Mustard Plant
Everything about this plant is edible – the seeds, stems, and leaves can all be used in your meal! The seeds are often harvested to make a brown mustard condiment, which is spicier than your classic yellow mustard from the store.
Indian Peas
This type of pea is actually a legume, and is also called the grass pea. It’s mainly cultivated in Asia, and is very drought-resistant which makes it ideal for dry areas – plus, it can grow in bad soil conditions!
Add some onions and traditional Indian spices (like garam masala) to create a salad with a kick!
Indian Potato Cake
Boil a potato with some peas marinated in different spices, add a side of chutney, and enjoy this traditional Indian meal!
Indian potato cake is known as “aloo tikki” in India – aloo means potato, and tikki means small cutlet. The chutney adds much of the flavor, and there are different variations depending on which region you get the meal from.
Indian Prune
The Indian prune is native to Southeast Asia, and is popular in Indonesia and Malaysia. The prune is small, oval, reddish-brown, and has juicy, tart flesh with a slightly sour taste.
Just like most other prunes, the Indian prune is a good source of vitamins and minerals, and is an easy food to snack on!
Indian Sherbet Berry
Coming from a small tree native to South Asia, Indian sherbet berries are small, tangy, juicy berries similar to the size of blueberries. You’d typically find these made as drinks (like sherbet), but can also use them as an aid for digestion!
Indian Spiced Peas
A delicious meal coming from India, Indian spiced peas is similar to a stir fry of onions, peppers, and garlic with added curry or masala. It’s then mixed with water and simmered before being served, making this flavorful dish a fan-favorite!
Indian Squash
This is a round gourd that looks very similar to a green apple, although some variations are much longer. Indian squash is cooked to soften it and bring out the slightly sweet flavor. It’s very popular in South Asian cuisines, both for its mild taste and health benefits!
Indian Strawberry
You’ll be surprised to hear that this strawberry doesn’t taste like a strawberry at all! It’s other name is “potentilla indica,” or “mock strawberry.” The fruit is dry and bland, and mainly used for medicinal purposes. Stick to the “real” strawberries if you want a sweet, juicy fruit!
Indian Wild Pear
Another fruit native to the South Asian area, the Indian wild pear is a small, round, gritty fruit that is often used to make chutneys. It can also be eaten raw, or cooked into a dish to add some sweetness to it!
Indonesian Fried Noodles
This is one you have to try. Indonesian fried noodles is a classic dish that is made with authentic Indonesian noodles, garlic, vegetables, sweet soy sauce, shallots, chicken, and more to create a mouth-watering dish that’s sure to have you coming back for seconds!
Fun fact: this dish is called “mie goreng” by the locals.
Indonesian Fried Rice
This dish is different from most other fried rice dishes in Asia due to its sauce – the sweet soy sauce called kecap manis stains the rice a dark brown color, and caramelizes when cooked. It’s much sweeter than regular soy sauce, and packs a distinctive taste that’s absolutely delicious!
Indonesian Ginger Chicken
Another traditional meal in Indonesia, this ginger chicken is made by marinated chicken in a mixture of freshly grated ginger and minced garlic. This mixture is combined with honey and soy sauce before being poured over the chicken, infusing it with a flavor that is truly something to dream of!
Indonesian Lime
This looks very similar to a regular lime, but has pebbled skin! It’s known for the acidic, tangy flavors it adds into Southeast Asian cuisine, and also goes by “kaffir lime” and “citrus hystric.”
Indonesian Satay
Not just popular in Asia but all around the world, Indonesian satay is generally served as a chicken-on-a-stick with a thick peanut sauce. This sauce is made from peanuts, kecap manis, red chilis, shallots, and lime.
Inebriant
Inebriants are a wide range of things that can make you, well, inebriated. This includes things like beer, wines, hard cider, liqueurs, and more! Inebriants aren’t always used to drink, however, as they’re popularly used to mix in foods such as cakes and desserts!
Inga Edulis
These fruits reportedly taste like vanilla ice cream, while cooking the seeds makes them taste like chickpeas…
A very interesting fruit, inga edulis is also called the “ice cream bean fruit,” and is native to South America. They’re very popular due to their high vitamin content and anti-inflammatories, and are grown more widely these days.
Ingefaer Snaps
Ingefaer is the Danish word for “ginger,” as these are popular Danish treats around the holidays. These gingerbread cookies are often made into different shapes and cutouts, usually according to the festivities during which they’re baked
Insalata Caprese
Insalata caprese is a delicious Italian salad made from mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. You’ll often see it as tomato slices on top of mozzarella slices, but there are variations where you can use cut up tomatoes and cheese instead! Either way, this is one of my favorite salads!
Instant Coffee
When you just need to get going in the morning (and quick), reach for the instant coffee. These beans have been roasted, ground, brewed, then dehydrated into a powder or granules that can be mixed into hot water. It tastes different than traditionally brewed coffee of course, but it’s an easy go-to on busy days – and some people even prefer it this way!
Instant Noodles/Instant Ramen
This one brings me back to my university days. Instant noodles are popular all around the world, originally coming from Japan. They are dried blocks of pre-cooked noodles that usually come with a small bag of seasoning powder. You simply toss the block into a bowl of hot water, add the seasoning powder, mix, and enjoy!
Instant Oatmeal
Similar to instant noodles, instant oatmeal is the modern take on one of the oldest grains in history. These oats are simply mixed in with hot water or hot milk before being eaten – a lot of companies have added flavors to them such as brown sugar (coconut sugar could be a great alternative) or apple cinnamon, but you can add your own flavoring such as fruits, honey, or sugar!
Instant Pudding
Instant pudding is a powder that you usually mix with milk and water. It’s full of sugar, thickeners, and flavoring to create pudding within minutes! Instant pudding comes in a bunch of different flavors, with the classics being vanilla and chocolate.
Iraqi Cardamom Cookies
What’s cool about these is that Iraqi Cardamom cookies are usually made at home, and can’t be found in stores. The recipes are handed down from generation to generation, creating slight differences between household versions of this delicious treat – it tends to stay a shortbread with a slightly nutty flavor, however.
Iraqi White Bean Stew
This is a very popular dish in Iraq, and is called “fasolia yabsa,” which directly translates to “dry beans.” You simply take lamb or veal, some cannellini beans, tomato sauce, and rice, mix it all together, and enjoy it with a side of vegetables.
Irish Coffee
Take some coffee, add as much (or little) whipped cream and sugar as you like, pour in a shot of irish whiskey, and you got yourself an Irish coffee!
While being named for the place that made it popular, Irish coffee is famous all around the world – you may have heard of Baileys Irish Cream, which is a liqueur that is popularly mixed with coffee to create this warming drink.
Irish Colcannon
This fun dish is made by mixing potatoes, cabbage and/or kale leaves, scallions, butter, and seasonings. It’s quite similar to American mashed potatoes, and is very popular around St. Patrick’s Day!
Irish Cream
Irish cream refers to different liqueurs made from irish whiskey, cream and other flavoring ingredients like vanilla. They are often mixed into coffee, added to desserts, or made into cocktails.
Irish Moss
This type of seaweed is found along the Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America. Irish moss has a thick, gelatinous substance, and is popular in being used as a thickener in different foods – and even beauty products!
Irish Potato And Leek Soup
This popular dish is a creamy, simple meal that barely requires any preparation. Using butter, leeks, potatoes, vegetable broth, and seasoning will create this wonderful dish often prepared during St. Patrick’s day – but it’s also a great comfort food for cold days!
Irish Potato Candy
Surprise! This “candy” is actually made in Philadelphia, and only has “potato” in its name due to the look of it. It’s a candy that looks like a small potato, with a brown outside and a white middle. They’re usually coconut-filled, and covered in cinnamon!
Irish Soda Bread
This is a traditional bread coming out of Ireland. It’s made without using yeast – in fact, the leavening comes from the baking soda and buttermilk entirely!
The soft, dense bread has a crusty outside, and is often mixed with raisins and seeds.
Irish Stew
When Ireland fell on tough times back in the 19th century, Irish stew became a staple due to its budget-friendliness. It’s made with potatoes, mutton, and whatever vegetables that are available. While it may have been created during hard times, it’s still a popular dish in Ireland and is considered a comfort food.
Irish Stout
Irish stout sure turns some heads! It’s a black beer made with roasted barley. It’s a medium to medium-high bitterness, and definitely not everyone’s cup of tea…err…cup of beer.
Irish Whiskey
Irish whiskey is traditionally made in Ireland. It’s made from a mash of malted barley, water, grains, and distilled in a specific way before being aged in wooden casks. It has a reputation for being smooth and mellow, with certain brands adding a small flair of fruity or spicy flavors.
Isaw
A very popular street food from the Philippines, isaw is made from barbecued chicken or pig intestines. They’re cleaned well, of course, before being put on sticks and grilled.
Isi Ewu
A traditional Nigerian dish, Isi Ewu is a goat head soup that includes its brain and tongue. Don’t worry, it’s first cleaned very well and then boiled until tender. Isi Ewu is seasoned well with spicy peppers, and typically served with yams, fufu, or other side dishes.
Israeli Falafel
The national dish of Israel, Israeli falafel is a dish of deep-fried balls/fritters made from chickpeas or fava beans served in a pita or flatbread. They’re often topped off with salad, vegetables, or hot sauce.
Israeli Shakshuka
Another of Israel’s most loved foods, shakshuka is traditionally made of spiced stewed tomatoes topped with poached eggs, seasoned with garlic, onion, peppers, and more spices.
Ita Palm Fruit
A small, dark purple palm fruit native to South America, this fruit is often used in desserts, ice creams, jams, and sorbets. Another name for it is “jucara” and “jussara,” and you may have heard of “jussara wine,” which is made from the ita palm fruit.
If you’ve ever visited Brazil, you’ll likely have run into these popular fruits!
Italian Flag Salad
Originating from the island of Capri, this salad pays respect to the Italian flag (given the name).
At first, it was made just for royal and political visitors to Capri, but the ease of preparation and great taste made it very popular in all of Italy – and now the world!
You’ll want Roma tomatoes, mozzarella balls, pesto sauce, salts, peppers, and olive oil to create this tasty salad!
Italian Ice
Perfect for anyone that doesn’t want ice cream (whether you don’t like dairy or can’t properly digest it), Italian ice is similar to a snow cone in that it’s a frozen concoction of fruits, flavoring, water, and purees. It’s a low-calorie option if you want an alternative to ice cream for the summer, and it tastes great as well!
Italian Kisses
Popular to make at home, Italian kisses are small balls of ice cream made to freeze hard in the freezer. They are then dipped in melted chocolate – you can sprinkle some nuts, coconut, or even candy onto them! Put them back into the freezer until the chocolate hardens however much you want them to, then enjoy!
Italian Meatballs
These are often eaten by themselves as a meal, as the high-protein content does a great job of filling you up! Italian meatballs can be made with many different types of meats, inducing chicken, turkey, fish, beef – you name it!
They’re also seasoned with grated parmesan or oregano, giving them a more distinct taste than most other meatball variations.
Italian Parsley
You’ll likely have seen this one before, as Italian parsley is massively popular in many dishes. The slightly bitter, earthy, fresh tasting herb is often used as a garnish or flavoring tool in soups, salads, stews, etc.
Italian Plum
Known for their sweet, juicy, rich flesh, Italian plums are often used in pies, jams, jellies, and desserts. You’ll even find them as an addition to roasted meat dishes as an added tang to the flavor.
They tend to be a dark blue/purple color, with an oval-ish shape.
Italian Prosciutto
I go absolutely crazy for this stuff!
Italian prosciutto is uncooked, unsmoked and dry-cured ham. It’s thinly sliced, and made from the pig’s hind leg. It’s eaten both on its own or on a sandwich, pizza, or as a side.
Italian Red Onion
Coming out of the Calabria region in Southern Italy, the Italian red onion is a sweet, mildly-flavored, delicate onion. It goes great in salads and on sandwiches, and is a wonderful addition to soups and stews. You can even caramelize it to bring out it’s delicious flavor!
Italian Rice Balls
A classic dish in Italy, Italian rice balls are made from rice, meat sauce, peas, and soft mozzarella cheese mixed together and coated in breadcrumbs. They are then deep fried as little balls, and are a great crispy snack.
They have slight differences depending what area of Italy you’re in, but you’ll likely love them regardless!
Italian Sausage Bread
Called “bignolata” in Sicily, this bread is served with Italian sausage, seasoning, butter, onions, cheeses, garlic, and more to create a mouth-watering dish that is often dipped into marinara sauce.
Italian Sweet Peppers
Native to Italy, these sweet peppers come in a rainbow of colors. You might know them better as “friggitello” or “pepperoncini,” and they’re popular in salads and sandwiches.
Italian Wedding Soup
This soup is named after the “marriage” of vegetables and meat within it. These vegetables are often lettuce, kale, and cabbage, while the meat is usually sausage or meatballs. It generally is served with just the vegetables and meat, but sometimes has pasta added into it.
Itokonnyaku
Also called “konnyaku,” itokonnyaku is a rubbery, jiggly Japanese food made from konjac cut into noodle-like strips. It’s usually sold in plastic bags with water and is then cooked.
Iwashi
Iwashi are Japanese sardines, often served grilled or raw as sushi. It’s quite oily, but a very popular topping for nigiri (a small ball of rice smeared with wasabi sauce before being topped by raw fish).
Iyokan
Iyokan is a citrus fruit native to Japan and is a hybrid of the mandarin orange and the pomelo (the largest citrus fruit). Iyokan has a thick orange-yellow peel, which covers a juicy flesh with a similar taste to the grapefruit.
It’s quite popular to be eaten fresh but is also made into marmalades and cut into salads.
These are some awesome foods that start with the letter I! Let me know in the comments of any others we can add to the list!
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