Easter is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by diving into the world of natural egg dyeing? Today, we're exploring a rainbow of colors you can achieve using ingredients from your kitchen. From beets to blueberries, the possibilities are endless, and the process is surprisingly simple.
First things first, you'll need to prepare your dye. Pick one of the following options and simmer it with 2 cups of water (covered) for 15 to 30 minutes:
- 2 cups shredded beets for reddish-pink on white eggs, maroon on brown eggs
- 1/4 cup ground turmeric for yellow eggs
- 2 cups chopped purple cabbage & 1/4 cup ground turmeric (two separate soaks) for green eggs
- 2 cups chopped purple cabbage for blue on white eggs, green on brown eggs
- 2 cups blueberries for blue eggs
- 2 cups dried hibiscus flowers for lavender or indigo eggs
Once your dye is ready, strain the liquid and add 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar for every cup of strained dye. This will help the color adhere to the eggs.
Next, it's time to dye your hard-boiled eggs. Soak them in the dye liquid and refrigerate. The number of dips in the dye is even more important than the duration of time spent in the dye. The more stints in the dye, the deeper the color will be. You can really play with the final color to achieve the hue you desire.
After the eggs have reached your desired color, dry them and polish with a little oil to make them shine. The final result? Beautifully colored eggs that are safe to eat and a testament to the wonders of natural dyeing.
Photo by The Kitchn.com
So, this Easter, why not experiment with different natural ingredients to find new colors, or soak in different dye baths for a layering effect? Just keep in mind that the actual shade of the final eggs may change when exposed to air and dried. Happy dyeing!
Recipe adapted from The Kitchn.com.