There are so many amazing veggies that start with the letter R, it’s hard to figure out where to even begin! We could talk about radishes or rutabagas. But those are too easy.

How about Romanesco broccoli? It’s a type of broccoli that has a unique spiral shape. There’s also ramps – a wild leek that has a garlicky flavor. Whatever is your reason to go looking for a list of vegetables that start with R, you have come to the right place. Ready to go explore?

Rutabaga

Rutabagas are versatile; good steamed or mashed, or roasted whole with other root vegetables. They also make a good casserole or soup ingredient.

Large quantities of this vegetable can be found in the warehouses because it rarely gets to the retail level. When choosing, look for firm, thick-skinned roots with smooth and unblemished skin. This vegetable can endure long storage and still remain fresh.

Rakkyo

Rakkyo is a root vegetable that is often used to make pickles. The leaves can be eaten as well, however, the leaves are the most valued part and taste best when young and picked before flowering. They’re planted from seeds and harvested in fall.

It is often mistakenly thought to be the same vegetable as “rutabaga”. It can be easily distinguished because the stems are longer and the leaves are larger. Rakkyo also has a smaller root.

Ramp

Ramp is a wild onion that grows in the United States. It has a mild flavor and is picked in early spring before the leaves open. The greens are used as an herb or vegetable. They can be substituted for onion when cooking.

The bulbs can be eaten as well, however, they have a stronger flavor and are best used as part of a soup or stew in small amounts.

Radicchio

This red and white leafy vegetable is a relative of the chicory. It is very bitter in taste, yet it adds distinctive flavor to salads.

Radicchio is a fleshy, slightly bulbous plant that grows on compact plants with long leaves and clusters of white or pink flowers in the summer. The main difference between radicchio and chicory is that radicchio has smaller and heartier leaves than chicory, which has big leaves with fewer spaces between them.

Radish

Radishes are a bright, crisp and healthy vegetable found at most supermarkets. Radishes come in many colors ranging from white to light greens and red. White radishes have a mild flavor and are generally used in salads. They have no seeds and are often braised, boiled, fried or made into pickles or relish.

Red radishes have a stronger, spicy flavor that is often used in salads. They also taste great braised like the white radish with butter or mixed with a vinaigrette dressing for mixed green salads. Red radishes add nice color to any type of salad or side dish, they also make good garnishes.

Rampion

Rampion is a common weed that grows in gardens throughout the world. It looks like dandelion but doesn’t have the same distinctive flavor. The leaves are used as a greens and have a mild taste.

It is very easy to recognize rampion as it has a soft stem and beautiful flowers. The plant has quite a few interesting features. It is a perennial that grows on weeds, the roots are low-growing, thick, and fleshy. The leaves are short and needle-like, green in color with red veins and part of the stem is purple in color. The flowers are very attractive that is why rampion is often used as an ornamental plant around Garden ponds.

Red Cabbage

Red cabbage is a biennial vegetable and is available in many colors. Its flavor is slightly peppery and assertive, which makes it perfect for sautéing, braising, salads and soups. Red cabbage is also high in vitamin C, beta carotene, calcium, potassium and fiber.

The leaves of the red cabbage are round and can grow to be up to 3 feet wide! The red cabbage grows on the outside of a large white bulb that sits above the ground. The green leaves are used as an ingredient in many dishes like creamed cabbage with bacon or cabbage rolls stuffed with rice.

Red Leaf Lettuce

Red leaf lettuce is a popular garden crop grown in most parts of the country. Most red leaf lettuce varieties are extremely heat-tolerant and will grow in temperatures as low as 20 F.

Unlike most lettuces, red leaf has deep green leaves with a dense round head. The head is crisp and holds its shape well after it’s harvested. It has a mild flavor and is used for fresh salads, sandwiches, wraps, or garnishing dishes.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb is an edible, starchy vegetable that grows easily in many gardens. It has long red stems and thick pink leaves. The stems and leaves are inedible but can be used as a tart flavoring. Rhubarb can be eaten raw or cooked into jams, pies, or other desserts.

Rhubarb is low in calories and most of its carbohydrate content comes from fiber. It is used as a tenderizer in cooking. It takes almost a year for rhubarb to grow before you can harvest it, so it makes sense to plant a few stalks in your garden.

Rice Bean

Rice Bean, also known as Turtle Bean, is a staple in many parts of the world. They are used in many dishes such as side dishes, soups, and stir-fries. The rice beans have bright orange and purple colors and taste sweet with a nutty flavor.

Rice Bean is an edible legume vine that produces small green or golden yellow bean pods. The beans are flat and wide and can be used in any dish like soups, stews, boiled or fried dishes. It holds its shape well after it’s cooked so if you need filling for a pie or casserole this bean will work well for you.

Rock Samphire

Rock Samphire is a flowering plant that is native to the Mediterranean region. The taste of the leaves and flowers are slightly sour, but they are edible and have been used in cooking as one ingredient in a dish. Rock Samphire is high in calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium.

Rock samphire grows in coastal areas where it can easily access the minerals it needs to thrive. It grows best on rocky shores, but can also grow in sandy areas with exposure to the sun for prolonged periods of time.

Rocket

Rocket is a great garden crop that grows in many areas of the country. It is a green leafy vegetable that grows in clusters on long sturdy stems. Rocket is easy to grow and has no odor or bitter taste.

The leaves of rocket have a crispy texture and add a bright color to any dish. The leaves are mostly used as an ingredient in salads, sandwiches and soups, but can also be fried, boiled or sautéed for seasoning for meat or vegetables.

Rapini

Rapini is a closely related vegetable to broccoli. It is Italian for “broccoli rabe”. Rapini is a finely cut, bright green leaf that tastes like broccoli but is milder and sweeter in flavor. It has long stems and the leaves are tightly packed.

It is one of the most commonly grown vegetables in Italy. Rapini is often used as a side vegetable for pastas or soups. It is also used in raw or cooked form and is a perfect addition to green salads.

Ramsons

Ramson is an edible perennial herb whose young leaves can be used as a vegetable or the flower as a garnish. The leaves are pungent-tasting, with a flavor similar to garlic or onion, and are often used in salads.

Ramsons (Allium ursinum) is sometimes called wild garlic, bears’ garlic, bear’s leek, wood leek and wild onion. The plant grows throughout Europe and Asia. It is found in damp areas of woods and sometimes by riverbanks. Ramsons has tall stems of green flowers in spring that turn into small bulbs that are attached to the main trunk of the plant.

Runner Bean

The Runner Bean is a great summer vegetable that can be used in many ways. The young pods can be eaten at about 4 inches long, and the mature seeds are white and are called horticultural beans.

There are different varieties of runner beans. You can have the flat, dark green-colored French beans or the purple-colored runners with brown streaks. Mature beans must be shelled before eating and they should be boiled for at least 15 minutes before they are ready to eat.

Russet Potato

Russet potatoes are a dark-colored starchier variety of potatoes. They have a rich, nutty flavor. Try roasting them to make French fries, baking them (cut in slices) as an accompaniment to beef stew, and using the skins to make soup stock.

In general, russet potatoes have a higher level of starch and less sugar than other varieties of potato but they are high in calories. As with all potatoes sold in the United States, russet potatoes must meet strict federal limits on levels of anti-oxidants and potassium.

Romaine Lettuce

Romaine lettuce is a type of cos lettuce that was originally grown in the Mediterranean region. It has dark-green leaves and it has a crisp texture. It is often used in salads and can be included with other greens, fruits, nuts, and dressings.

It is used in Caesar salad and Chef Salad. Romaine lettuce is also used in sandwiches. It can be used as a sandwich wrap, eaten like a regular sandwich, or chopped up and served as croutons in a salad.

Rosa Bianca Eggplant

The Rosa Bianca Eggplant is a vegetable that, sadly, isn’t as easy to find in stores as it once was. It is an Italian variety of eggplant with pale skin and delicate flavor.

When shopping for eggplants, look for firm eggplants with smooth skins and no soft spots. The stems should be green and plump-looking. The eggplants should be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Roma Tomato

The Roma tomato has a deep red color with more acidity than red tomatoes. They are characterized by a meaty texture.

In the United States, about 80% of all tomatoes grown for processing are Romas. Their peak season is late summer through early fall. In their natural state, they have less water and less sugar than greenhouse-grown tomatoes.

This was our comprehensive list of Vegetables That Start With R. Have you tried any from this list? Let me know in the comments section.