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Eat Brussels Sprouts Day

Food · January 31

A food day for Brussels sprouts, the tiny cabbage-like buds that turn sweet and nutty when roasted, and how people cook and share them.

Eat Brussels Sprouts Day falls on Sunday, January 31, 2027. That is 96 days away.

Brussels sprouts are small green buds that grow in rows up a thick, tall stalk. Each one looks like a cabbage shrunk down to the size of a walnut, and that resemblance is honest, since they belong to the same plant family as cabbage, kale and broccoli.

Their reputation depends a lot on how they are cooked. Boiled too long, they turn soft and grey and give off a sulfur smell that many people remember from childhood dinners. Roasted or seared in a hot pan, they behave like a different vegetable. The outer leaves crisp up, the cut sides brown, and the bitterness gives way to something sweet and nutty.

Marking the day mostly means eating them, ideally in a way that changes someone's mind. Halved and roasted with oil and salt is the classic method. Shaved raw into thin ribbons, they make a crunchy slaw. Bacon, lemon, parmesan, honey and balsamic vinegar all show up often as partners.

If you shop for them at a farmers market in the colder months, you may find them still attached to the stalk, which looks a bit like a green club studded with knobs. Snapping them off yourself takes a minute, and the stalk makes a good conversation piece on the counter while you work.

Ways to celebrate

• Try roasting halved sprouts cut side down until deeply browned.
• Shave a few raw sprouts into a lemony slaw.
• Look for sprouts sold on the stalk at a local market.
• Share a favorite sprouts recipe with someone who claims to dislike them.

Dates

All national days on January 31

Also on January 31

• National Hot Chocolate Day
• National Backward Day
• Brandy Alexander Day
• National Gorilla Suit Day
• Inspire Your Heart with Art Day

Categories: Food days