15 Mexican Foods That Start With Y

Mexican Foods That Start With Y - Yecapixtla Cecina

How many Mexican foods that start with Y have you tried?

Ever nibbled on a yuca? How about devouring a yellow sapote? Yum!

From Yecapixtla cecina to Yucatan pork belly, here are Mexican “Y” foods!

If you’re looking for even more Mexican food inspiration, be sure to check out 16 Mexican Foods That Start With W, 14 Mexican Foods That Start With X, and 8 Mexican Foods That Start With Z!

15 Mexican Foods That Start with the Letter Y

If you have a thing for food trivia, prepare to be intrigued, and kind of hungry for these Mexican “Y” foods.

1. Yecapixtla Cecina

One of the most famous dishes from Yecapixtla is cecina, a type of air-cured meat that is a specialty of the town of Yecapixtla in Morelos, Mexico.

It is made from beef that has been salted and dried for several days, giving it a rich, savory flavor.

The meat is then sliced thinly and served as a snack or used as an ingredient in various dishes.

2. Yuca

Yuca, also known as cassava, is a starchy root vegetable that is commonly used in Mexican cuisine.

Treat yuca like a potato – bake it, boil it, mash it, roast it, or fry it. 

I like my yuca french-fried with Mayo Ketchup (pink sauce).

3. Yema Bread

Yema bread is an artisanal bread from Oaxaca, Mexico. It is also called “egg yolk bread” or “pan de yema” in Spanish.

Pan de Yema is a sweet bread that is popular during the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico. The bread is made with egg yolks, sugar, flour, and butter, which gives it a rich and sweet flavor.

Pan de Yema is that it is sometimes shaped into different figures, such as skulls or animals, during the Day of the Dead celebrations.

4. Yucatan Pork Belly

Yucatan Pork Belly is a traditional Mexican dish made from crispy pork belly and a blend of spices. The pork is slow-cooked in rendered pork fat until it is tender and crispy. The dish is typically made with achiote paste, which gives it a reddish color and a slightly sweet and earthy flavor.

Yucatan Pork Belly is often cooked in a pit oven, called a pib, which is a traditional Mayan cooking method. The pork is wrapped in banana leaves and buried in the pit with hot coals, where it is left to cook for several hours. This cooking method gives the pork a unique smoky flavor.

5. Yam

Mexican yam is a root vegetable that is native to Mexico has a sweet, nutty flavor, and a starchy texture.

Mexican yams are often used in Mexican cuisine to make a variety of dishes, including soups, stews, and casseroles. 

Mexican wild yam (Dioscorea floribunda and Dioscorea villosa) is used for herbal remedies.

6. Yellow Squash

Mexican yellow squash, also known as calabaza squash or Mexican zucchini, is a type of summer squash that is commonly used in Mexican cuisine.

It is a small, round squash with a bright yellow color and a slightly sweeter flavor than zucchini. 

Wild or cultivated squash have been found in Mexico dating back to 9000 BC.

7. Yoyo (Mexican Sweet Bread)

Yoyo is a type of Mexican sweet bread that is named after the toy. Yoyo is made with a variety of ingredients, including sugar, flour, and butter.

The bread is typically shaped like a circle and has a sweet filling in the center. It is often topped with sugar or other sweet toppings.

Yoyo is sometimes called “ojo de buey,” which means “bull’s eye” in Spanish. This is because of the circular shape of the bread and the sweet filling in the center.

Related: 57 Popular Mexican Desserts (List)

8. Yogur con Frutas

Yogur con Frutas, also known as Mexican Yogurt Parfaits, is a popular breakfast dish in Mexico. It is made by layering sweet-flavored yogurt with chopped fruits, granola, and coconut flakes.

Honey or vanilla yogurt is typically used, and milk is added to thin out the yogurt to a pourable but still thick consistency. The chopped fruit can vary but often includes strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, and pineapple.

9. Yucatan Tamales

Yucatan tamales are traditionally served during the Day of Candelaria, a religious festival that takes place on February 2nd.

The festival celebrates the presentation of Jesus at the Temple and is a time for families to come together and share food.

Related: 17 Sauces for Tamales (Easy + Tasty)

10. Yellow Plum

Mexican yellow plums are also named Ciruela or Jocote, a derivation of the Nahuatl word: xocotl, which means sour fruit. The ciruela Mexicana grows in tropical areas of Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America like Brazil.

11. Yaca

In Mexican cuisine, yaca is often used as a meat substitute in vegetarian and vegan dishes, as its texture is similar to pulled pork or chicken when cooked. 

Yaca, also known as jackfruit, is native to Southeast Asia but also grown in Mexico. It is a large, spiky fruit that can weigh up to 80 pounds and has a sweet, fruity flavor.

12. Yellow Sapote

Mexican yellow sapote, also known as yellow mamey or zapote amarillo, is a tropical fruit that is native to Central and South America, including Mexico.

Yellow sapote is a small, round fruit with a yellow-orange flesh that is sweet and creamy in texture. Mexican yellow sapote is often eaten fresh or used to make desserts, such as ice cream, smoothies, and custards.

13. Yucatan Tacos

Yucatan Tacos are made with slow-roasted pork called cochinita pibil. The pork is marinated in achiote paste, orange juice, and other spices, giving it a distinct flavor.

The tacos are typically served with habanero chili sauce or tanned onions.

14. Yucatán Huayas

Huayas, also known as huaya fruit or guaya, are a type of fruit that is native to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

Huayas are similar in taste and texture to lychees, rambutan, and longan, but they are indigenous to northern South America, Central America, and the tropics.

The fruit has a thin, rigid shell that can be easily broken with the teeth or a knife to reveal the light pink seed. 

15. Yellow Dragon Fruit

The Mexican yellow dragon fruit (also called pitahaya) has a bright yellow thick scaly skin.

The fruit is smaller than the red and pink variety. The flesh of the yellow pitaya is white and contains many small black editable seeds.

Mexican Foods That Start With Y FAQs

Is yorique considered Mexican cuisine?

Yorique is not considered Mexican cuisine. Yorique is a Dominican stew made with yucca and meat.

Is yautia a Mexican food?

Yautia is not a Mexican food. It is a root vegetable that is commonly used in Caribbean and Latin American cuisine, including the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Cuba.

Is yacón considered a Mexican food?

Yacón is not Mexican in origin. Yacón (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is a Peruvian ground apple. This Andean root crop is eaten raw like a fruit.

Is yellow corn a Mexican food?

Corn was first domesticated in southern Mexico circa 10,000 years ago. Yellow corn is an evolutionary mutation of white corn.

The Roundup

I hope you enjoyed this roundup of Mexican foods that start with the letter Y. From from Yecapixtla cecina to Yucatan pork belly, there are plenty of delicious options to choose from.