4 Vegetables That Start With Z: Can You Guess?

There aren’t many vegetables that start with Z, but I was able to find four options which best fit the bill.

Even though this list of vegetable names isn’t long, I’m still impressed I found something besides zucchini.

I’ve also included some scientific names of veggies starting with Z to provide you with more ideas for your next trip to the grocery store.

So, give the letter Z a go and tell me what you think!

Vegetables that start with Z in alphabetical order

The following list of vegetables with Z only includes edible plants and plant parts considered culinary veggies. These types of vegetables can be used for cooking and garnishing your meals.

Zedoary

Zedoary, commonly known as white turmeric, is a ginger family (Zingiberaceae) rhizomatous plant. It’s native to India and widely cultivated in Southeast Asia.

Zedoary plants are mostly utilized for their rhizomes. It has a distinctive smell and harsh, pungent flavor. The rhizome is mostly dried and processed into a powder for spice and herbal medicine.

Zedoary powder is used in cooking as a spice and coloring ingredient. It adds flavor to Thai and Indonesian curries, soups, and sauces.

The reason zedoary made this list of vegetables starting with Z is that it can also be used as a veggie for pickling or a salad ingredient.

The scientific name for this plant is Curcuma zedoaria.

Zingiber officinale

Zingiber officinale, or ginger is the Zingiberaceae family plant. Originally from Southeast Asia, it’s now grown worldwide.

The ginger plant has thick, knotted rhizomes. They have a sharp, peppery flavor and aroma.

Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Indian cuisine all use ginger root, either fresh, dried, or powdered. Stir-fries, curries, soups, marinades, sauces, baked items, and drinks like tea benefit from this Z vegetable.

It has been used for its medicinal properties for a long time. Ginger may help treat nausea, upset stomachs, and motion sickness. It’s also utilized in herbal cold, cough, and stomach medicines.

Zingiber officinale, or ginger, is a multipurpose plant used as a spice and for its health benefits.

Zizania latifolia

Wild rice, often called Manchurian wild rice, is a grass species endemic to China and Japan. Wild rice is unrelated to common rice (Oryza sativa), despite its name.

The plant yields nourishing grains or seeds. Long and thin, they have a dark brown to black husk and a paler kernel. When cooked, they become chewy and take on a nutty flavor.

Zizania latifolia stems are occasionally used in cooking too. These soft stems can be cooked like other veggies.

You can slice, stir-fry, steam, or add them to soups and stews. They taste similar to fresh bamboo shoots.

Zucchini

Technically a zucchini fruit, this type of summer squash is recognised and eaten as a vegetable. It’s a member of the Cucurbitaceae family along with cucumbers, melons, and pumpkins.

Zucchini has a smooth, green exterior and solid, creamy-white flesh with little edible seeds.

Zucchini is a versatile vegetable used in various savory dishes worldwide. Its mild flavor and soft texture make it appropriate for many cooking methods.

Zucchini fritters, zucchini fries and zucchini noodles are some of my favorite recipes of all time. I can’t get enough of those during the zucchini season.

This healthy and low-calorie vegetable is an excellent source of antioxidants, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C. It also has a high water content, making it crisp and pleasant.

Cucurbita pepo, the zucchini plant, is native to Central America.

Zapallito is the Spanish word for zucchini and another name you may come across.

I hope the last letter of the alphabet provided you with enough unique options! The best way to find out if you like any of these vegetables with Z is to give them a try.

Are there any missing vegetables? Share your ideas in the comments!

If you want to learn about some sweet treats, check out my full list of fruits that start with Z. It includes zhe fruit tree (mandarin melon berry), Zabergau Reinette apple, Zinfandel grapes, Ziziphus jujube fruit, Zante currants, zalzalak fruit and more.

I also have a collection of food items starting with Z, if you’re curious about different flavors and cuisines.

To discover more fruits and vegetables from A to Z, my article on veggies starting with V, this list of exciting U fruits and bright assortment of U vegetables is the right place to start.