55 Foods that Start with O

There are an incredible amount of foods that start with O. It is amazing how many tasty foods begin with this letter! We want to explore them all.

You may have heard about olive oil, but have you ever tried ogbono soup? Many of the foods that start with O are familiar, but some are very unique. You will learn a lot reading about these letter O foods!

Take a look at all the foods that start with  O and see which you want to try. Can you try them all? We bet you can!

Foods that Start with the Letter O

We have found 55 foods that start with O. There are foods from around the world on this list, so it is sure to be fascinating!

1. Olive Oil

Olive oil is the first on our list of foods that start with O. It is a very popular food around the world!

Olive oil is made from olives. Olives are picked from the olive tree then crushed to extract the oil from the fruit.

Olive oil is used for cooking, frying foods, or to make marinades and salad dressings. High-quality olive oil has a subtle herb and fruit flavor. It is complex yet delicate.

Olive oil is graded into categories. Extra virgin olive oil is considered to have the best flavor. Pomace oil is the most processed and considered the lowest quality olive oil

2. Opera Cake

Opera cake is a decadent, French dessert. The cake is flavored with coffee and chocolate.

A light almond sponge cake is soaked in coffee syrup. The coffee syrup-soaked cake is layered with coffee buttercream, chocolate ganache and topped with a chocolate glaze.

The word “Opera” is written across the top of the chocolate glaze.

3. Osso Buco

Osso Buco is a slow-cooked beef or veal shank. It is a classic Italian dish.

Veal shank is slow roasted in wine, vegetables, and seasonings. The marrow in the bone adds depth and flavor to the dish. The meat is very tender and falls off the bone.

4. Oysters

Oysters are salt water bivalve mollusk. They have hard, grey shells which open to reveal a very soft, slimy substance.

Oysters can be cooked by they are mostly eaten raw. Oysters are actually alive when eaten raw.

Lemon juice, cocktail sauce, mignonette sauce, or horseradish goes on top of the oyster. Oysters are eaten in one swift gulp and are best when swallowed rather than chewed.

5. Olivet Cendre

Olivet cendre is a cow’s milk cheese made in the Val de Loire region of France. The milk is said to be very flavorful since the cows graze on the rich grass by the shore of the Loire river.

This is essential to the flavor of the French cheese. The French cheese is made only in the spring when the cow’s milk is at its peak for flavor.

6. Ochazuke

Ochazuke is the next exciting food on our list of foods that start with O. It is a simple, one-bowl Japanese dish made with steamed rice, vegetables, and hot green tea.

Ochazuke is an excellent way to use up leftover rice. The green tea softens the rice and makes a great, quick snack.

7. Ohitashi

Ohitashi is a Japanese spinach salad. It is made with blanched spinach steeped in dashi soy broth. Soy sauce and bonito flakes are added to the spinach.

Ohitashi is a side dish. It is a fast way to make a healthy spinach dish.

8. Okonomiyaki

Savory Japanese pancakes are called okonomiyaki. They are made with eggs, flour, shredded cabbage, and protein. Pork belly is the most common meat used in okonomiyaki.

Okonomiyaki is served as a main course or as an appetizer. They are quite healthy, thanks to the abundance of cabbage in the pancakes.

9. Okowa

Okowa is a Japanese steamed rice dish made with glutinous rice flour mixed with meat and vegetables. Okowa is usually made with stir-fried chicken, bamboo shoots, and soy sauce.

Sticky rice makes this meal very easy to eat with chopsticks. It is a flavorful snack but hearty enough for a complete meal.

10. Omurice

Omurice is Japanese-American fusion cuisine at its finest. It is a blend of a Western omelet and Japanese fried rice.

A classic egg omelet is cooked and then stuffed with chicken fried rice. Any kind of fried rice will work. Omurice is a great way to use up leftover take-out fried rice!

Many top the omelet with ketchup to make it have a sweet taste. Soy sauce adds a saltier taste to this interesting letter O food.

11. Onigiri

Onigiri is a Japanese rice ball that can be served hot or cold. The rice is sticky and tender but crisp on the outside.

Popular ongiri fillings include salted salmon, pickled plum, bonito flakes, and simmered seaweed.

12. Ovos Moles de Aveiro

Ovos Moles de Aviero is a local Portuguese pastry delicacy. They are found in the Aveiro district in Portugal.

Ovos moles are made with egg yolk and sugar. Sometimes they also have chocolate. A paper-thin wafer is filled with the sweetened egg yolk mix.

The outside of the pastry is light and crisp, while the filling is creamy, rich, and sweet.

13. Oxford Blue

Oxford blue cheese is a type of blue cheese made in Burford, Oxfordshire, England. It is a full-fat blue cheese.

Oxford blue has a creamy texture and a sharp taste. It is considered to be one of the best blue cheeses in the world.

The cheese has won hundreds of awards and is delicious when eaten raw or added into sauces and dressings. Oxford blue cheese is made from pasteurized cow’s milk.

It is typically left to age for about ten to twelve weeks. The flavor of the cheese is often compared to Stilon cheese.

14. Owofibo

Owofibo is a Nigerian oil soup. It is made with a blend of crushed tomatoes, akun, and palm oil. The soup is creamy and hearty.

Nigerian oil soup is made during festive seasons. It is served with cooked white rice but can also be enjoyed plain. It is also calles Owo soup or Urhobo soup.

15. Ogi

Ogi is a fermented cereal pudding from Nigeria. It is made with maize, sorghum, or millet.

The grains soak in water for up to three days. The grains are wet milled to remove the husks. The filtered grains then sit for another three days to ferment and sour.

The creamy pudding is served for breakfast or dinner. It has a thinner, gravy-like texture and a yeasty flavor.

16. Oatcake

Oatcakes are a Scottish tradition. They are a thin, cracker-like snack made from oats and have a similar texture to a rice cake.

Oatcakes are very versatile. They can be served with soup, spread with cheese, or topped with fruit.

There are many varieties of oat cakes in supermarkets around the world. Oatcakes are a healthy snack rich in fiber and vitamins, and minerals.

17. Ogbono Soup

Ogbono soup is a Nigerian dish made with dry, ground ogbono seeds. The soup is slow-cooked but, if cooked too long, it starts to taste like soap.

Ground ogbono seeds add a bitter flavor to the ogbono soup. The seeds are also called bush mango seeds since they come from the native mango fruit.

18. Oat milk

Oat milk is plant milk derived from rolled oat grains. It is quite popular as non-dairy milk, competing for coconut milk for the number one spot.

Oats are soaked in water then squeezed to extract the flavor and texture of the oats.

Oat milk has a creamy texture and a light oatmeal flavor. It is found on grocery store shelves near other non-dairy milk. Oat milk is a rival for coconut milk and almond milk.

19. Oxheart Tomatoes

Oxheart tomatoes are a mid-season fruit that is quite large. They are similar in size to the popular beefsteak tomato.

Oxheart tomatoes come to a point at the end of the red fruit. They are actually heart-shaped!

The bright red tomato can be eaten fresh, diced, added to a salad, or cooked and used as an ingredient. They are very versatile and also easy to grow in a home garden.

Plant a few oxheart tomato seeds in the spring, and you will be enjoying large, heart-shaped tomatoes by the end of the summer!

20. Oyster Plant

Oyster plants are also called moses in the cradle. All parts of the green plant are edible, even the roots. The flowers can be used in salads, while the shoots can be eaten like asparagus.

Oyster plants grow in warm climates. They are often grown as a houseplant. The pretty leaves sure make an eye-catching indoor plant. It’s great to have a thriving plant that you can also eat!

21. Oreos

We have to include Oreos on our list of foods that start with O! Oreos is a brand of chocolate, creme-filled cookie.

They are very popular in the US and around the world. Two chocolate cookies are sandwiched together with vanilla creme filling.

There are many holiday variations of Oreos, including chocolate mint, peanut butter filling, or spooky orange filling at Halloween.

22. Oyster Sauce

Oyster sauce is a sweet condiment made primarily from oyster juice. Salt, soy sauce, and sugar are blended into the oyster juice and cooked.

Oyster sauce is commonly used in Asian cuisine. It is excellent for Thai dishes, stir-fries, and meat marinades.

23. Osmanthus Cake

Osmanthus cake is a sweet pastry made from glutinous rice flour, honey, osmanthus, and rock sugar. It is clear, soft, and a little waxy.

This Chinese pastry gets most of its flavor from the osmanthus flower. The flower is closely related to olives but is much sweeter.

24. Oritang

Oritang is a Korean soup made by slow simmering duck. Vegetables are also cooked into the soup. Ginger root is added for even more flavor and chili powder adds a strong, spicy kick to the soup.

25. Oyakodon

The literal translation of oyakodon from Japanese to English is “parent and child rice bowl.” The parent is the chicken, and the child is the egg that is both included in the bowl.

The chicken and egg dish is made with rice, sake, dashi, mirin, and sugar. Scramble eggs or poached eggs are added on top along with the fried chicken.

26. Omelette

An omelette is a breakfast dish made from whisked eggs. The eggs are fried in butter or oil until they are set flat like a pancake.

Omelettes are often filled with veggies, cheese, or breakfast meat. Almost anything will taste good inside an omelette!

27. Oyster Omelette

The oyster omelette is also known as o-chien or orh luak. It is a savory omelette popular in Taiwan.

The filling is made with eggs, potato starch, and small oysters. The mix is fried until the eggs are set.

28. Oeufs en Meurett

Oeufs en Meurett is a classic French dish. Poached eggs are served with a rich red wine sauce. The red wine sauce is made with lardons, mushrooms, and onions.

29. Oil Palm

The oil palm tree produces an edible vegetable oil that is used around the globe. Palm oil is used in both food manufacturing and cosmetics.

Palm oil makes up about 35% of global oil production. The trees grow in warm, tropical climates. They are farmed extensively to make enough oil for the worldwide demand.

30. Olive Ascolana

Olive ascolana are meat-stuffed olives. The stuffed olives are breaded and fried. They make fantastic finger food or snack.

The filling for olive ascolana can be made with chicken, pork, or beef. The filling usually has white wine and lemon blended into the mix. Enjoy olive ascolana while it is warm for the best flavor!

31. Okroshka

Okroshka is a cold Russian soup. It is made with kefir, hard-boiled eggs, lemon, sparkling water, and dill.

The classic cold soup is made with mostly vegetables, boiled potatoes, and cooked meat as well. It originated in the Volga region and is still popular in the warmer months.

32. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a dish made with rolled or husked oats that have been milled or steel-cut. The prepared grain is cooked with milk or water which thickens as the oats expand.

Oatmeal is often thought of as a breakfast dish. Maple syrup, fruit, and nuts make fantastic toppings for a warm bowl of oatmeal.

33. Oil Down

Oil down is the national dish of Grenada. It is made in one large pot.

Local veggies, tubers, green bananas, and meat are cooked together. A blend of seasonings is added to make the oil down spicy and herbaceous.

34. Oregano

Oregano is a herb from the mint family. People have used it for thousands of years to season food and also to treat health conditions.

Oregano is popular in Italian dishes. Pizza, pasta sauce, and olive-based dishes are all made with oregano.

35. Onion Bhaji

Bhaji is Indian fritters. They are a popular snack, appetizer, and street food throughout India.

Onion bhajis are essentially onion fritters. Onion bhaji is made with Indian spices like turmeric and garam masala.

36. Orange

The orange is a type of citrus fruit. There are many varieties of oranges, some sweeter than others.

Oranges grow in warmer climates. They are an excellent source of vitamin C and an important part of many people’s diets.

Oranges are usually eaten fresh or juiced. Orange juice is the number one selling juice in the US. It takes about three oranges to make a glass of orange juice.

37. Oondees

Oondees are an Indian breakfast delicacy from the Mangalore region of India. They are made from rice or semolina flour.

Oondees have a semi-soft texture and are molded into a spherical shape. They are sweetened by adding sugar and shredded coconut.

38. Ookali

Ookali is a hot drink popular in Western India. It is popular in the winter months.

Ookali is made by boiling coriander seeds. It is said to have many health benefits.

39. Ou Tenga Maas

Ou Tenga Maas is a traditional Indian dish. It is a type of fish curry cooked with elephant apple.

Tenga is a fruit that is used to make tangy curry. It is also known to help soothe upset stomachs and fatigue.

40. Onion Kulcha

Onion kulcha is an Indian bread similar to naan. It is a leavened, whole wheat bread stuffed with onions.

Kulcha is leavened with baking powder and baking soda. Naan is traditionally leavened with yeast. The two breads look similar but are made in very different ways.

41. Olivet Cendre

Cendre is a French farmhouse cheese made from pasteurized cow’s milk. It comes from the Burgundy region of France.

Olivet cendre is olives stuffed with cendre cheese. The salty flavor of the olives and the smokey, ash flavor of the creamy cheese go very well together.

42. Olallieberry

Ollallieberries are about two-thirds blackberry and one-third red raspberry. They are a delicious hybrid fruit.

Olallieberries were first created in Oregon by the department of agriculture at Oregon State University. They are now primarily grown in California.

43. Okra

Okra is a vegetable full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. The long green pods are entirely edible, even the seeds.

Okra is best when soaked and then cooked. It can have a slimy texture when not cooked correctly. Longer cooking time helps improve the taste and texture of the veggie.

44. Onion

An onion is a bulb or tuber that is a common vegetable. Onions are used in almost every cuisine to add flavor to various foods.

Onions can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a spicy flavor that mellows as the veggie cooks.

There are many types of onions and many different colors. White onions, yellow onions, and purple onions are the most popular.

45. Orgu Peyniri

Orgu peyniri is a type of Turkish cheese. The cheese is highly elastic and can be braided into a long rope.

Orgu can be eaten raw, shredded over a soup, or melted into pita bread. The mild flavor goes well with many different dishes.

46. Orange Peppers

Orange peppers are a type of bell pepper. They are square and blocky.

The skin of the fruit is a bright orange color. The peppers start off as green pepper but the color changes as they ripen.

The peppers are ready to harvest when they are bright orange. Orange peppers are not very spicy, even when ripe.

The sweeter flavor is delicious raw or cooked into foods. They are nice and crunchy which adds a lovely texture to salads.

We had to include orange peppers on our list of popular foods beginning with O!

47. Oleo

Oleo is a term for oil. It can be used to refer to edible vegetable oil, canola oil, or corn oil.

Oleo was also a popular brand of margarine. However, it has been discontinued in recent years.

48. Offal

Offal is the entrails and internal organs of animals that were used for food. Offal can be any type of meat and any type of organ.

Sometimes offal refers to the by-product made from milled grains like wheat flour or maize flour.

49. Oxtail

Oxtail is the tail of cattle. It is typically about eight pounds and is cut into small sections for resale.

Oxtail is usually slow-cooked. It can be braised and served as tender meat or cooked into a hot soup.

Oxtail is considered a delicacy. It can be hard to find and quite pricey.

50. Obusuma

Obusuma is more commonly known as ugali. It is a cooked maize flour mash that is a common staple in Kenya.

Obusuma is usually paired with leafy vegetables, meat stews, fish, or scrambled eggs. It is as common as white rice!

51. Obleas

Oblea is a wafer dessert from Spain and Central America countries. It is made with two sweet wafters that are sandwiched together with a sweet filling.

Dulce de leche, sweet cheese, fruit, and whipped cream are all common oblea fillings.

52. Octopus

Octopus arms and tentacles are prepared in various ways around the world. They can even be eaten alive!

Octopus is most common in Japanese cuisine. It is used in sushi, takoyaki, and noodles dishes. Octopus is a low-calorie protein that is nutritious and filling.

53. Orangelo

An orangelo is a hybrid fruit. It is a combination of a grapefruit and an orange. The fruit is said to be spontaneously cross-bred in Puerto Rico.

Orangelos are sweet with a slightly bitter taste. They have orange skin but a light pink flesh similar to a grapefruit.

54. Oroblanco

Oroblanco is a sweet, seedless citrus fruit. It looks similar to a grapefruit. Oroblanco has pale green skin with a very light pink pulp in the center.

Cut an oroblanco fruit in half lengthwise and then scoop out the segments of citrus. It is sweet but also very tart.

55. Ortaniques

Ortaniques also goes by the name “uniques”. They are a cross between a Chinese mandarin orange and a wile Jamaican tangerine.

This interesting little fruit beginning with O, is grown extensively in Jamaica. It has a strong citrus aroma and a tangy, sweet flavor.

They have a thick, easy-to-peel rind with bright orange pulp. Ortaniques are usually eaten fresh.

All of the Foods that Start with O

It is amazing how many foods begin with the letter O. We definitely learned a lot about foods and can’t wait to try a few new ones. What foods that start with O will you try first?