INGREDIENTS
Eggs
12 eggs
Red or pink dye
250 ml (1 cup) water
2 tsp white vinegar
½-1 cup grated beetroot
Yellow dye
250 ml (1 cup) water
2 tsp white vinegar
1 tbsp ground turmeric
Orange dye
250 ml (1 cup) water
2 tsp white vinegar
Peels from 6 brown onions
Blue dye
250 ml (1 cup) water
2 tsp white vinegar
1 cup shredded red cabbage
Brown dye
250 ml (1 cup) water
2 tsp white vinegar
2 tbsp instant coffee granules
METHOD
Eggs
- Place the eggs in a perforated steam container in the steam oven. Steam at 100⁰C for 12 minutes. Place in cold water to cool.
- Prepare your preferred natural dye and soak the eggs to 30 minutes to colour.
Red or pink dye
- Place the water and vinegar in a small saucepan and bring to the boil on high heat, induction setting 8.
- Reduce to a simmer on medium heat, induction setting 5 and add the beetroot. Add a little for pink and a lot for red. Simmer, covered for 5 minutes to infuse the colour.
- Strain the mixture and discard the beetroot.
Yellow dye
- Place the water and vinegar in a small saucepan and bring to the boil on high heat, induction setting 8.
- Reduce to a simmer on medium heat, induction setting 5 and add the turmeric. Simmer, covered for 5 minutes to infuse the colour
- Strain the mixture and discard the turmeric.
Orange dye
- Place the water and vinegar in a small saucepan and bring to the boil on high heat, induction setting 8.
- Reduce to a simmer on medium heat, induction setting 5 and add the onion skins. Simmer, covered for 15 minutes to infuse the colour
- Strain the mixture and discard the onion skins.
Blue dye
- Place the water and vinegar in a small saucepan and bring to the boil on high heat, induction setting 8.
- Reduce to a simmer on medium heat, induction setting 5 and add the cabbage. Simmer, covered for 10 minutes to infuse the colour
- Strain the mixture and discard the cabbage.
Brown dye
- Place the water and vinegar in a small saucepan and bring to the boil on high heat, induction setting 8. Add the coffee, stir to combine.
Hints and tips
- Many German families will cook, colour and decorate boiled eggs in the lead up to Easter, before hanging them from branches around the home and garden.