Funny Food Names That Will Tickle Your Taste Buds

I am a self-proclaimed word nerd. As a former journalist, I truly love words and language. Odd words or those that sound funny and silly, tickle me and make me smile. Kerfuffle, mugwump, confuzzled, conundrum, canoodle, bamboozle, collywobbles and so many more are among my favorites.

Every now and again I’ll run across dishes and recipes with names that definitely catch my eye and make me chuckle. Some are humorous, quirky or downright amusing – especially to me as an English speaker.

Most of these dishes sound delicious. I would certainly eat them or try my best to cook them but that doesn’t stop me from giggling when thinking about their unique names.

Rumbledethumps: A Scottish dish of mashed potatoes, cabbage, and onions, baked with cheese. Sounds like a medieval insult or Harry Potter character.
Bubble and Squeak: An English dish of fried mashed potatoes and cabbage; named after the funny noises it makes while cooking.
Spotted Dick: A suet steamed pudding with dried fruits (often raisins). I think we’re all thinking the same thing and it’s not G-rated.
Singin’ Hinnies: A scone-like treat or griddle cake that “sings” as it sizzles in the pan. It’s the hinnies that get me every time.
Eton Mess: A delicious yet chaotic English dessert made of meringue, strawberries, and cream, supposedly invented by accident – hence the mess part of the name.
Goober Peas: A Southern term for boiled peanuts, derived from the African word for peanuts. Yes, I’m a child and goober is funny.
Schweinshaxe: A crispy pork knuckle that sounds even more hilarious when repeated five times fast.
Pets de Nonne: Meaning “nun’s farts,” these are light and doughnuts/pastries. No pets or nuns were harmed in the making of these sweet treats.
Bomboloni: Light and fluffy Italian doughnuts filled with custard or cream that sound like tiny, delicious musical bombs.
Lutefisk: A gelatinous Nordic white fish dish soaked in lye, which is often the butt of jokes.
Walkie Talkies: A South African street food dish consisting of chicken feet, heads and beaks. No offense, but I’m not that adventurous. Instead I harken back for my youth and the days of trips to Radio Shack.
Fufu: A West African starchy side dish of pounded root vegetables that's often eaten with stews. It has a doughy consistency similar to mashed potatoes, but it sounds so delicate and fancy.

This list barely scratches the surface. And while sounding amusing, it’s good to try new dishes. Bonus – if you have kids and tell them what’s for supper, I guarantee you’ll have some laughs around the dinner table.