Description
These naturally dyed Easter eggs are rustic, beautiful and so fun to make! These eggs use the bright hues from blueberries, red beets, red cabbage, onion skins and turmeric to yield hues ranging from robin egg blue, to deep maroon.
Ingredients
Colors
Light/robin egg blue – 4 cups red cabbage (works best on white eggs)
Yellow – 1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric (only works on white eggs)
Maroon – 3 cups yellow onion skins, 1 cup red onion skins, 3/4 cup shredded red beet (yields mostly the same color in white and brown eggs)
Teal blue – 3 cups blueberry (only works on blue eggs; brown eggs is a light/off green)
7 cups water
3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
White eggs
Nylon stocking, cut into 5-inch pieces
Herbs, flowers, clovers
Instructions
1. Choose which color you would like to dye your eggs (or you can set up different pots and with the different colors). Add the ingredient (cabbage, turmeric, onion skins/beet, or blueberry) to a large pot with 8 cups of water.
2. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 40 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or strainer, strain the water to remove the cabbage, onion skins/beet, or blueberries. It is okay if you do not get all of it out of the water, just try to remove most of it. This is to help ensure a uniform color is achieved on the shells.
3. Create a design on the eggs. Using a flour or an herb (like cilantro, parsley), or even clovers, dip in water (this helps it to adhere to the shell), then place on the shell. Use a piece of nylon stocking, with one end tied, and place the egg in the nylon stocking, making sure the flower or herb stays in place. Pull the nylon stocking tight, then tie to secure the nylon stocking on the shell. This helps the design stay in place while the egg gets submerged in the dyed water.
4. Add in vinegar to the colored water. This will help the dye to adhere to the shells.
5. Add the eggs and boil for 8 minutes.
6. Remove the eggs into a large bowl along with a few ladles full of the dyed water (enough to cover the eggs). Place in refrigerator and allow the eggs to soak in the dyed water for 2 hours, up to overnight. The longer the soak, the darker the color will be.
7. When ready, cut the nylon stocking, unwrap the egg, and remove the flower or herb. Allow the eggs to dry fully. Add a little bit of olive oil onto a paper towel and rub the eggs to give them a beautiful shine.
- Prep Time: 50
- Setting time in refrigerator: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 8
- Category: Side
- Method: Stove Top