We thought finding vegetables with the letter L would be more difficult. However, it was not.
On our list, there is a widely known vegetable worldwide and its use is widely known.
On the other hand, we found exotic and not-so-well-known plants with very specific tastes and characteristics.
And all this to present ideal and perfectly healthy meals to you.
This is our list.
The most common vegetables that start with L
1. Lakota Squash
Lakota Squash is a winter squash. It has a thick orange peel and green stripes. Its shape resembles a pear or a teardrop.
It originated in the United States and was cultivated by the Lakota Indians, after which it got its name.
It is a delicious winter squash and can be found on various menus. Once ripe, it is excellent for baking, and its seeds are a perfect and healthy snack.
It can be used raw, in salads, and baked. Squash has a lot of pectins, more than apples or beets.
Pectin binds to itself poisonous gases from the intestines and throws them out. The high cellulose content in squash means it has a significant role in “cleansing” the body.
It is highly valued for its sweet, nutty taste. The seeds can be roasted or even pressed and used as oil.
The flowers of this gourd are edible.
2. Leaf Celery
This type of celery is also called Chinese celery or Nan Ling celery. It is mainly grown in East Asian countries for its edible and tasty leaves and stems.
The stalks of this celery differ from those of western celery because they are thinner, more slender and curved. Also, unlike Western celery, both leaves and stems are used.
Celery, fresh and crunchy, with few calories and many nutrients – is an excellent food for hydrating the body.
Celery juice has recently become a popular drink, with proponents claiming.
Drinking the juice on an empty stomach every morning improves or cures everything that ails you, from gut problems to autoimmune conditions and even mental health issues.
It has a very intense taste. Therefore, it is an excellent seasoning for soups, stews, salads, and decoration.
One large celery stalk contains only seven calories and 60 ml of water. This means that six stalks of celery provide only 42 calories, and you get a cup and a half of water simultaneously.
Research also shows that chewing, which celery requires, reduces hunger and stimulates the release of satiety hormones – making it a smart snack choice for dieters.
3. Leeks
Leeks belong to the alliums group. It means it belongs to the same type of vegetable as garlic, chives, shallots, and onions.
There are many possibilities for its consumption. Neglecting it is unfair as it has a specific taste and many health benefits.
It can be eaten raw, in salads, soups, meals and sauces.
It goes well with other vegetables, meat and can also be fried with eggs or used for fillings or pasta.
Indeed, such a modest vegetable and so many possibilities.
According to nutritionists, leeks are a real treasure that should be on the table as often as possible.
It is an excellent “fighter” against fats and high blood pressure. Moreover, thanks to the fibers, it normalizes digestion.
The specific combination of ingredients with high nutritional value makes leeks an essential part of a well-balanced diet.
One of the essential abilities of this vegetable is regulating blood sugar levels. Vitamins C and B6, folic acid, iron and manganese, which are abundant in these vegetables, are the main reasons for this.
The mentioned high-value substances do not slow down the absorption of sugar from the digestive system. In this way, they influence the normalization of sugar metabolism and, thus its level in the blood.
Leeks are also great for overall health improvement. It is an excellent source of fiber, which is great for activating dormant digestion, and calcium for healthy bones.
In addition, it can also act as a mild antiseptic and thus help the body fight infections.
4. Lentils
Lentils belong to the legume variety. It is an annual plant with the shape of a lentil, which is how it got its name.
This vegetable is a creeper, it grows up to 40 cm and the seeds grow in pods, usually two seeds in each pod.
Lentils are used all over the world in cooking. In India, lentil is a staple food. It cooks in tick sauce and usually eats with rice.
Elsewhere in the world, lentils are most often used to prepare soups and stews.
It can be used as a supplement to a diet rich in nutrients. Its health benefits are genuinely various.
It contains plenty of fiber, protein and a large number of vitamins.
Lentils are the most superior legumes due to their rich folate, potassium, iron, zinc and magnesium sources.
Moreover, because of phosphorus, calcium, potassium, vitamins B1 and B9, prebiotics, origin plant proteins and numerous other ingredients.
Lentils are an excellent food for all supporters of healthy lifestyles. It is especially recommended for pregnant women, nursing mothers, growing children and people with diabetes.
Compared to other legumes, lentils have the highest percentage of insoluble fiber.
The uniqueness of lentils is reflected in their ability to be digested slowly (insoluble fibers also contribute to slower digestion). Because of that, people with diabetes often choose this vegetable.
Moreover, lentils are far richer in polyphenols than other legumes.
Among other things, the polyphenolic compounds of lentils play a significant role in maintaining blood sugar levels.
In addition, the consumption of polyphenols can play a vital role in health by regulating metabolism, weight loss and chronic diseases.
5. Lettuce
Lettuce comes in different sizes and shapes and is available all year round. It is rich in fiber, iron, folate and vitamin C. It also contains less sodium and fat.
Salads are rich in fiber, which facilitates the work of the intestines. They are beneficial in diets because they slow down sugar absorption, thus enabling their gradual utilization.
Vitamins B1, B2, and B6, which are necessary for the exchange of substances and nerve function and for the creation of proteins, are found in all types of green salads.
Therefore, by including green salad in our menu, we supply our bodies with all the necessary nutrients.
You can consume fresh salad with lemon juice and your favorite cold-pressed oil – olive, pumpkin, soybean, linseed, or sunflower.
Moreover, you can enrich the taste of the salad with fresh herbs – basil, thyme, rosemary, thyme and marjoram.
In addition to facilitating digestion, they reduce the need for salt. Remember – green salad should always be prepared fresh to preserve firmness and vitamin value.
Lettuce is recommended for people who suffer from constipation, and to some extent, it helps people who suffer from headaches.
You can use it for peaceful and deep sleep. However, the most valuable medicinal ingredient of the salad is its milky juice.
Lettuce juice contains a substance similar to opium, and when lemon juice is added, it can be used as a sedative.
Even ancient Greek doctors treated insomnia by recommending large amounts of green salad.
6. Lollo Rosso
Lollo Rosso or Red coral, is a type of lettuce. And it’s a green salad with fancy narrow curled leaves, otherwise known as coral lettuce.
The leaves of this salad have a delicate taste with a slight hint of bitterness.
It is precisely this taste that makes it specific and very popular.
It is used for different salads and is often used in restaurants as decoration.
This very decorative type of lettuce gives salad texture, volume, and vivid colors.
Its curled leaves are convenient. Its twisted leaves retain the sauce, so it is tastier and does not allow all of it to fall to the bottom.
It can be mixed with other types of green salads and thus get a slightly different taste and texture.
It is excellently combined with fruit, for example, and old, mature cheeses.
If you take care of your diet and want to eat healthily, this salad is ideal both in terms of taste and appearance.
Instead of a tortilla, you can wrap it up and add meat, cheese, or another vegetable.
You have a perfect and well-balanced meal.
7. Lotus root
You must have seen the lotus flower many times before. We assume you didn’t know that its roots are often used as a vegetable in many recipes in Sri Lanka.
The root can also be used to make tea.
The burst of lotus root is also consumed for its medicinal effects. It is also a lotus root previously dried and finely ground.
As such, you can add it to soups or any other dish.
Moreover, it can be fried, boiled, or stewed. No matter how it is prepared, it always remains tender and crunchy.
The Chinese consume it, calling it a “cooling” food consumed to restore body balance.
Lotus root has numerous health benefits. It is full of nutrients, vitamins, minerals and fiber.
It is a good ally for weight loss, poor digestion, and various types of inflammation.
It is also excellent in managing stress, improves circulation and the general condition of the heart.
8. Lemongrass
Lemongrass is also called “barbed wire” and originates from tropical islands.
In Sri Lanka, it is used in cooking and can also be found in some Brazilian teas.
Whether fresh or dried, Lemongrass parts are a rich source of minerals such as magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper and potassium.
Potassium is an essential component of cells and cellular fluids. In addition, minerals play a vital role in regulating blood pressure.
Fresh lemongrass is available on the market throughout the year. Many households in Asia grow this lemon-flavored plant for personal use.
If you buy lemongrass in the store, choose a fresh plant with a fragrant note of rose.
Fresh parts of the plant, such as stems and leaves, play an essential role in preparing many Asian specialties.
When chopping or crushing the plant, a specific lemony smell is released, which comes from the citral essential oil.
Lemongrass is one of the most popular ingredients in Asian cuisine with a particular citrus scent, which is why it is excellently combined with foods such as fish, seafood, poultry and other meat.
Moreover, lemongrass is an ideal addition to soups, stir-fries, various marinades and curries in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia.
This herb is perfect for the nervous system and overworked muscles in the body.
It is usually consumed orally, applied directly to the skin, or inhaled as aromatherapy.
Due to its soothing properties, it improves the quality and duration of sleep. Because of these properties, it is recommended for people who have sleeping problems.
It can be used as tea or as an essential oil.
Its use in food or drinks is reduced to lemongrass leaves, usually added as a lemon flavor in herbal teas.
This plant is used in production as a fragrance, i.e., aroma for deodorants, soaps and other cosmetics.
9. Lima bean
Lima bean, as its name suggests, is a type of bean. It is more sensitive than ordinary beans and does not tolerate too low temperatures.
In addition, it does not tolerate excessively high temperatures with high humidity.
This bean has been cultivated and consumed for thousands of years. Like all legumes, it is a good source of protein and fiber.
It has a mild creamy taste that goes well with other vegetables in different dishes. Because of this creamy taste, it is also known as “butterbeans” because its texture resembles butter.
You can use it to make salads, cooked dishes and spreads. In addition, it can be served as a side dish.
It is very healthy and, considering that it contains a large number of fibers, it is excellent for regulating body weight.
Also, it successfully regulates the sugar level in the blood, so you will inevitably be full for longer and not want to snack between meals.
However, fresh lima beans are tough to find and buy. It can usually be found canned, frozen or dried.
10. Lacinto Kale
Lacinto Kale, or “cavolo nero” in Italian, means “black cabbage”. It is a type of kale with a long tradition in Italian cuisine, especially in Tuscany.
Like other kale types, you can blanch it and fried with other ingredients. For example, you can add anchovies to it.
It is usually used in soups and pasta but can also be eaten raw in some salads.
For example, in Tuscan cuisine, it is traditionally used in a thick soup made from ingredients cooked the day before.
It is very healthy and should be included in the daily diet in any form. You can make a sauce, add it to a smoothie, or be lightly fried in olive oil with garlic.
Although it was unfairly neglected in earlier years, this superfood has recently gained more importance.
It has few calories and is excellent for intestinal health. It helps digestion, reduces constipation and lowers blood sugar amount.
It contains vitamins A and K and is suitable for the general body condition.
11. Lebanese cucumber
This type of cucumber is specific. It has almost no seeds at all. So, if you don’t like seeds in cucumbers, especially when they are very ripe, this type of cucumber is just for you.
They have a very mild and pleasant taste.
The fruits can be eaten fresh, whole or cut into slices. They are best when they are harvested about 4 cm long.
It is used worldwide and in any form. For example, cucumber can be pickled or used as an ingredient in many salads or other dishes.
Otherwise, it is perfect for skin and body hydrating because cucumber is 95% made of water.
This also makes it a low-calorie food that will fill you up quickly and help hydrate the body, especially on hot summer days.
Although it is a valuable food in the summer months due to its nutritional value, it is recommended to consume it throughout the year.
They are full of vitamin C and contain the perfect proportion of sodium and potassium, which help expel excess water and toxins from the body.
Cucumber is one of the healthiest foods with the fewest calories. It contains only 15 calories per 100 g.
It does not contain fat or cholesterol. Simply ideal for consumption.
Other vegetables that start with L
- Lagos bologi
- Land crees
Final thoughts
There are a lot of vegetables on our list that you can combine.
The most important thing is that it is very healthy and its preparation does not require much time.
This vegetable can be prepared very simply, quickly and satisfy all your senses and enrich your meals with exoticism.
If we forgot something, write us.
If not, try one of our suggestions. We are absolutely sure that you will like it.
Bon appetite!
Read also: Vegetables That Start With J / Vegetables That Start With K
