20 Foods that Start with P

Have you ever wondered how many foods that start with P there are in the world? We were just wondering this the other day!

We decided to find all the interesting foods that start with P and explore them. There are definitely some exciting foods that start with P!

Foods that Start with the Letter P

We gathered together 20 different foods that start with P. There are foods from around the world that begin with this powerful, playful, popular letter!

1. Peanut

The first food on our list of foods that starts with P is the peanut. Peanuts are a legume that originated in South America. They are often called groundnuts, earthnuts, and monkey nuts.

Peanuts are not actually nuts at all but are classified as a legume. Legumes are edible seeds.

Peanuts have many culinary uses. You can find them for sale in the shell or already removed from the shell. Peanuts are often sold smoked, salted, seasoned, or roasted.

Peanut butter is made from peanuts. It is essentially ground peanuts.

Peanut butter and jelly is one of the most popular sandwiches around. That says a lot about this little letter P food! It is quite popular.

2. Peas

Ready for more foods that start with P? How about the pea!

A pea is a small, round edible seed inside a long pod. The outer shell of the pea pod is sometimes edible and other times too tough and fibrous, depending on the variety of pea.

There are many types of peas around the world. There are sugar snap peas that have a sweet taste and crunchy, edible pod.

There are also English peas that need to be shucked before eating. There are also pigeon peas which should be cooked before eating.

Pigeon pea is also a fantastic food beginning with P. The pigeon pea is actually a tropical woody herb rich in protein. Pigeon pea has double letter P’s, so we like it even more!

Peas are an all-around nutritious food that we had to include on our list of foods beginning with P!

3. Peach

Peaches are round stone fruit. They have juicy, pale orange to yellow flesh and pinkish-orange skin.

The skin of the peach is slightly fuzzy and soft. It is thin and edible.

Peaches have a single pit in the center that is easily removed. Peaches can be sliced and made into pie, deep-fried in a fritter batter, used in baked dishes, or eaten raw. Peaches are a very versatile food!

If you love apple pie, you will definitely love a good peach pie with a rich crust and maybe some whipped cream. Yum!

4. Pecans

Pecans are the next of our favorite foods that start with P. Pecans are a nut that is produced by a type of hickory tree.

They are native to North America. Most pecans grow in New Mexico and Texas.

Pecans are removed from their tough shell and then used in many different ways. Pecans can be eaten raw or roasted with salt.

Pecan pie made with a bit of maple syrup is a perfect treat. The nuts are also great in baked goods.

Pecans are high in healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. They are considered a healthy food and nutritious snack!

5. Pond Apples

Pond apples are closely related to soursop fruit. They even look similar!

The pond apple grows on a tropical fruit tree in swampy areas. The fruit is edible but not particularly tasty.

A pond apple has a strong smell and can taste almost like menthol. It can be sweetened and made into a jam.

Pond apples are primarily food for alligators and other swamp animals. They are actually an essential wildlife food!

6. Pine Nuts

Pine nuts also go by the names pignoli nuts and pinon. They are the edible seeds of pine cones.

Pine nuts are one of the most expensive nuts on the market. They take a lot of time to grow and are labor-intensive to harvest. Despite the price, they are delicious!

The small, pale nuts have a soft and nutty flavor. They are a little sweet and very oily. They are often used to make pesto, cookies and enjoyed as a snack.

7. Peppers

Peppers are botanically a fruit, yet they are cooked as a vegetable. There are more than thirty types of peppers in the same capsicum family.

Peppers can be quite spicy and hot. They can also be subtle and sweet. Bell peppers are particularly mild.

Jalapeno green peppers are a little spicier. Then there is the Carolina reaper pepper that is the spiciest pepper in the world!

Choose your peppers carefully, so you don’t eat a hot one by accident! We like the green peppers with the mild flavor the best!

8. Parfait

A parfait is a dessert that usually consists of layers of yogurt, fruit, and granola. It can also be made with ice cream or pudding in place of the yogurt. Whipped cream layered with fruit may also be called a parfait.

Parfaits are a very versatile, tasty dessert. They can be made with almost any fruit, sauce, or crunchy additions like granola and pretzel.

Pretzels give a nice salty taste to the sweet treat! A drizzle of chocolate sauce is also a great idea to make it even more dessert-like.

Parfaits are always served in tall glass cups so you can see the pretty layers of the dessert.

9. Parmesan

Parmesan is a hard, dry Italian cheese thats made from skimmed cow’s milk. The cheese has a pale yellow color and a thick, dense ring.

Parmesan is added to many Italian dishes. It is sprinkled over pasta and soup. It can be added to bread or used as cheese for pizza.

Parmesan is very salty, nutty, and a little fruity. Cheaper parmesan may be slightly bitter. Be sure to spend a little extra money to be sure you get high-quality Italian cheese!

10. Pickles

Pickles are made with cucumbers. Cucumbers are sliced or left whole, then submerged in vinegar, salt and spices.

Pickles are a preserved vegetable. They are kept fresh thanks to the high acid levels of the vinegar. They are crunchy within the first few days of soaking and then get softer as they age.

Pickles can be sour, salty, sweet, or all of the above! They are often seasoned with red pepper flakes, mustard seed, bay leaves, and dill.

11. Pavlova

Pavlova is a sweet dessert made from whipped egg whites. It is one of the sweet dishes on our list of foods that start with P!

Pavlova is made by slowly baking and drying sweetened whipped egg whites. The whites become crisp on the outside but stay soft and tender on the inside.

Pavlova is topped with fresh fruit and whipped cream. Berries are usually used to garnish the dessert.

You can flavor the whipped eggs as well. Lemon flavored egg mixture makes a delicious baked dessert. Add a few citrus fruits on top, and you have a whole new kind of pavlova!

12. Patties

Patties are the next food on our list of foods that start with P. The term patties covers a whole array of foods!

A patty is simply a round, flattened disc. In the culinary world, this can refer to meat patties like burgers or roasted veggies patties.

Burgers are probably the most common meat patties. They can be made with ground beef, chicken, turkey, or even vegetables. Place a cooked beef patty on a bun, and you have yourself a great meal!

13. Pate

The next letter P food on our list of foods that start with P is Pate. Pate is a paste, pie, or loaf that is made with forcemeat.

Pate can be made with ground meat from pork, poultry, or fish. It is most commonly made with liver.

Pate has a rich, sweet taste. It is very complex due to the herbs and spices used to make the dish.

Pate is considered a delicacy. Only a true chef can master the pate!

14. Paw Paw

The paw paw is the largest edible fruit tree native to North America. The large, round fruit is green with orange flesh. Paw paw is a tropical fruit that grows best in warm climates.

Paw paw tropical fruit has large brown seeds. The skin and seeds are discarded, and the juicy, soft flesh is enjoyed raw. The center of the paw paw is yellow flesh that turns orange.

Paw paws are very nutritious. They are high in vitamin C, magnesium, iron, copper, and manganese and are a great source of potassium and amino acids.

The banana, mango citrus fruit flavor is very delicious. Paw paw is often called papaya. However, it is the same delicious tropical fruit!

15. Patty Pan Squash

Patty pan squash is small summer squash. It is round and flat, looking like a disc or flying saucer. The edges of the squash are scalloped.

The name patty pan comes from the need for a pan to bake the patty. Patty pan squash is best as a baked dish, so it was named for its need to be cooked.

Patty pan squash has a mild taste similar to a zucchini. It is slightly sweet and tastes best when small and young.

16. Parsley

Parsley is a flowering plant native to the Mediterranean region. It is not naturalized throughout the world!

Parsley is a widely used herb. It is popular in Italian dishes and used as a garnish on almost everything. That bright green color can make any food look good!

Parsley tastes clean and peppery. It has a touch of earthiness that goes well in many foods. It is a very versatile herb.

Parsley is added to tomato sauce, savory dishes, and as many foods as you can imagine. It really is a multi-purpose herb!

17. Paprika

Paprika is a spice made from dried and ground red peppers. The peppers used to make paprika have a mild taste and a thinner flesh than other chili peppers.

Paprika has many health benefits. It is high in vitamins and antioxidants. It may help improve cholesterol, eye health, and blood sugar levels.

Paprika is added to many foods. It is used as a seasoning in hummus, french fries, and sauces, and marinades. Chicken paprikash is one of the most popular paprika dishes.

18. Pasta

The past food on our list of foods that start with P is pasta. Pasta is a widely popular dish that originated in Italy.

The dough is made from flour and water. It is extruded or stamped into various shapes then cooked in boiling water.

Pasta can be served with homemade plum tomato sauce, cheese sauce, or tossed with some butter and olive oil. It is incredibly versatile and one of the most popular foods beginning with P.

Pasta with Italian meat sauce is one of the top dinners in the US! There are over 600 shapes of pasta in the world.

Each shape has its own use. Some are best for soups, and others are designed to hold sauce in the ridges of the noodles. Pasta is pretty amazing!

19. Penuche

Penuche is a type of brown sugar fudge. It is made with butter, milk, and vanilla.

Penuche brown sugar fudge is actually lighter than other types of fudge. The brown sugar caramelizes quickly, so the fudge does not need to cook too long.

Penuche sometimes has nuts mixed in, giving the brown sugar fudge a nice crunch. It also balances the sweetness of the fudge.

20. PayDay

PayDay is a tasty candy bar made by The Hershey Company. It was first invented in 1932 and was bought by Hershey in 1996.

The payDay candy bar is made with salted peanuts mixed into a nougat and caramel center. The candy bar is coated in chocolate.

There are versions of the PayDay bar without chocolate. This is perfect for peanut and caramel lovers who may not want sweet chocolate.

Amazing Foods Beginning with P

Have you tried any of these foods that start with P? There are so many incredible foods that start with P you may have to try them all!