Looking for foods that start with Z? Z might be one of the trickier letters in the alphabet, but it is far from empty. From everyday ingredients such as zucchini to brilliant store cupboard flavour boosters like za’atar, there are plenty of Z foods worth knowing.

This guide covers vegetables, fruits, pasta, breads, desserts, snacks, spices and international dishes beginning with Z. It is written with UK cooks in mind, so you will also spot familiar names such as courgette where useful, plus practical tips for saving money and using things up.

Foods That Start With Z

Here is a quick reference table of popular and interesting foods beginning with the letter Z.

Everyday Z Foods You May Already Know

Zucchini

Zucchini is the word used in many countries for what we usually call courgette in the UK. It is a soft-skinned summer squash with a mild flavour, making it useful in both savoury and sweet cooking.

Courgettes are often good value when in season and they are brilliant for bulking out meals. Grate one into a bolognese, chilli, pasta sauce or curry and it almost disappears while adding texture. Sliced courgette also works well in traybakes, ratatouille, stir-fries and omelettes.

Money-saving tip: if you find reduced courgettes, grate and freeze them in portions. Squeeze out excess water after defrosting before adding to fritters, sauces or muffins.

Ziti

Ziti is a short, smooth, tube-shaped pasta. It is especially popular in baked pasta dishes, where the hollow centre catches sauce nicely. If you cannot find ziti in a UK supermarket, penne, rigatoni or tortiglioni make easy substitutes.

For a cheap family meal, mix cooked pasta with tomato sauce, a little cooked mince or lentils, grated cheese and any tired veg from the fridge. Bake until bubbling. It is simple, filling and ideal for using up odds and ends.

Zoodles

Zoodles are noodles made from zucchini or courgette. You can make them with a spiraliser, julienne peeler or even a standard vegetable peeler for wider ribbons.

They are handy if you want a lighter alternative to pasta, but they are also useful mixed half-and-half with spaghetti to stretch a meal and add vegetables. Do not overcook them; a quick toss in a hot pan is usually enough.

Herbs, Spices and Flavourings That Start With Z

Za’atar

Za’atar is one of the most useful Z foods to keep in the cupboard. It is a Middle Eastern seasoning blend commonly made with dried herbs, sesame seeds, sumac and salt. The exact mix varies, but the flavour is usually herby, nutty, tangy and savoury.

Try za’atar:

• Sprinkled over hummus with a drizzle of olive oil
• Scattered on roasted carrots, potatoes or cauliflower
• Mixed with yoghurt as a dip or sauce
• Rubbed onto chicken before roasting
• Added to flatbreads before baking

Budget tip: za’atar can make very plain ingredients taste special. A tin of chickpeas, a spoonful of yoghurt and some reduced flatbread can become a quick lunch with very little effort.

Zesty Lemon

Although zesty lemon is more of a flavour description than a single food, lemon zest is a genuine kitchen staple. The zest contains fragrant oils and can lift pasta, cakes, dressings, marinades and roasted vegetables.

If you are using the juice of a lemon, zest it first and freeze the zest in a small tub or bag. It is a tiny habit that reduces waste and gives you free flavour later.

Zereshk

Zereshk are dried barberries, often used in Persian cooking. They are small, tart berries that add a sharp, fruity pop to rice dishes, stews and salads. They can be harder to find in standard supermarkets, but Middle Eastern grocers and online shops often stock them.

A little goes a long way, so they can be economical if used as a garnish rather than the main ingredient.

Dishes From Around the World Beginning With Z

Zongzi

Zongzi are sticky rice parcels wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. They are associated with Chinese cuisine and are often filled with ingredients such as pork, mushrooms, beans, salted egg yolk or red bean paste, depending on the region and style.

They are filling, portable and full of flavour. Making them from scratch takes practice, so if you are curious, it may be easier to buy them from an Asian supermarket first.

Food safety note: cooked rice should be cooled quickly and stored in the fridge if you are not eating it straight away. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through and avoid leaving rice dishes sitting at room temperature for long periods.

Zaru Soba

Zaru soba is a Japanese dish of chilled soba noodles, usually served on a bamboo tray with a dipping sauce. Soba noodles are made fully or partly with buckwheat flour and have a nutty flavour.

It is a good warm-weather meal because it is light, quick and can be made with simple toppings such as spring onions, sesame seeds, cucumber, grated ginger or leftover cooked chicken. Check labels if you need gluten-free noodles, as many soba noodles also contain wheat.

Zhajiangmian

Zhajiangmian is a Chinese noodle dish topped with a rich, savoury sauce often made with fermented bean paste and minced pork, beef or other proteins. It is typically served with fresh vegetables such as cucumber or bean sprouts.

At home, you can make a budget-friendly version with noodles, minced meat or crumbled tofu, onion, garlic and a savoury bean-based sauce. It is a great way to stretch a small amount of protein across several bowls.

Zuppa

Zuppa simply means soup in Italian, but you will see it in the names of many dishes, such as zuppa di pesce, a fish soup, or zuppa Toscana, a Tuscan-style soup. Soup is one of the best reduced-grub meals because it welcomes vegetables that are slightly past their best.

Keep a freezer bag for vegetable trimmings such as leek tops, carrot ends and herb stalks. When the bag is full, simmer them into a simple stock. Avoid using anything mouldy or spoiled; trimmings should still be fresh and clean.

Zampone

Zampone is an Italian dish made from a pig’s trotter stuffed with seasoned pork. It is often served with lentils, especially around festive occasions. It is not an everyday UK supermarket item, but it is a notable traditional food beginning with Z.

If you enjoy nose-to-tail cooking, dishes like this show how traditional cuisines make use of less fashionable cuts.

Sweet Foods and Desserts That Start With Z

Zabaglione

Zabaglione is a classic Italian dessert made by whisking egg yolks, sugar and sweet wine, often Marsala, over gentle heat until thick, pale and airy. It is usually served warm, sometimes with fruit or biscuits.

It feels fancy but uses only a few ingredients. Take care with gentle heat, as eggs can scramble if overheated. A bowl set over simmering water is the usual method.

Zeppole

Zeppole are Italian pastries made from fried dough. Depending on the region and occasion, they may be dusted with sugar, filled with custard, piped with cream or served plain. They are crisp outside and soft inside when fresh.

For a simpler home option, some cooks make oven-baked versions, though they will not be quite the same as traditional fried zeppole.

Zerde

Zerde is a Turkish rice pudding flavoured and coloured with saffron, often sweetened with sugar and decorated with nuts, currants or pomegranate seeds. Unlike creamy British rice pudding, it is usually brighter, lighter and more aromatic.

Saffron can be expensive, but only a small pinch is needed. If you buy saffron, store it well sealed and away from light to protect its flavour.

Zuppa Inglese

Zuppa inglese is an Italian layered dessert made with sponge or biscuits, custard and often a colourful liqueur. It has similarities with trifle, so it is a useful idea if you have leftover sponge cake, custard or jam to use up.

For a no-waste pudding, layer cake scraps with custard, fruit and a little grated chocolate. It may not be traditional zuppa inglese, but it follows the same thrifty spirit.

Zaleti

Zaleti are Italian biscuits made with cornmeal, often containing raisins and lemon zest. They have a pleasing texture from the cornmeal and are especially good with coffee or tea.

If you have polenta sitting in the cupboard, biscuits like zaleti are a good way to use it beyond savoury dishes.

Breads, Biscuits and Grains Beginning With Z

Zwieback

Zwieback is a crisp, twice-baked bread or rusk. The name comes from the idea of being baked twice, which gives it a dry, crunchy texture and a longer shelf life than soft bread.

It is often eaten with butter, jam, cheese or spreads. It can also be used in crumbs for desserts or as a crunchy topping.

Zopf

Zopf is a Swiss braided bread enriched with ingredients such as milk, butter and eggs. It is soft, attractive and often served at breakfast or brunch.

If you like making bread at home, plaited loaves are a lovely way to make basic ingredients feel special. Homemade bread can also be sliced and frozen, so you only take out what you need.

Vegetables, Pickles and Plant Foods That Start With Z

Zha Cai

Zha cai is a Chinese pickled mustard stem with a salty, savoury, slightly spicy flavour. It is commonly used in small amounts to season noodle soups, rice dishes, stir-fries and congee.

Because it is strongly flavoured, you do not need much. Rinse it first if you prefer a milder, less salty taste.

Zucchini Flowers

Zucchini flowers, also called courgette flowers, are the edible blossoms from the courgette plant. They can be stuffed, battered and fried, or chopped into omelettes and risottos.

They are delicate and do not last long once picked, so use them quickly. If you grow courgettes at home, they are a bonus ingredient from the same plant.

Zizania

Zizania is the botanical genus linked with wild rice. Although wild rice is not true rice, it is cooked and eaten in similar ways. It has a chewy texture and nutty flavour, and it works well mixed with cheaper grains such as brown rice or pearl barley.

Because wild rice can be more expensive, blending it with other grains is a sensible way to enjoy the flavour without using a whole packet in one meal.

Fruits and Drinks Linked to Z

Zinfandel Grapes

Zinfandel is a grape variety used for wine. It is especially known in some countries for red wines and rosé styles. You are unlikely to buy Zinfandel grapes as a snack in a UK supermarket, but it still counts as a food-related Z item.

Zalzalak

Zalzalak is a name used for hawthorn fruit in parts of the Middle East and Central Asia. Hawthorn berries are used in some traditional foods, drinks and preserves. As with any foraged berry, correct identification matters, so only eat wild foods you can identify safely.

Zobo

Zobo is a Nigerian hibiscus drink made from dried hibiscus petals, often flavoured with ginger, pineapple, cloves or other spices. It is tart, colourful and refreshing. Hibiscus is sold in some world food shops and online.

Homemade hibiscus drinks can be sweetened to taste, which is useful if you prefer them less sugary than ready-made versions.

Easy Ways to Use Z Foods on a Budget

You do not need a specialist pantry to enjoy foods that start with Z. Start with the affordable options first and build from there.

• Buy courgettes in season: they are usually cheaper and better when plentiful.
• Use ziti substitutes: penne, rigatoni or supermarket own-brand pasta work perfectly in bakes.
• Keep za’atar handy: it adds big flavour to cheap staples such as eggs, potatoes and chickpeas.
• Stretch pasta with zoodles: mix spiralised courgette with noodles or spaghetti.
• Use leftovers in soup: zuppa-style meals are ideal for tired vegetables, cooked beans and leftover meat.
• Try world food shops: ingredients such as zha cai, soba noodles and hibiscus are often better value there than in small speciality sections.
• Freeze what you can: grated courgette, sliced bread and cooked pasta bakes can all be useful freezer options.

Quick Meal Ideas Using Foods Beginning With Z

FAQs About Foods That Start With Z

What food starts with Z?

Foods that start with Z include zucchini, ziti, zoodles, za’atar, zabaglione, zeppole, zongzi, zaru soba, zerde, zwieback, zha cai, zhajiangmian, zopf and zuppa inglese.

What vegetable starts with Z?

Zucchini starts with Z. In the UK, zucchini is usually called courgette. Zucchini flowers, also known as courgette flowers, are edible too.

What fruit starts with Z?

Zinfandel grapes are a fruit used for wine production. Zereshk, or dried barberries, are another fruit-based ingredient beginning with Z. Zalzalak, a name for hawthorn fruit in some regions, is also linked to the letter Z.

What dessert starts with Z?

Desserts beginning with Z include zabaglione, zeppole, zerde and zuppa inglese. Zaleti, an Italian cornmeal biscuit, is another sweet option.

What pasta starts with Z?

Ziti is a pasta that starts with Z. It is a short tube pasta often used in baked dishes. If you cannot find ziti, penne or rigatoni are good alternatives.

Is zucchini the same as courgette?

Yes. Zucchini and courgette are names for the same vegetable. Zucchini is commonly used in the US and in Italian-influenced cooking, while courgette is the usual UK term.

What is a cheap Z food to try first?

Courgette is the easiest and cheapest Z food for many UK shoppers. Za’atar is also worth trying because one jar can flavour many budget meals, from roast vegetables to dips and flatbreads.

Are there any breakfast foods that start with Z?

Zopf, zwieback and zucchini muffins can all work at breakfast. Zaru soba is not a traditional UK breakfast, but chilled noodles are eaten at different times of day in Japanese cuisine.