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National Kale Day

Food · The first Wednesday in October

A day for kale, the sturdy leafy green from the cabbage family, and the many ways people cook, bake and toss it into meals.

National Kale Day falls on Wednesday, October 6, 2027. That is 344 days away.

Kale is a leafy green in the same plant family as cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. It does not form a tight head like cabbage. Instead it grows loose, sturdy leaves on a central stalk, and they can be curly, flat or deeply crinkled depending on the variety. This national day falls on the first Wednesday in October.

The leaves are tougher than lettuce, which is the whole point. Kale holds up to heat, so it can be simmered in soup, sauteed with garlic, or roasted until the edges turn crisp and papery. Raw kale works too, though it helps to rub the chopped leaves with a little oil and salt first. They soften and darken in a minute or two, as if someone had talked them down.

Lacinato kale, sometimes called Tuscan or dinosaur kale, has long, narrow, bumpy leaves that are deep blue green. Curly kale is the frilly one most grocery stores carry. Red Russian kale has flatter leaves with purple stems. Each cooks a little differently, and the thick center ribs are often stripped out and saved for stock or chopped fine.

Kale is also a cool weather crop. Gardeners often say a light frost makes the leaves taste sweeter, which is one reason it shows up at farmers markets as the days get shorter.

Ways to celebrate

• Try massaging raw kale with oil and salt for a simple salad.
• Roast torn kale leaves into crisp chips in the oven.
• Look for lacinato or Red Russian kale at a farmers market.
• Stir a handful of chopped kale into soup or pasta.
• Share a favorite kale recipe with a friend or neighbor.

Dates

All national days on October 6

Also on October 6

• National Noodle Day
• Mad Hatter Day
• National Badger Day

Categories: Food days