Vegetables That Start With C: The Full List [UPDATED]

Looking for vegetables that start with C? If you are looking for cooking inspiration or to win a game this is the most complete and updated list you’ll find.

Browse through the most complete list of veggies (and some herbs and fruits that are enjoyed as vegetables like cucumbers) that start with the letter C and get inspired for your next meal. The best thing about vegetables is that they can be eaten as healthy snacks and in salads.

This is the most complete list of vegetables starting with C

And since you are already here make sure to check the post with fruits that start with K to get even more ideas and inspiration.

The Most Complete List of Vegetables that Start with C

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Cabbage

The cabbage is a large plant whose leaves form a tightly packed head. It forms the characteristic round structure that may be headed or loose-headed . The cabbage head generally has a white (light green in red cabbages) core of tightly folded leaves that resemble the shape of an elongated globe.

Carrots

The carrot plant is biennial and propagated by seed every year. It produces its seeds on fine-leaved, hairy stems. Its root is tapered, conical and pointed.

Cauliflower

The cauliflower is a plant that forms a head that resembles a large white flower-head. It may also be paler in colour, with smaller pale flower-heads.

The cauliflower tastes like a bland version of broccoli with a slight cabbage aftertaste.

The best way to serve it is cooked until tender then sprinkled with breadcrumbs and baked.

Celery

A leafy plant the stalks of which are used for cooking. The colour of the stalks is green, variegated with pale green.

It tastes like a crisp broccoli stem, light and fresh.

Corn (Sweet)

This plant grows to a height of about one and a half meters. It has alternate leaves; the latter are arrow-shaped and broad at the base, tapering towards the top. The ear is long and narrow, glabrous , yellow or white.

Cactus

This plan is a vegetable, believes it or not! Popular in some forms of cuisine is definitely an interesting one to try next time.

Cucumber

Cucumbers are technically fruit but we eat them as vegetables, so they go on the veg list!

The cucumber plant bears leaves and fruits that resemble those of the melon. The fruit is much longer and thinner than that of the melon, however. The cucumber plant has a creeping habit and is grown as an annual vegetable.

Cucumber tastes like a cold, crisp zucchini that is great for eating with dip or in salads. It has a very mild taste which makes it suitable for pickling.

Cucumbers are incredibly delicious, crunchy and refreshing

Celeriac

The celeriac tastes like a mellow type of celery with the leaves removed.

The root looks like an enlarged version of parsley root or parsnip, but it tastes like celery, hence its name (celery root).

Cress

Cress is a spicy, peppery green that is often used for garnishing. It has a small, but tasty leaves and a long stem.

Courgette flowers

Courgette (zucchini) flowers are a popular and tasty treat in Italy. The flower is the male part of the courgette plant, and it will drain sap from the fruit until they die.

They taste like a mild Italian squash, and are great battered and fried.

They have a texture similar to eggplant – tender with a slight crunch. When stuffed with cheese or other ingredients they are simply heavenly!

Crookneck squash

The crookneck squash looks like a cream-coloured version of the patty pan.

Its fruits are cylindrical in shape and slightly curved, with ridges running lengthwise. Its flowers are yellowish green and its skin is thin and edible even when unripe.

Common beans

Also known as the string bean, common beans are pale green or yellow and shaped like a long, thin, curved pod.

Chicory

The chicory plant is a leafy vegetable that grows to about one metre in height. The leaves are long and narrow with a slightly jagged edge.

Chicory tastes like a slightly bitter and earthy lettuce.

Chicory is mainly used in salads, but has started to appear in some trendy cafes as a replacement for coffee!

Collard greens

These are a leafy green that is considered to be from the same family as cabbage, kale and brussels sprouts.

It tastes like a cross between kale and cabbage, with a more subdued flavour than either. It is great in soups or on its own.

Chives

Chives are a type of herb, and have a very mild onion flavour which makes them great for adding “zing” to salads or other dishes.

Cherry tomato

Cherry tomatoes are round and cherry-sized, growing on plants that resemble the potato plant.

The tomato tastes like a slightly less sweet version of a normal tomato.

Use them in salads, or to add flavour to other dishes!

While they are not technically a vegetable but rather a fruit that are so commonly served as veggies that they had to be included in this list of vegetables that start with C.

Cherry tomatoes deserved a spot on the list of veggies starting with the letter c

Chayote squash

The chayote squash looks like a light green, pear-shaped vegetable. It has dark green ridges running along its sides and pale green flesh.

Chayote tastes like a mild type of cucumber, with the skin left on.

Cassava

Cassava is a starchy, tuberous root. It is not to be confused with yucca, which is also sometimes known as cassava.

The root looks like a long brown stick – it has bark on the outside and an off-white fleshy inside. Its leaves are very large and green or blueish green in colour.

Caper

The caper is a flowering plant that resembles the cabbage or radish. Its fruits are small buds, like large grains of salt.

Capers taste like a pickled version of common garden peas!

Canary melon

This plant produces an egg-shaped fruit with thin, yellow rough skin and orange flesh. The seeds are also edible.

It tastes somewhat similar to honeydew melon, but slightly less sweet. The seeds have a nutty flavour that can be removed by boiling them in water for 20 minutes first!

It’s tecnically a fruit but a lot of people use it on salads as a vegetable which is why we included it in this list with vegetables starting with C.

Camas or camash roots

Camas looks like a type of sweet potato, except it is white with blue or purple splotches.

The roots are starchy and can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a somewhat nutty flavour which makes them popular in salads!

Candy roaster squash

The candy roaster tastes similar to a butternut squash, with a sweeter flavour and creamy texture.

Cardoon or artichoke thistle

This is a vegetable that grows well in climates with a strong heat.

The cardoon tastes like a mild artichoke, and is usually boiled or steamed then served as a side dish.

Catsear

The catsear is part of the dandelion family, and grows leaves shaped like a heart. The plant also has small yellow flower buds. The roots are edible too!

Catsear tastes similar to broccoli, but with a slightly bitter flavour that can be overcome by boiling it in several changes of water before cooking it.

Celtuce

Celtuce is low in calories and high in calcium, phosphorus and iron. It has a mild flavour and can be served raw or cooked like other vegetables.

Chard

Chard is also called leaf beet because of its red-veined leaves. Its ribs are usually white or yellow; however, chard with rainbow coloured ribs that look like Swiss chard are becoming more popular and can be purchased at some farmers markets.

The leaves taste like a cross between spinach and beet leaves, and the ribs have a slightly sweeter taste than the leaves themselves.

Ceylon spinach

This leafy green is a relative of the New Zealand spinach. It has a long, narrow shape and its leaves are finer than those of the New Zealand variety.

Ceylon spinach tastes like a cross between regular spinach and lettuce with a slightly more earthy flavour.

Chinese artichoke

The Chinese artichoke is different from the vegetable commonly known as “artichoke” because it comes from a different plant and has a more yellowish colour than the globe-shaped purple or green artichokes.

Chinese Artichokes are usually served braised, deep fried in light batter or stuffed.

Chinese eggplant

The Chinese eggplant is a type of aubergine. It has a relatively long, narrow shape with purple skin and soft, edible seeds inside.

It tastes similar to regular eggplant but slightly sweeter. You can use it in most recipes that call for this vegetable!

Chinese leaves or Napa cabbage

This type of cabbage has long, thick cylindrical leaves that are lighter in colour than regular cabbage.

The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, but should always be added to soups and dishes near the end of cooking time because this vegetable becomes limp quickly!

Common purslane

This is one of the most common weeds growing in the wild. It has fleshy leaves that are slightly pointy on top and round underneath. They have a crisp texture that tastes somewhat similar to water chestnuts or cucumbers!

Corn salad leafy greens

Corn salad leaves look like the baby leaves at the top of corn stalks. They are flat, narrow and dark green in colour with a slightly sour or spicy flavour!

Chinese mallow

The Chinese mallow is a mild tasting vegetable with long, green leaves that have white or purple veins running through them.

The stalks grow out of the base of the plant and are thicker than regular mallow leaves because they are eaten as a vegetable ! The stalk tastes similar to celery but it is much crunchier!

Chinese longbean

This is a long-bean variety that can grow up to 3 feet in length. it has an oblong shape, and tastes similar to regular green beans, but the pods are slightly thinner and longer!

Curly kale

Curly kale has frilly edges with diamond or spearhead shapes. It also contains small, tightly packed clusters of leaves. It has a slightly more bitter flavour than regular kale, but it can be used in the same way!

Curly kale is a great addition to salads and stews so next time you are looking to cook with vegetables that start with C you should give this one a try + it’s easy to find at supermarkets and farmers markets as well.

Curly kale is a great addition to your meals

Chinese broccoli

This vegetable has dark green, leafy stalks and small florets with a yellow or purple bud in the center.

The stalks are slightly sweeter than broccoli stems, but both can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves taste similar to regular broccoli leaves!

Cos lettuce

Cos lettuce has crunchy, light green leaves and a spreading shape. The stalks grow out of the base of the plant rather than off of individual leaves. It has a subtle flavour similar to iceberg or butter lettuce!

Caigua

Caigua is a type of cucumber that looks like a long, skinny green and white gourd with small edible seeds in the center.

It tastes tangy and slightly bitter when eaten raw but deliciously sweet when cooked!

Chinese celery

The Chinese celery stalks grow out of the base of the plant instead of the leaves, and they resemble a bunch of sticks! It has a sturdier texture than regular celery because it is less stringy – so you can add it to dishes that need longer cooking times without having to worry about your celery getting mushy!

Chaya

Chaya is a small leafy tree that only grows up to 10 metres in height. It has large leaves and can be found growing on roadsides, in open fields or on plantations.

It tastes similar to spinach with a little bit of onion mixed in!

Chinese mint

This herb has long, jagged green leaves that have a mild, slightly lemony taste. It has a refreshing flavour that can be used in soups, salads or to garnish dishes!

Chickweek

This is a swamp plant that has long stalks with small yellow flowers and green wispy leaves.

Chickweek is said to taste like asparagus, but more grassy! You can eat it raw or as a cooked vegetable!

There you have it, some of the most common vegetables starting with C. I hope this article was helpful and that you get inspired to try something new.

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