All Vegetables That Start With Q (be careful with #2!)

While the vegetable kingdom offers a variety of delicious aromas, intriguing textures, and bright colors, one letter seems to stick out as a perplexing difficulty. Yes, the mysterious “Q”!

Is there a vegetable that starts with Q? Yes! I’ve actually found five options that can be considered culinary veggies.

This means they can be used in a variety of dishes and recipes as a type of vegetable, even if they aren’t officially classified as such.

Brace yourselves as we reveal nature’s best-kept secrets in the following list of vegetables with the letter Q! Dive into this search for the unusual and discover gastronomic possibilities from different parts of the world.

Are you ready?

Without further ado, let’s explore this letter’s tasty goodies — vegetables that start with Q

Queensland arrowroot

Queensland arrowroot (Canna edulis) is a tropical and subtropical American perennial plant. Its starchy rhizomes are mostly grown for food.

Queensland arrowroot has thick, tuberous rhizomes like ginger roots. They’re starchy and can be eaten raw or cooked. The rhizomes become pasty when cooked and have a pleasant, sweet flavor.

Thickening agents like powdered Queensland arrowroot are used in savory and sweet dishes alike. No wheat or cornstarch here!

Queensland arrowroot is different from Maranta arundinacea, the common arrowroot used for similar reasons. Both plants have starchy rhizomes that thicken, although they are from different botanical families.

The name makes me think of Australia and Brisbane (as it’s in Queensland), though this veg is also sometimes called Indian Shot.

Queen Anne’s lace

Queen Anne’s lace, often known as wild carrot, is a biannual Apiaceae flower. This plant has naturalized in many countries beyond Europe and Asia.

Queen Anne’s lace is named for its lacy white flower clusters. The flat-topped flowers bloom throughout summer. Many small white blossoms surround a single dark purple or scarlet floret.

Queen Anne’s lace is appreciated for its beauty and deliciousness when cooked. I think it really is a refined looking vegetable.

The plant’s young roots are edible. These wild carrots taste like farmed ones but are known for their small size and fibrous texture.

Queen Anne’s lace resembles poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), which is dangerous. Therefore, consuming wild plants requires caution and proper identification! You don’t wanna get them mixed up!

The scientific name of the plant is Daucus carota.

Quelites

Quelites (Chenopodium album), also known as lamb’s quarters or wild spinach, are leafy vegetables with excellent nutritional value and taste. These edible Amaranthaceae plants are endemic to many countries.

Quelites have fragile, arrowhead-shaped leaves in brilliant green to purple colors.

They are a tasty and healthy food and a good source of vitamins A, C and K plus minerals like calcium and iron.

Quelites taste like spinach with a tinge of earthiness. They can be cooked, sautéed, or eaten raw in salads.

If you want to spice up your food, they’re well worth a try. Plus, you can impress people with your knowledge of veg beginning with Q!

Quillquina

Porophyllum ruderale, or quillquina, is a Central and South American herb. This plant, also known as papaloquelite or quilquina, is prized for its flavor and fragrance.

Cilantro, arugula, and citrus flavors characterize quillquina leaves. Bold, pungent, and peppery are common descriptions.

Many cuisines from South America, especially in Oaxaca and Veracruz, include these fresh leaves.

Tacos, soups, stews, salsas, and salads are often garnished with Quillquina leaves. They improve the dish’s flavour with their refreshing and slightly sour taste.

I tried it as an alternative to cilantro, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it.

Quillquina’s unusual flavor and culinary adaptability make it a cherished ingredient among those who have the chance to try it.

Quinoa

Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah), a grain-like seed, is versatile and healthy. It comes from the Andean Chenopodium quinoa plant. The Incas relied on quinoa as a staple crop for thousands of years.

Due to the high nutritional content of quinoa, it is considered a superfood. It’s a complete protein with all nine necessary amino acids.

It also contains antioxidants, B vitamins, vitamin E, folate, magnesium, iron, potassium, and dietary fiber.

Quinoa is crisp and mildly nutty when cooked. It can be used as a healthy snack, side dish, in salads, grain bowls, soups, stews, and baked products.

Quinoa is gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Its nutritional qualities and cooking versatility have skyrocketed its popularity in recent years.

By now you’re probably thinking, “This is cheating, quinoa isn’t a veggie!” Technically, quinoa doesn’t fit the definition, but its leaves are also edible as a leafy green. That’s why it made the list!

I like how quinoa can be literally anything, from a great snack to a main ingredient. So it’s the right place to go to your local grocery store and give it a try!

Here is my favourite quinoa recipe with halloumi and here’s a surprisingly awesome quinoa porridge recipe!

I hope this list of vegetable names that start with Q has aroused your curiosity and broadened your culinary horizons, from quinoa’s crispness to quelites’ unique taste.

Have you found any of your local foods here? Share your favorite names of vegetables in the comments!

Don’t forget to check out my recent foods that start with P for more inspiration, whether it’s cooking, teaching games, or something else entirely!

Continue your culinary journey and let your taste buds experience new fun fruit flavours and delicious vegetable dishes! A little bit of adventure never hurts!