Yellow Foods List: Yellow Fruits, Yellow Vegetables, Yellow Recipes

Move over lettuce and celery, it’s time for yellow fruits and veggies to shine. Like the sun 🙂 Today I’ll be sharing a list of yellow fruits, list of yellow vegetables, yellow spices, and all sorts of ways you can enjoy yellow foods.

If eating the rainbow is of interest to you, be sure to check out my other articles on colour forward foods.

Table of Contents

List of Yellow Fruits

Asian Pear
Banana
Buddha’s Hand
Canary Melons (has a yellow skin and pale yellow-white flesh)
Citron (hybrid citrus, looks like a lemon, but is larger than a lemon, super thick rind)
Barhi Dates
Durian (the skin is green and the flesh is yellow, known for its pungent and off putting smell)
Golden Apples
Golden Kiwi (has a much milder flavor compared to green kiwi)
Golden Raspberries (have a pale yellow colour)
Jackfruit (the skin is green and the flesh is yellow)
Mirabelle Plum (yellow plum)
Mango (the skin isn’t yellow but the flesh of mangoes is yellow)
Musk Melon
Nanche (in the acerola family, also called changunga)
Langsat Fruit (tan-yellow colour)
Lemon
Longan Fruit (has a yellow skin and white flesh)
Orboroi Fruit
Passion Fruit
Pineapple
Plantains
Quince
Starfruit
Yellow Dragon Fruit (also called pitahaya, skin is yellow and flesh is white)
Yellow Grapefruit
Yellow Lime (has a green skin and yellow flesh)
Yellow Pomelo
Yellow Plum
Yellow Watermelon (the skin is green and the flesh is a vibrant yellow)
Yuzu (a type of citrus with floral notes grown in Japan)

Pineapple Mint Cake! This creation is gluten free, egg free, vegan, and top 9 free.

Yellow Fruit Notes

Asian Pears: These are great for tenderizing meat and can be added to a marinade (blend the marinade first). Asian pear is also good for snacking, and pairs well with a range of other fruits, as well as savory ingredients.

Bananas: Fun fact, a group of bananas is called a hand of bananas, not a bunch of bananas, even though that’s what they’re commonly called. It’s also a botanical berry… wild right?? There are a lot of banana varieties to choose from, including baby bananas, red bananas, and apple bananas. The Cavendish is the most popular, and what you’re most likely to see int he grocery store.

Barhi Dates: These are a creamy date and some people say they taste like persimmon. They are VERY different from a medjool date, which is the most popular type of date sold in stores.

Citrus Fruit: There are an insane amount of citrus fruits to choose from, and they’ll present mostly in yellow and orange hues. To explore lots of citrus, visit a specialty market or robust farmer’s market (if you live in a citrus growing state).

Lemons: If you want a lemon with sweetness, look for Meyer Lemons.

Peach & Nectarines: Not only are these good for cooking, baking, and jam making, they’re also fabulous for snacking. You can dip slices in a nut butter or nut free substitute for a snack that has protein, fat, carbohydrates, and a kiss of sweetness.

Pineapples: You can purchase a classic yellow pineapple, but pink pineapples are a thing as well. Pink pineapples look like a yellow pineapple on the outside, but some people say they have a candy-like taste.

Pomelo: These large round fruits look like a grapefruit, but they’re sweeter when compared to grapefruit, and also have a milder taste.

List of Orange-Yellow Fruits

These fruits could go either way, depending on who you ask. If you want fruits that scream YELLOW, stick to the above list. If you don’t mind a little orange pigmentation, here are more fruits to choose from.

Apricot
Eggfruit (other names include canistel and lucuma)
Goldenberry (also called a cape gooseberry)
Loquat
Melon (some have a yellow-ish skin)
Nectarine
Rainier Cherries (yellow-orange-red)
Ugli Fruit
Yellow Papaya
Yellow Peaches

List of Yellow Vegetables

Yellow Beets (the skin is more orange than yellow and the beet flesh is yellow)
Yellow Bell Peppers
Yellow Carrots
Corn
Yellow Cauliflower (also called cheddar cauliflower, is yellow-orange)
French Fingerling Potato
Gold Potato
Gypsy Pepper (yellow with a tiny light green tint)
Yellow Habanero Peppers
Japanese Yam (it can be argued that the flesh has a yellow tint, but it’s tan-yellow at the least)
Yellow Onion (white flesh)
Rainbow Chard (some have a yellow stem, but there are other colors and you purchase by the bunch, not the leaf)
Spaghetti Squash
Yellow Summer Squash (also called yellow zucchini)
Yellow Tomatoes
Yellow Wax Beans (looks like yellow green beans)

Vegetable Notes

Yellow Bell Pepper: Green bell pepper is a less mature version of yellow, orange, and red bell peppers. Bell pepper isn’t a heat bringing spice like a habanero, Fresno, or Anaheim chili pepper. Paprika is derived from bell pepper.

Corn: Sweet corn kernels can do wonders for savory meals, as well as classic foods such as chili, salads, and tacos.

Spaghetti Squash: This is an amazing squash to use. If you’re following a grain free, Paleo, Keto or gluten free diet and want to have a fun pasta alternative, spaghetti squash has you covered. After roasting, you can shred it and it looks and behaves a bit like angel hair pasta.

Yellow Tomatoes: There are several tomato varieties available including cherry tomatoes and heirloom tomatoes. Explore the different flavors during the peak of the season for a real treat.

List of Yellow Spices

Not only do these ingredients add great flavor, but they can also give your recipes a great color as well. Here are seasonings that are yellow, and some can tint your white foods yellow.

Curry Powder (there’s a large number of curry powder options to choose from)
Ground Ginger (has a tan-yellow colour)
Ground Mustard and Mustard Seeds
Nutritional Yeast
Turmeric (can be considered yellow or orange)

If you’d really like to see yellow spices shine, look into Indian cuisine recipes. You’ll also work with ingredients such as saffron, coconut, cumin, cardamom, coriander, and fenugreek. Whilst India is well known brilliant curries that have a mouthwatering aroma, know that there’s a lot more to Indian food than a good curry.

Spanish and Mexican cuisines also lean into a lot of naturally yellow foods and shouldn’t be ignored.

As you go about using yellow seasonings, also explore their counterparts that help balance flavour, or ingredients that can bring some heat. Ingredients such as galangal, sumac, and whole peppercorns should also be explored, as you can create some amazing dishes at home from these humble foods.

List of Miscellaneous Yellow Ingredients

Candied Ginger
Cheese (some types including cheddar have a yellow hue)
Chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans, tan-yellow colour)
Corn Tortillas
Edible Flowers
Egg Yolk
Millet
Soybeans (tan-yellow colour)
Squash Blossom
Wheat Pasta (tan-yellow colour)
Yellow Split Pea (has a bit of an orange tint)
Yellow Lentils (has a bit of an orange tint)

Delicious Ways to Enjoy Yellow Fruits

In addition to eating yellow fruits straight, there are fantastic ways you can include them in your diet.

Fruit Smoothies

If you feed someone that’s averse to texture, but want them to enjoy the benefits of eating the rainbow, start with a smoothie. You can make them a million different ways, and rotate thru different ingredients that are nutritional power houses.

Remember, you can also add vegetables and vegetable powders to smoothies to increase the nutrients that are available.

Homemade Juice

You could combine yellow fruit such as pineapples with orange fruits such as kumquat or tangerine for a punchy homemade juice. You will need a juicer if you plan to make this sort of thing often. I have several, and this is one of my fave brands (I think my model is a little different from this I linked).

One of the best parts about juicing is that you can easily make beverages that benefit your immune system without having to worry about preservatives etc.

Golden Apple Lasagna

An apple lasagna is the sort of food you make when you have some pastry skills and you’re bored of all of the normal tart and cake recipes. You’ll need a vegetable sheeter to make your lasagna. In addition to that, you’re going to need time, creativity, and a little elbow grease.

Make components that pair well with apples (compotes, cream, etc.) and once you have all the elements, layer sheets of apple and layers of filling. You’ll build a dessert recipe and the final results are stunning.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

When it comes to adding pineapple to food, I’m sure we all have some kind of memory of a pineapple upside down cake. You can take your cake to the next level and add other fruits such as cherries, rapsberries, and blackberries.

Lemon Tart

We’ve all heart of lemon meringue pie, however, your lemon dessert adventures don’t have to stop there. In fact, you could build a whole dessert table of lemon tarts, all different flavours. Here are some pairing ideas:

Lemon Blackberry Tart
Lemon Blueberry Tart
Lemon Strawberry Tart
Lemon Raspberry Tart
Lemon Chocolate Tart
Citrus Burst Tart (lemon, orange, and lime)

You’ll want to start with a delicious pie crust as the foundation of your tart, then make a lemon filling that’s infused with one of the pairing counterparts. Top with some fancy decorations, and you’ve got a lemon tart that’s much better than the average lemon dessert.

Passionfruit Curd

You can make a curd with egg yolk, or you can make an egg free version, like what’s in the picture below. A passionfruit curd is tart, sweet, and has a rich and creamy mouthfeel. It pairs well with a range of other flavours, and you can use it as a component in other desserts.

Maple Nectarine Fritter

Fried fritters are kind of like a doughnut. In the case of a maple nectarine fritter, you’d use small diced nectarine, and nectarine puree as part of your fritter batter. In addition to that, use organic maple sugar as the sweetener, but boost the maple flavor with maple extract. You won’t regret one bite.

Banana “Popsicles” or Banana Bites

This is a fun activity if you have a little kid. Peel a banana and cut into 4ths or 5ths. Have a plate of toppings available (chia seeds, sprinkles, etc.) and have your kiddo decorate their popsicle.

I like to stick to toppings that will boost nutrition intake (in conjunction with the natural potassium content of bananas), and find cute ways to incorporate shredded veggies like making a banana showman (the shredded veg are the arms).

Great Ways to Use Yellow Vegetables

Bean & Veggie Soup (or other soups)

You could make a delicious soup by starting with yellow aromatics (yellow onion, yellow bell pepper, yellow carrots. Cook those together, then add cubed gold potatoes along with cannellini bean, and any other vegetables you’d like to use. Aim for light colors so the yellow shines thru. You could make a broth based soup or a cream based soup with these ingredients.

Frittata

You can use classic staple ingredients when making your egg frittata, and pair it with yellow vegetables to give your meal a nutritional boost. For a beautiful pop of colour, add small diced beets, chopped baby kale, shredded Tokyo turnip, diced yellow bell peppers, and shredded carrots. That’s the whole rainbow right there.

Pasta Dishes

Pasta is naturally tinted yellow, but pasta dishes can also be a great vessel for adding more yellow vegetables in your diet. Quartered and sliced yellow squash is an easy vegetable to add to your pasta dishes.

If you’re not sure where to start, look up a ragu recipe (there are so many to choose from). A ragu can easily incorporate yellow onion, yellow bell pepper, and even shredded yellow cauliflower. Add those to your sauce, and garnish your dish with green herbs for a lovely pop of complimentary hues.

Potato Casseroles

You can find quite a few potato casserole recipes online, and for good reason: they’re delicious. Potato casserole recipes usually contain other vegetables such as spinach or broccoli, and are super rich and creamy.

If you’re allergic to milk or lactose intolerant, don’t worry, there are loads of dairy free casserole recipes available as well.

Oven Roasted Veggies

My kids love when I slice up yellow summer squash along with zucchini, toss in salt + garlic + onion granules, and oven roast in a little olive oil. You can create a beautiful colour contrast by combining yellow veggies with something purple such as eggplant.

Stir-Fries

The best part about making a stir fry at home is the flexibility. You have the space to get creative and use the cooking method with new ingredients. For example, a chicken + pumpkin + yellow pepper stir fry could be a fantastic dinner.

Don’t be afraid to search online for things like “creative stir fry recipe” and try something new this week.

Rainbow Salad

You can add shredded carrot, diced yellow tomato, and other yellow veggies as salad toppings. For a rainbow effect, add other colorful veggies like watermelon radish, purple cabbage, and sautéed purple onions.

Stuffed Cucumber Cups or Cucumber Boats

These are incredibly fun to make. You can create a a variety of fillings from meat and veggies to plant-based ingredients only. To make the cup, you’ll cut your cucumber into thirds or fourths, then hollow out the center. What remains is a tube that can eaisly be filled.

The pulp and flesh from the center of your cucumber can be eaten as a snack, or added to a smoothie.

Corn Ribs

I’m sure you’ve heard of corn on the cob, but have you heard of corn ribs? It’s something I’ve been seeing more of lately, and it’s a pretty cool coking technique. A corn cob is cut in a way that allows the individual pieces to be picked up like baby back ribs. You season the segments and usually grill them, for a fantastic side dish.

Yellow Savory Recipes

Each recipe is gluten free, dairy free, egg free, and very allergy friendly.

Broccoli Mac n Cheese (gluten free, dairy free, top 9 free, top 14 free)
Kale & Date Chicken (the seasonings give the chicken a yellow hue)
Creamy Dairy Free Breakfast Potatoes (has a yellow tint, gluten free, vegan, top 14 free)
Dairy Free, Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe (gluten free, top 14 free)
Leek & Potato Soup (a great side dish, dairy free, top 14 free)
Fluffy Lemon Pancakes with Vegan Aquafaba Marshmallow Fluff Topping (gluten free, top 9 free)
Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Pancakes (vegan, top 9 free)
Chicken Pepper Meatballs (has a yellow tint, gluten free, dairy free, top 14 free)
Seared Pineapple & Smoky Cod Recipe
Vegan Curry Potato Stew (gluten free, top 9 free)
Tropical Pineapple Skewers (gluten free, top 14 free)
Pineapple Pork Meatballs (gluten free, egg free, top 14 free)
Chicken Curry Potato Soup Recipe (dairy free, gluten free, top 9 free)
Kid Friendly Chicken Curry Fried Rice Recipe (gluten free, top 9 free)
Simple Creamy Turmeric Rice (gluten free, vegan, top 14 free)
Hawaiian Chicken Burger (gluten free, egg free, top 14 free)
Pressure Cooker Cabbage and Chicken Soup (gluten free, top 9 free)
Creamy Mango Rice (oatmeal alternative, great for kids, gluten free, top 14 free, vegan)

Yellow Desserts

Here are some tasty gluten free, allergy friendly recipes that all have a yellow tint.

Vegan Butter Cookies (these have a tan-yellow color)
Lemon Poppy Muffins
Refined Sugar Free Nectarine + Peach Ice Cream Recipe (truly corn free, top 14 free)
Lemon Paleo Cookie Balls (grain free, vegan, top 14 free)
Passionfruit Curd Brownie Cake (gluten free, vegan, top 9 free)
Dairy Free Spicy Mango Buttercream Frosting (vegan, top 9 free, top 14 free)
Soft & Fluffy Lemon Paleo Cookies (grain free, vegan, truly corn free, top 14 free)
Easy Banana Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe (vegan, top 14 free)

Health Benefits of Yellow Foods

Eating yellow fruits and vegetables comes with great health benefits, as these foods are rich in vitamins and minerals. They also contain fiber, which aides in healthy digestion (in healthy people, because not everyone can tolerate fiber due to medical conditions).

Yellow (and orange) plants contain beta-carotene, which is then converted to Vitamin A in your body. Said vitamin can help promote healthy eyes, as well as support a myriad of other systems in our bodies. In addition to that, yellow foods are an excellent source of Vitamin C.

If you have nutrition goals that including eating more fiber and vegetables in general, be sure to add yellow foods to your plate, as they can show up for you in big ways.

Health Benefits of Yellow Fruits

One easily overlooked benefit of eating yellow fruits is their water content. Hydrating foods count towards your daily water intake goals, especially fruits like yellow watermelon. They can also (somewhat) quickly increase energy since they contain natural sugars.

Yellow fruits are also rich in antioxidants, which are known to protect us from free radicals that can damage our DNA and lead to some types of cancer.

Foods such as pineapple are a fantastic source of manganese, an enzyme that we can’t make ourselves. It helps other enzymes in building bones, immunity, and wound healing.

Health Benefits of Yellow Vegetables

Like yellow fruits, yellow vegetables offer us a range of vitamins, minerals, and micro nutrients that can keep our bodies operating smoothly (assuming you’re eating a well rounded diet).

Yellow vegetables can boost your natural immunity, but their beta-carotene content may be what they’re best known for. Beta-carotene has been researched quite a bit and there’s evidence that supports it’s helpfulness in fighting some cancers, improving lung health, and having healthy skin.

To read more about the health benefits of foods that contain beta-carotene, check out this article. It’s a great read and goes into the little details, which is something I can appreciate.