Here we are again with more foods categorized by letters of the alphabet. The letter D contains foods that are quite exotic compared to the foods we’ve looked at through the other letters of the alphabet.
There aren’t that many foods that come to mind when you think of the letter D, but there are actually several foods that start with the letter D, they just may not be foods you encounter every day. With this list, you might discover a new food that you will want to hunt down for yourself to try.
Dates
Dates come from a flowering plant of the palm family. Dates are widely cultivated in the Middle East and have been for thousands of years. They are very sweet and can be eaten on their own as a treat, but they are also typically used to sweeten desserts or candies.
Date Plum
The date plum plant is native to parts of southwest Asia and southeast Europe. This plant has been cultivated since the times of early humanity and its fruit tastes, exactly as its name suggests, like a blend of both plums and dates.
Duck
Duck meat comes from a few different species of birds from the Anatidae family. It is used as the main protein in a variety of dishes from different cultures, but it is especially popular in Chinese cuisine. Duck is a meat that is high in fat, protein, and iron.
Dill
DIll is an herb from the celery family. It is an aromatic herb and is widely used in Europe and Asia to flavor or top soups, stews, and other dishes. It is the most effective when used fresh but retains most of its flavor when dried.
Dill Pickle
Dill pickles are cucumbers that have been left to ferment in vinegar or brine with the addition of dill stems for extra flavor. Pickles can be flavored with a variety of different spices and herbs, but dill pickles are a popular choice. Pickles can be eaten on their own, as a side, or sliced into a sandwich.
Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is a form of chocolate that does not contain milk or butter, only cocoa solids, and cacao butter. Not all brands produce dairy-free dark chocolate, but pure dark chocolate contains no milk and, if it is unsweetened, it has a bitter and slightly tangy flavor.
Daikon
Daikon is a winter radish with fast-growing leaves and a white root that is harvested and used for culinary purposes in East Asia. It has a mild flavor and is often used as a garnish for soups and noodles when raw or is pickled with other vegetables.
Damson
Damson plums are a type of fleshy fruit with a pit in the center. Damson plums are a type of plum and their taste is tart and could leave a scratchy feeling in the throat. They are often used to make jams or preserves.
Dewberries
Dewberries are closely related to blackberries and are a part of the plant genus Rubus. The berries are the most commonly consumed part of the plant but the plant’s leaves can also be used to make tea. Dewberries are sweet and can be eaten raw or used to make pie or cobbler.
Dogfish
Dogfish is a type of shark used as food in Europe, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Venezuela, and Chile. Once an abundant species of shark, dogfish are now considered a vulnerable species due to overfishing.
Dragonfruit
Dragonfruit comes from several species of cactus trees of the Selenicereus family native to South America. It has a tough, leather-like skin and a soft, pulpy, edible center.
It is full of black crunchy seeds which makes it comparable to kiwi, but the taste is distinctly less tart. Dragonfruit can be eaten raw and it is a popular addition to both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.
Durum Wheat
Durum wheat is the second most cultivated species of wheat and it is the hardest type of wheat. It is very high in protein and is most commonly used to make pasta for Italian dishes or to create couscous which is a staple grain in Middle Eastern cooking.
Dandelion
Dandelions are a flowering plant of the Asteraceae family and are entirely edible flowers. They contain a lot of vitamins and their greens are used in a variety of different cuisines. The flowers are typically used to make tea.
Durian
Durian is the fruit of a tree species belonging to the genus Durio. It has a dense and custard-like texture and a mild and sweet flavor but also has a distinct smell that can turn many people away from tasting it.
Dasheen
Dasheen, more commonly known as taro, is a root vegetable that is a staple food in many African, Ocean, and Asian cultures. It is not eaten raw and is usually roasted, fried, or boiled and used in a variety of savory and sweet dishes.
Deer
Deer, or Venison is game meat that is a part of traditional cuisine in many parts of the world. It is separated into cuts and used to prepare dishes such as goulash.
Deli Meat
Deli meat refers to a variety of meats that are sliced and can be served cold or hot. They are often sold pre-sliced and typically used on sandwiches or served on charcuterie trays.
Droewors
Droewors is a dried South African sausage typically made of beef. It is usually eaten as a snack.
Dabberlocks
Dabberlocks are a type of seaweed used as food on the coasts of the North Atlantic Ocean. They can be eaten raw or cooked and is popular in Greenland, Scotland, Ireland, and Iceland.
Ditalini
Ditalini is a pasta shape that looks like small tubes and is popular in Sicilian cooking. It is used in various pasta dishes as well as in soups because its small size makes it the perfect pasta to fit on a spoon.
Dosa
Dosa is a typical South Indian pancake made from a fermented batter of lentils and rice. They can be made thick or thin and crispy but are usually fried with ghee and served with chutney.
Delirio Sweet Peppers
These are a type of orange bell pepper and they are perfect as a fresh addition to a salad or to be stuffed with grains and/or meat and roasted.
Demerara
Demerara is a minimally processed sugar with a crunchy texture and a distinct, lightly brown color. It is not the same as brown sugar, which is finer and more moist.
Dolichos beans
Dolichos beans, also known as lablab, are a species of bean from the Fabaceae family and are native to Africa. The beans can be toxic because they contain cyanogenic glycosides, so they must be boiled several times in clean water before they can be consumed. They are used in a variety of dishes in Asian and African cultures.
Domsiah Rice
Domsiah is an Iranian long-grain rice that is related to Basmati. It is fluffy, flaky, and light and used as the base for many meals.