20 Foods that Start with Q

There are a surprising number of foods that start with Q. You are going to be amazed by just how many Q foods there actually are!

You may already know a few letter Q foods, but we know that a few foods on this list will surprise you. There are foods beginning with Q all around the world!

Foods that Start with the Letter Q

We have found 20 different foods that begin with Q. Which ones will you try first?

1. Quail Eggs

Quail eggs are the first letter Q food on our list. They are excellent letter Q food, too!

Quail eggs are pretty small, only about 1/3 of the size of a chicken egg. They taste like chicken eggs but are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world.

Quail eggs can be eaten raw or cooked into sushi. The eggs are also quite pretty with a cream-colored, speckled shell.

2. Quark- The ‘Q’ Version of Cottage Cheese

Quark is also called quarg, making it a double letter q food! It is perfect for our list of foods that start with q.

Quark is a type of fresh dairy by nature. It is made by warming soured milk until it curdles. It is then strained, so the mix is smooth and creamy.

Quark is similar in texture to yogurt but is considered to be a fresh cheese. Leave the lumps in the quark to make the cheese similar to cottage cheese.

Quark can be eaten plain, but it is especially delicious when mixed with fruits, spices, and sweeteners. Flavoring food enhances the taste greatly.

3. Queso Oaxaca Curd Cheese

Queso Oaxaca is another amazing letter Q food. The pale, semi-soft cheese is a Mexican classic. Queso oaxaca is made from curd cheese. The Mexican cheese is pulled apart into shreds and used as a filling in quesadillas.

The texture of the cheese is similar to mozzarella. It has a subtle, salty taste like Monterey jack cheese. It melts very nicely, making it perfect for hot foods.

4. Quiche

Quiche is one of the most popular foods that start with Q. It is a savory French tart made with a pastry crust filled with delicious custard.

Make quiche using your favorite cheese, herbs, vegetables, and meats. Any food that would taste great in an omelet will work well in a quiche!

Quiche Lorraine is the most popular type of quiche. It is made with swiss cheese, bacon, parmesan cheese, heavy cream, and eggs.

5. Quadretti Pasta

There is an infinite number of pasta shapes in the world. One of the shapes we love is quadretti pasta.

The small noodles are perfect squares. The letter Q name stems from the word “quad,” which means four. The noodles have four sides!

This shape pasta is great to make as fresh, homemade pasta. The shape is very easy to cut and will impress all your dinner guests.

Serve the pasta with a little bit of butter and grated parmesan. The light noodles do not hold up well under a heavy sauce. The noodles are also great in a soup or broth.

6. Queso

Queso is a thick melted cheese sauce. It has become very popular in recent years. You can find queso on almost every Mexican restaurant menu!

Queso dip can be made with almost any kind of cheese. Genuine, authentic queso is made with Velveeta or American cheeses. This gives the queso its bright orange color.

A little chili powder adds spice. Dip tortilla chips or veggies in warm queso. Pour the queso over a burrito for an extra rich meal. Most Mexican dishes are even better with queso!

7. Quahogs

A quahog is a large, hard-shelled clam native to the east coast of North America. They are fantastic in clam chowder, stew, and clam cakes. The meaty texture of quahogs is hearty and filling.

Quahogs are larger than other types of hard clams. They are great for stuffing, thanks to their large size. Remove the edible clam from the shell. Make a filling using the clam, breadcrumbs, and seasonings. Stuff the filling back into the clamshell for a beautiful presentation.

Be careful when digging for your own clams. It is important to clam only in safe areas. Red tide can bring in bacterial that are dangerous to clams and harmful to eat.

8. Quassia

Quassia is a South American shrub. The bark of the quassia plant is ground into bitter ash. It is then used to produce extracts and tonics. The extract is used to flavor food and also to create medicinal mixes.

Quassia may be one of the more rare foods that start with Q. It is quite bitter, which is why it is not often a featured food.

Quassia should never be consumed raw but rather prepared by professionals. It can be toxic when not cooked correctly. Trust a professional chef to use quassia in the correct manner.

9. Quinine

Quinine comes from the bark of the cinchona tree. It is often added to tonic water to give the drink a bitter taste. Quinine is what gives tonic water its unique flavor!

Quinine is also used to treat malaria. It is a natural anti-parasite, giving it many medicinal purposes. Many people rely on tonic water to help with digestive issues. What an amazing Q food!

10. Quarter Pounder

The quarter pounder burger from McDonald’s restaurant is likely the most famous food that starts with Q.

The quarter pounder is a quarter-pound ground beef patty served with sliced onions, ketchup, and mustard. The burger is placed on a sesame seed bun and served hot.

The quarter pounder burger can be customized to suit your personal preferences. However, not all McDonald’s will allow alterations to the classic burger.

McDonald’s sells about 2.36 billion burgers every year. That is a lot of quarter-pounders! This is quite the popular food beginning with Q.

11. Quinoa

Quinoa is a naturally gluten-free, whole-grain carbohydrate, and a whole protein. It is very healthy and versatile in cooking.

It makes a fantastic side dish for meat and seafood. Cook quinoa with your favorite herbs and spices to add flavor. Cooking the grain in the chicken broth will add a rich, creamy flavor.

12. Quaker Oats

Quaker oats are a popular brand of rolled oats. The company also makes instant oatmeal that takes only a few minutes to cook.

Quaker oats are deliciously cooked and served with dried fruits, spices, and a little sweetener. Look for oatmeal recipes to find one you love.

Quaker oats make a hearty, healthy food! Such a great addition to our list of foods that start with Q.

13. Queso Cotija Fresh Cheese

Queso cotija is another aged cheese from Mexico that we adore. The cow’s milk cheese is named after the town of Cotija.

Cotija does not melt. It is very salty and strongly flavored. Queso cotija is mainly used as a topping for salad, soup, and tacos.

You may see a cotija called queso Blanco due to its pale, white color. Blanco means white, so it is aptly named “white cheese”!

14. Queen Tahiti Pineapples

Queen pineapples are next up on our list of Q foods. These fruits are mostly found in Australia and South Africa. They are a bright yellow color and have a very small core.

Queen Tahiti pineapples are best eaten fresh. They are sweet and quite juicy.

The queen Tahiti pineapple is the centerpiece for the annual Moorea festival, which celebrates the pineapple. There is pineapple wine, fresh pineapple tastings and many pineapple dishes served. Sounds like quite the festive season!

15. Queen Apple

The queen apple is the next of the fruits that start with Q. Queen apples originated in New Zealand. They are a cross between Splendor apples and Gala apples.

Queen apples are very large with a bright red skin and small, off-white specks. The apples are crisp and juicy. You can find queen apples in an Asian Market or specialty store.

16. Quick Bread

Quick bread is any yeast-free bread that cooks quickly. Unlike traditional bread, quick bread requires no rising or kneading. It is a perfect food to add to our list of foods that start with Q.

The batter for quick bread is made like cake batter. Oil, flour, sugar, eggs, baking soda, and seasonings are mixed to make a thick batter. The batter is baked in a loaf pan until golden brown.

Quick breads are usually sweeter than traditional bread. They make a fantastic breakfast or snack.

17. Quince

Quince is a delicious fruit that looks similar to a bright yellow apple or pear. The shape of the fruit can be quite irregular, looking like a lemon, bell pepper, or even as big as a melon.

Quince is a golden yellow color when mature. The fruit is eaten raw or cooked into a pastry. The fruit has a sweet and spicy flavor. It becomes quite soft when baked, which enhances the delicious flavor.

Quince jam and quince paste is the most common use for the Q fruit. A touch of ginger always positively enhances quince. Quince can be a tasty fall and winter fruit when paired with rich, warm spice.

18. Queso Añejo

There are a lot of quesos on our list! Mexican cuisine has a lot of different kinds of queso. We want to include them all on our list of foods that start with Q.

Queso añejo is a hard cheese from Mexico. It is made from skimmed goat’s milk. After the queso is made, it is rolled in paprika. This adds a smokey tasty to the salty, sharp flavor of the queso.

Queso añejo is good for baking and cooking. It melts nicely and is often found in quesadillas, tacos, and burritos.

19. Quesadilla

Quesadilla is a classic Mexican dish that is popular worldwide. The main components of a quesadilla are cheese and tortillas.

A soft, flour tortilla is laid flat and sprinkled with cheese, meat, vegetables, and seasonings. A second tortilla is placed on top of the filings. The quesadilla is microwaved, pan-fried, or baked to melt the queso.

Quesadillas are often cut into triangles before being served. Just about anything can be stuffed into the center of a quesadilla. The possibilities are endless!

20. Quail

Quail is the last food on our list of foods that start with Q. It is a delicious one at that.

Quail are small birds that can be considered a delicacy in some parts of the world. They can be tricky to cook, so a professional chef may be needed!

Quail has a similar taste to chicken. The birds have a good bone to meat ratio and are quite tender. The bones of the quail can be eaten as well rather than being removed.

Quail goes well with light salads and spring vegetables. A simple sauce can make a quail diner really stand out. Keep the skin on to make the quail crispy and tasty.

Incredible Foods that Start With Q

We hope you discovered some new foods on this list of foods beginning with Q. There are certainly some exciting foods that start with this unique letter. Now, which one will you try first?!