Embark on a culinary journey with our delightful guide to “100 Foods That Start with the Letter K.” From familiar kitchen staples to exotic delicacies, each entry in this list not only introduces you to a food item but also comes paired with a vivid image to enhance your experience. Get ready to expand your palate and learn more about the diversity and richness of foods that start with this intriguing letter.
1. Kabobs

2. Kabocha (Japanese pumpkin)

3. Kachori (Indian snack)

4. Kadai paneer (Indian dish)

5. Kadhi (Indian yogurt-based soup)

6. Kaffir lime

7. Kahlua

8. Kalakand (Indian sweet)

9. Kale

10. Kale chips

11. Kale salad

12. Kalimotxo (drink)

13. Kallumakkaya (mussels in Malayalam)

14. Kamaboko (Japanese fish cake)

15. Kambu (pearl millet)

16. Kamikaze (cocktail)

17. Kampyo (dried gourd strips)

18. Kanafa (Middle Eastern dessert)

19. Kanapki (Polish open sandwiches)

20. Kanelsnegl (Danish cinnamon roll)

21. Kangkong (water spinach)

22. Kanji (Indian fermented drink)

23. Kanom krok (Thai dessert)
24. Kansas City barbecue

25. Kaolin (edible clay, sometimes consumed for health or tradition)

No | Name | Type | Origin | Use | Taste | Vegan | Fun Fact |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kabobs | Grilled Dish | Middle East | Main or appetizer | Smoky, savory | No | Skewered and grilled meat or vegetables enjoyed worldwide in various styles. |
2 | Kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) | Vegetable | Japan | Soups, stews, roasting | Sweet, nutty | Yes | This green-skinned squash has a rich flavor and is packed with beta-carotene. |
3 | Kachori (Indian snack) | Snack | India | Street food | Spicy, crispy | No | A deep-fried flaky pastry filled with spiced lentils or peas, often served with chutney. |
4 | Kadai paneer (Indian dish) | Main Dish | India | Curry | Spicy, rich | No | A popular paneer curry cooked in a ‘kadai’ (wok) with bell peppers and spices. |
5 | Kadhi (Indian yogurt-based soup) | Soup/Curry | India | Main dish | Tangy, spiced | No | Made with yogurt and chickpea flour, often served with rice in many Indian states. |
6 | Kaffir lime | Fruit | Southeast Asia | Flavoring, zest | Citrusy, floral | Yes | Known for its fragrant leaves and zesty rind used in Thai and Indonesian dishes. |
7 | Kahlua | Liqueur | Mexico | Drinks, desserts | Sweet, coffee | No | A coffee-flavored alcoholic beverage often used in cocktails like White Russian. |
8 | Kalakand (Indian sweet) | Dessert | India | Festive dessert | Milky, sweet | No | A moist milk cake made with condensed milk and paneer—popular during festivals. |
9 | Kale | Leafy Vegetable | Mediterranean | Salads, stir-fry | Earthy, bitter | Yes | A superfood rich in iron, calcium, and fiber—great raw or cooked. |
10 | Kale chips | Snack | USA | Baked snack | Crunchy, salty | Yes | A healthy alternative to potato chips—made by baking seasoned kale leaves. |
11 | Kale salad | Salad | USA | Appetizer or side | Fresh, earthy | Yes | Raw kale leaves tossed with dressings, nuts, and fruits for a nutrient-packed meal. |
12 | Kalimotxo (drink) | Drink | Spain | Alcoholic beverage | Sweet, fizzy | No | A unique blend of red wine and cola popular in the Basque region of Spain. |
13 | Kallumakkaya (mussels in Malayalam) | Seafood | India (Kerala) | Curries, fries | Briny, rich | No | A popular coastal delicacy from Kerala, often stir-fried with coconut and spices. |
14 | Kamaboko (Japanese fish cake) | Seafood | Japan | Soups, noodles | Savory, chewy | No | A traditional fish cake often served in ramen, oden, or as a New Year delicacy. |
15 | Kambu (pearl millet) | Grain | India | Flour, porridge | Nutty | Yes | High in fiber and iron, often used in South Indian flatbreads and drinks. |
16 | Kamikaze (cocktail) | Cocktail | Japan/USA | Drink | Citrusy, strong | No | A mix of vodka, triple sec, and lime juice—served as a shooter or over ice. |
17 | Kampyo (dried gourd strips) | Vegetable | Japan | Sushi ingredient | Mild, chewy | Yes | Rehydrated and simmered for use in vegetarian sushi rolls in Japanese cuisine. |
18 | Kanafa (Middle Eastern dessert) | Dessert | Middle East | Sweet dish | Cheesy, syrupy | No | A rich dessert made with shredded phyllo, cheese, and sugar syrup. |
19 | Kanapki (Polish open sandwiches) | Snack | Poland | Appetizer | Varied | No | Small rye bread slices topped with meat, cheese, and vegetables. |
20 | Kanelsnegl (Danish cinnamon roll) | Pastry | Denmark | Breakfast, snack | Sweet, spiced | No | Spiral-shaped pastry filled with cinnamon sugar—similar to a cinnamon roll. |
21 | Kangkong (water spinach) | Leafy vegetable | Asia | Stir-fry, soups | Mild, slightly earthy | Yes | Common in Southeast Asian cuisines—known for its tender stems and leaves. |
22 | Kanji (Indian fermented drink) | Beverage | India | Drink | Spicy, tangy | Yes | Made from black carrots and mustard seeds—known for probiotic properties. |
23 | Kanom krok (Thai dessert) | Dessert | Thailand | Street food | Creamy, coconutty | Yes | Mini coconut milk pancakes cooked in a special pan and served hot. |
24 | Kansas City barbecue | Main Dish | USA | Grilled meats | Smoky, tangy-sweet | No | Famous for its thick tomato-molasses-based sauce and slow-cooked meats. |
25 | Kaolin (edible clay, sometimes consumed for health or tradition) | Mineral | Global | Medicinal, traditional | Chalky, neutral | Yes | Used in some cultures as a detox aid or for digestive health—consumed in moderation. |
26. Kapenta (dried fish)

27. Kapusniak (cabbage soup)

28. Karahi (Indian/Pakistani cooking pot and dishes cooked in it)

29. Kasha (buckwheat groats)

30. Kashk (fermented dairy product)

31. Kasseri (Greek cheese)

32. Katlama (Pakistani flatbread)

33. Katsu (Japanese breaded cutlet)

34. Katsu curry

35. Katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes)

36. Katte pongali (South Indian dish)
37. Katzelsuppe (German cat’s tongue cookies)
38. Kava

39. Kaymak (Turkish dairy product similar to clotted cream)

40. Kazandibi (Turkish burnt milk pudding)

41. Keema

42. Kefir

43. Ketchup

44. Key lime pie

45. Kidney beans

46. Kielbasa

47. Kimchi

48. King crab

49. Kingfish

50. Kipper snacks

No | Name | Type | Origin | Use | Taste | Vegan | Fun Fact |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26 | Kapenta (dried fish) | Seafood | Southern Africa | Fried, stewed | Salty, fishy | No | Kapenta is a staple protein source, especially in Zimbabwe and Zambia. |
27 | Kapusniak (cabbage soup) | Soup | Poland, Ukraine | Main course | Sour, hearty | No | A sour cabbage soup often made with pork and served hot during winter months. |
28 | Karahi | Main Dish | India, Pakistan | Spicy curry | Rich, spiced | No | Refers to both the wok-style pan and dishes like Karahi Chicken or Mutton cooked in it. |
29 | Kasha (buckwheat groats) | Grain | Russia, Eastern Europe | Porridge, pilaf | Nutty | Yes | A popular dish made from roasted buckwheat, often served with butter or mushrooms. |
30 | Kashk (fermented dairy product) | Dairy | Middle East | Sauces, stews | Sour, tangy | No | A thick fermented whey product used in Persian dishes like kashk-e bademjan. |
31 | Kasseri (Greek cheese) | Cheese | Greece | Meze, grilled | Mild, salty | No | A semi-hard cheese made from sheep’s milk, often used in saganaki (fried cheese). |
32 | Katlama (Pakistani flatbread) | Bread | Pakistan | Street food | Spicy, flaky | No | Deep-fried spiced bread, popular during festivals and as a special treat. |
33 | Katsu (Japanese breaded cutlet) | Main Dish | Japan | Fried entrée | Crispy, savory | No | Panko-breaded and fried meat cutlet, often served with shredded cabbage and sauce. |
34 | Katsu curry | Main Dish | Japan | Curry meal | Mild, savory | No | A Japanese curry served with rice and a breaded cutlet (katsu) on top. |
35 | Katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) | Condiment | Japan | Soups, toppings | Umami-rich | No | Used in dashi broth and as a savory topping for dishes like okonomiyaki and tofu. |
36 | Katte pongali (South Indian dish) | Breakfast | India (South) | Breakfast porridge | Mild, buttery | No | A savory rice and lentil dish tempered with ghee, black pepper, and cumin. |
37 | Katzelsuppe (German cat’s tongue cookies) | Cookie | Germany | Dessert, snack | Buttery, crisp | No | Light and crisp cookies shaped like cat tongues—often dipped in chocolate. |
38 | Kava | Beverage | Pacific Islands | Traditional drink | Earthy, bitter | Yes | A ceremonial drink made from the kava root, known for its calming effects. |
39 | Kaymak (Turkish dairy product similar to clotted cream) | Dairy | Turkey | Breakfast, desserts | Rich, creamy | No | A thick, velvety dairy spread enjoyed with bread and honey or on desserts. |
40 | Kazandibi (Turkish burnt milk pudding) | Dessert | Turkey | Sweet dish | Caramelized, milky | No | A pudding with a scorched base that gives it a smoky, caramelized flavor. |
41 | Keema | Main Dish | India, Pakistan | Curry, filling | Spiced, savory | No | Minced meat cooked with onions, peas, and spices—served with bread or rice. |
42 | Kefir | Dairy Drink | Caucasus | Health drink | Sour, tangy | No | A fermented milk drink packed with probiotics—great for gut health. |
43 | Ketchup | Condiment | USA (modern) | Dipping, topping | Sweet, tangy | Yes | A tomato-based sauce loved globally—especially with fries and burgers. |
44 | Key lime pie | Dessert | USA (Florida) | Sweet dish | Tart, creamy | No | A classic American dessert with a graham cracker crust and lime-flavored filling. |
45 | Kidney beans | Legume | Central America | Stews, chili | Meaty, earthy | Yes | A protein-rich bean used in dishes like rajma, chili, and burritos. |
46 | Kielbasa | Sausage | Poland | Grilled, soups | Smoky, savory | No | A Polish sausage that’s often grilled or added to soups and casseroles. |
47 | Kimchi | Fermented Vegetable | Korea | Side dish | Spicy, sour | Yes | A fermented cabbage dish full of probiotics and bold flavors. |
48 | King crab | Seafood | North Pacific | Boiled, grilled | Sweet, briny | No | Highly prized for its tender, juicy meat—often served with butter or lemon. |
49 | Kingfish | Seafood | Global | Grilled, baked | Firm, mild | No | A firm-fleshed fish popular in coastal cuisines, also known as king mackerel. |
50 | Kipper snacks | Seafood | UK | Snacks, breakfast | Smoked, salty | No | Smoked herring fillets commonly eaten on toast or straight from the can. |
51. Kippers

52. Kirsch

53. Kissel

54. Kit Kat

55. Kitchen sink cookies

56. Kitfo

57. Kiwano (horned melon)

58. Kiwi

59. Kiwi smoothie

60. Knackwurst

61. Knish

62. Knockwurst

63. Knotweed

64. Kofta

65. Kohlrabi

66. Koji

67. Kokam

68. Kolache

69. Kolbasa

70. Kombu

71. Kombucha

72. Konjac
73. Konnyaku (a type of jelly)

74. Korean barbecue

75. Korean pear

No | Name | Type | Origin | Use | Taste | Vegan | Fun Fact |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
51 | Kippers | Seafood | UK | Breakfast, grilled | Smoky, salty | No | Split and smoked herring often served for breakfast in British cuisine. |
52 | Kirsch | Alcohol | Germany | Liquor, baking | Fruity, dry | No | A clear cherry brandy used in fondue, desserts, and Black Forest cake. |
53 | Kissel | Dessert | Eastern Europe | Pudding, drink | Sweet, fruity | Yes | A sweet fruit-based dessert thickened with starch—can be drunk or eaten with a spoon. |
54 | Kit Kat | Confectionery | UK | Snack, dessert | Chocolate, crispy | No | A globally loved chocolate-covered wafer bar with a satisfying snap. |
55 | Kitchen sink cookies | Cookie | USA | Dessert, snack | Sweet, mixed | No | Loaded cookies with a mix of ingredients like chocolate, pretzels, and nuts—everything but the kitchen sink! |
56 | Kitfo | Main Dish | Ethiopia | Raw beef dish | Spicy, buttery | No | A traditional Ethiopian dish of minced raw beef seasoned with spices and clarified butter. |
57 | Kiwano (horned melon) | Fruit | Africa | Fresh, juice | Tart, mildly sweet | Yes | A spiky orange fruit with bright green jelly-like flesh—often used in fruit salads or drinks. |
58 | Kiwi | Fruit | China (widely grown in NZ) | Fresh, desserts | Tangy, sweet | Yes | A fuzzy-skinned fruit with bright green or yellow flesh and tiny black seeds. |
59 | Kiwi smoothie | Beverage | Global | Drink | Fruity, tangy | Yes | A refreshing smoothie made with blended kiwi, often paired with banana or spinach. |
60 | Knackwurst | Sausage | Germany | Grilled, boiled | Garlicky, savory | No | A short, plump sausage made of finely ground pork and flavored with garlic. |
61 | Knish | Pastry | Eastern Europe | Snack, meal | Savory, doughy | No | A Jewish snack made of dough filled with mashed potatoes, kasha, or meat. |
62 | Knockwurst | Sausage | Germany | Boiled, grilled | Smoky, garlicky | No | Similar to knackwurst, it’s a garlicky pork sausage served with sauerkraut or mustard. |
63 | Knotweed | Vegetable (foraged) | Japan, USA | Pickled, sautéed | Tart, vegetal | Yes | A foraged edible plant with a sour flavor—young shoots are edible like rhubarb. |
64 | Kofta | Main Dish | Middle East, South Asia | Meatballs | Spiced, rich | No | Minced meat or vegetable balls spiced and cooked in curry or grilled. |
65 | Kohlrabi | Vegetable | Europe | Raw, stir-fry | Crunchy, mildly sweet | Yes | A bulbous vegetable from the cabbage family, eaten raw or cooked. |
66 | Koji | Fermentation Agent | Japan | Soy sauce, sake | Neutral | Yes | A mold used to ferment foods like miso, soy sauce, and sake. |
67 | Kokam | Fruit | India | Sour agent | Tart, astringent | Yes | A sour fruit used in coastal Indian cuisine as a tamarind substitute. |
68 | Kolache | Pastry | Czech Republic | Breakfast, dessert | Sweet or savory | No | A soft dough pastry filled with fruit, poppy seed, or cheese—popular in Texas too. |
69 | Kolbasa | Sausage | Russia, Ukraine | Boiled, sliced | Smoky, cured | No | Eastern European sausage, often used in stews or served with bread. |
70 | Kombu | Seaweed | Japan | Soups, stocks | Umami-rich | Yes | A thick edible kelp used to make dashi broth or to flavor rice and stews. |
71 | Kombucha | Beverage | China | Fermented tea | Tart, fizzy | Yes | A probiotic-rich fermented tea that’s fizzy, sour, and sometimes fruity. |
72 | Konjac | Root Vegetable | Japan, China | Noodles, jellies | Bland, gelatinous | Yes | Used to make zero-calorie noodles and jellies, great for weight-conscious diets. |
73 | Konnyaku (a type of jelly) | Gelatinous Food | Japan | Hot pots, oden | Neutral, chewy | Yes | Made from konjac, this jelly-like food is used in Japanese stews and diet dishes. |
74 | Korean barbecue | Main Dish | Korea | Grilled meats | Bold, savory | No | A style of cooking meats like beef and pork at the table with various marinades and sides. |
75 | Korean pear | Fruit | Korea | Fresh, salads | Crisp, juicy | Yes | Large round pears with a crisp texture and sweet floral flavor—great in marinades too. |
76. Korma

77. Kosher dill pickles

78. Kosher salt

79. Kotlet (Persian meat patties)

80. Kouign-amann (Breton pastry)

81. Kourabiedes (Greek cookies)

82. Kraut (short for sauerkraut)

83. Kringle (Scandinavian pastry)

84. Krispies (as in Rice Krispies)

85. Krupuk (Indonesian crackers)

86. Kuchen (German cake)

87. Kudzu

88. Kugel

89. Kugelhopf

90. Kulfi (Indian ice cream)

91. Kumera (sweet potato in Maori)

92. Kumquat

93. Kung Pao chicken

94. Kurrat (Egyptian leek)

95. Kushari (Egyptian dish)

96. Kutia (Eastern European wheat dish)

97. Kvass

98. Kvetch (Yiddish for complaining, sometimes used for foods too tart or bitter)

99. Kway teow (rice noodles)

100. Kyoho grapes

No | Name | Type | Origin | Use | Taste | Vegan | Fun Fact |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
76 | Korma | Main Dish | India | Curries, gravies | Rich, creamy | No | A mildly spiced Indian curry made with yogurt, cream, and nuts—vegetarian or with meat. |
77 | Kosher dill pickles | Condiment | USA (Jewish origin) | Snack, sandwich topping | Sour, garlicky | Yes | Fermented cucumbers with garlic and dill—classic deli pickles. |
78 | Kosher salt | Salt | USA | Cooking, seasoning | Salty | Yes | Coarse-grained salt preferred by chefs for even seasoning. |
79 | Kotlet (Persian meat patties) | Main Dish | Iran | Fried, meal | Spiced, savory | No | Minced meat and potato patties seasoned with spices and fried. |
80 | Kouign-amann (Breton pastry) | Dessert | France (Brittany) | Pastry, sweet | Buttery, caramelized | No | A laminated pastry like croissant, but denser and sweeter with caramelized sugar crust. |
81 | Kourabiedes (Greek cookies) | Dessert | Greece | Festive cookies | Buttery, nutty | No | Traditional Greek shortbread cookies made with almonds and dusted in powdered sugar. |
82 | Kraut (short for sauerkraut) | Fermented Vegetable | Germany | Side, topping | Sour, tangy | Yes | Fermented cabbage, rich in probiotics—used in German sausages and sandwiches. |
83 | Kringle (Scandinavian pastry) | Dessert | Denmark | Pastry, coffee cake | Sweet, flaky | No | A ring-shaped pastry filled with fruit, nuts, or cream cheese—popular in Danish-American communities. |
84 | Krispies (as in Rice Krispies) | Cereal | USA | Breakfast, treats | Light, sweet | Yes | A puffed rice cereal known for its “snap, crackle, pop”—also used in crispy treats. |
85 | Krupuk (Indonesian crackers) | Snack | Indonesia | Fried snack | Crunchy, savory | No | Puffed crackers made from starch and seafood—commonly served with meals in Southeast Asia. |
86 | Kuchen (German cake) | Dessert | Germany | Tea cake, dessert | Sweet, moist | No | A variety of German cakes, often made with fruit or custard and yeast dough. |
87 | Kudzu | Foraged Root | East Asia | Jelly, starch | Neutral | Yes | Invasive vine with edible starchy roots—used in herbal remedies and cooking. |
88 | Kugel | Casserole | Jewish Cuisine | Baked dish | Sweet or savory | No | A baked pudding or casserole made from noodles or potatoes, common in Jewish holidays. |
89 | Kugelhopf | Dessert | Alsace, Germany | Yeast cake | Lightly sweet | No | A Bundt-style cake with raisins and almonds, often served during Christmas. |
90 | Kulfi (Indian ice cream) | Dessert | India | Frozen dessert | Creamy, nutty | No | A dense and creamy traditional Indian frozen dessert flavored with pistachio or cardamom. |
91 | Kumera (sweet potato in Maori) | Root Vegetable | New Zealand | Boiled, baked | Sweet, earthy | Yes | Maori name for sweet potato—staple in New Zealand cuisine. |
92 | Kumquat | Fruit | China | Fresh, preserves | Tart-sweet | Yes | A small citrus fruit eaten whole, including its edible peel. |
93 | Kung Pao chicken | Main Dish | China (Sichuan) | Stir-fry | Spicy, sweet | No | Spicy Chinese stir-fry with chicken, peanuts, vegetables, and chili peppers. |
94 | Kurrat (Egyptian leek) | Vegetable | Egypt | Soups, salads | Mild, oniony | Yes | A regional variety of leek used in Egyptian cooking—smaller and milder than Western leeks. |
95 | Kushari (Egyptian dish) | Main Dish | Egypt | Rice-lentil mix | Spiced, tangy | Yes | A hearty street food dish made of rice, lentils, pasta, chickpeas, and tomato sauce. |
96 | Kutia (Eastern European wheat dish) | Dessert | Ukraine, Poland | Holiday food | Sweet, nutty | Yes | A Christmas dessert of wheat berries, poppy seeds, honey, and nuts—symbol of unity. |
97 | Kvass | Beverage | Russia | Fermented drink | Sour, malty | Yes | A low-alcohol fermented drink made from rye bread—popular in Eastern Europe. |
98 | Kvetch | Not food | Yiddish (expression) | N/A | N/A | No | Though not food itself, it can refer to overly sour or bitter foods in humor. |
99 | Kway teow (rice noodles) | Noodles | Southeast Asia | Stir-fry, soup | Neutral | Yes | Flat rice noodles used in dishes like Char Kway Teow and noodle soups. |
100 | Kyoho grapes | Fruit | Japan | Fresh, juice | Sweet, juicy | Yes | Large, blackish-purple grapes known for intense sweetness and used in desserts. |
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