National Cabbage Day (February 17th)
Beyond the popularity of the Cabbage Patch Dolls from the 1980s and beyond, cabbage sometimes doesn’t get as much honor as it deserves. National Cabbage Day is here to change that story!
History of National Cabbage Day
Dating back at least 6000 years, cabbage is a vegetable that has origins in Asia and the Mediterranean, and acts as a staple for foods from many different cultures. Easy to grow and with many varieties, cabbage offers a hearty option for food storage over the winter time, especially in root cellars, which is probably why it can be well utilized in places that are cold and dark.
Cabbage comes in a few varieties, including green, purple, red and Napa cabbage. Though it looks a lot like lettuce, cabbage is not actually related to lettuce at all. Part of the cruciferae family, cabbage is a cousin to other vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower and the delightful brussel sprout, which can obviously be celebrated on its own day: Eat Brussel Sprouts Day!
National Cabbage Day was founded to pay special attention to this vegetable that is especially great when enjoyed during the winter time. Perhaps that’s why the day was chosen for this month!
How to Celebrate National Cabbage Day
Celebrate the taste and nutritional value of this vegetable on National Cabbage Day! Consider getting involved in the day with some of these ideas:
Eat Some Cabbage
Many people consider cabbage something their grandmothers made, but it’s time to bring back this classic! Affordable and nutritious, cabbage has gotten a bad rap but can really be made into some delicious and delightful dishes. Whether used fresh or cooked, cabbage offers a way to add some unique flavors and crunch to an otherwise boring menu.
Try out some of these ideas for cabbage Recipes:
- Napa Cabbage Wedge Salad. Forget the iceberg lettuce and opt for a wedge salad that contains bacon, green onions and a delicious sesame ranch dressing.
- Kimchi. A traditional Korean dish, Kimchi can be made from various vegetables (including cabbage, of course!) that are salted and fermented.
- Fried Shrimp with Cabbage Slaw. Cabbage makes an amazing complementary side dish to seafood, like fried shrimp or even fish tacos.
Learn Fun Facts About Cabbage
Get involved with celebrating National Cabbage Day by learning and sharing some bits of trivia about this important vegetable. Try out some of these facts to get started:
-
Cabbage is often associated with the Irish dish, corned beef and cabbage, which is often made and eaten in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in March.
-
Cabbage is nutritionally sound, offering Health benefits such as fiber, iron, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, potassium, calcium, manganese and much more.
-
Cabbage is a low-calorie food that is great for anyone to eat. In fact, one cup of cabbage only has fifteen calories.
-
Famed baseball player Babe Ruth used to wear a cabbage leaf under his baseball cap during each Game, apparently for luck, as baseball players are rather superstitious.
Comments
Post a Comment