A little reason to celebrate
National Walnut Day
Food ยท May 17
A day for the walnut, the wrinkled tree nut that turns up in brownies, salads, breads and plain handfuls from the shell.
National Walnut Day falls on Monday, May 17, 2027. That is 202 days away.
Walnuts are the seeds of walnut trees, sealed inside a hard shell that splits into two neat halves. The nut inside looks a bit like a tiny brain, folds and all, which may be the only food that gets compared to an organ and still sounds appealing.
The flavor is rich and slightly bitter, mostly from the thin papery skin on the kernel. Toasting softens that bitterness and brings out a warmer, buttery taste. A few minutes in a dry pan is enough, and the kitchen tells you when they are ready.
In American kitchens, walnuts show up in banana bread, brownies, cookies and coffee cake. They also go into salads with apples or pears, get chopped over oatmeal, or end up in a bowl on the counter with a nutcracker beside it. The English walnut is the kind most often sold in stores. Black walnuts are native to North America and have a stronger, earthier taste and a shell that is famously hard to crack.
Walnuts are high in oil, so they can go stale or rancid if left out too long. Many cooks keep them in the refrigerator or freezer, where they hold their flavor much longer. A shelled walnut that smells like old paint has gone past its best.
Ways to celebrate
- Toast a handful of walnuts in a dry pan and taste the difference.
- Bake banana bread or brownies with chopped walnuts folded in.
- Crack a few walnuts from the shell with a nutcracker.
- Add walnuts and sliced pear to a simple green salad.
- Look for black walnuts at a local market and compare flavors.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday, May 17 |
| 2027 | Monday, May 17 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, May 17 |
| 2029 | Thursday, May 17 |
| 2030 | Friday, May 17 |
Also on May 17
Categories: Food days