Vegetables that are actually fruits

While we commonly think of fruits as sweet and often eaten as dessert or snacks, there are several vegetables that are technically classified as fruits based on their botanical definition. Here are some examples of vegetables that are actually fruits:

Tomatoes: Despite being used in savoury dishes and commonly categorized as a vegetable, tomatoes are, botanically speaking, fruits. They develop from the ovary of a flowering plant and contain seeds.

Cucumbers: Cucumbers are another example of vegetables that are considered fruits. They grow from the flower of the cucumber plant and contain seeds.

Bell Peppers: Bell peppers, including green, red, yellow, and orange varieties, are technically fruits. They develop from the flowering part of the plant and contain seeds.

Eggplants: Eggplants are fruits that are often used as a vegetable in cooking. They grow from the flowering portion of the plant and contain seeds.

Pumpkins: Pumpkins, along with other squash varieties like butternut squash and acorn squash, are fruits. They develop from the ovary of a flowering plant and contain seeds.

Olives: Even though it also wasn’t entirely clear to what food group olives belong, we never would have thought they are a fruit. But they are because they come from the flower of the olive tree. And that technically makes them a fruit.

In everyday language and cooking, these "fruits" are commonly referred to as vegetables due to their taste, texture, and how they are typically used in savoury dishes.