How to naturally dye Easter eggs!?
Easter eggs, also called Paschal eggs and Egg of Easter are eggs that are sometimes decorated They are usually used as gifts on the occasion of Easter. As such, Easter eggs are common during the season of Eastertide (Easter season).
Although eggs, in general, were a traditional symbol of fertility and rebirth, in Christianity , for the celebration of Eastertide, Easter eggs symbolize the empty tomb of Jesus , from which Jesus was resurrected . In addition, one ancient tradition was the staining of Easter eggs with the colour red “in memory of the blood of Christ , shed as at that time of his crucifixion.
Sociology professor Kenneth Thompson discusses the spread of the Easter egg throughout Christendom , writing that “use of eggs at Easter seems to have come from Persia into the Greek Christian Churches of Mesopotamia, thence to Russia and Siberia through the medium of Orthodox Christianity. From the Greek Church the custom was adopted by either the Roman Catholics or the Protestants and then spread through Europe.” Both Thompson, as well as British orientalist Thomas Hyde state that in addition to dyeing the eggs red, the early Christians of Mesopotamia also stained Easter eggs green and yellow.
In the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, Easter eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Christ , with further symbolism being found in the hard shell of the egg symbolizing the sealed Tomb of Christ — the cracking of which symbolized his resurrection from the dead. The tradition of red easter eggs was used by the Russian Orthodox Church . The tradition to dying the easter eggs in an Onion tone exists in the cultures of Greece, Armenia, Georgia, Belarus, Russia, Czech Rebublic, Romania and Israel.
In Greece, during Holy Week there are many preparations to be made for Easter Sunday. Especially, mothers and daughters used to dye eggs together on Holy Thursday! Greeks used to dye eggs red to represent the blood of Jesus, also they put 3 eggs on top of Tsoureki – Greek Easter bread.
As a chef and food blogger I always want to experiment and develop new recipes, so I created these wonderful Easter eggs for you, dyed only in a natural, ecological way! Let’s see our recipes!
Let’s Create:
Beetroots & Onions
Red Cabbage, Parsley & Onions
Red Cabbage & Onions
Turmeric & Onions
Paprika & Onions
1st egg:
Ingredients:
- boiled white eggs
- 2 medium boiled beetroots
- 400 ml water
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- (red onion peels for the marble effect)
2nd egg:
Ingredients:
- boiled white eggs
- 1 branch of parsley & 1/4 red cabbage
- 400 ml water
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- (white & red onion peels for the marble effect)
3rd egg:
Ingredients:
- boiled white eggs
- half of a red cabbage
- 400 ml water
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- (red onion peels for the marble effect)
4th egg:
Ingredients:
- boiled white eggs
- 3 tsp turmeric
- 400 ml water
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- (white & red onion peels for the marble effect)
5th egg:
Ingredients:
- boiled white eggs
- 3 tsp red paprika powder
- 400 ml water
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- (white & red onion peels for the marble effect)
Instructions:
- In a large pot, add the eggs with cold water and bring to a boil. When starts boiling, count 10 minutes. Remove, pour cold water to the eggs and set aside to cool completely.
- Add your ingredients (red cabbage, beetroots, paprika, turmeric, parsley & red cabbage) in SEPARATE sauce pans and cover with water. Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 30 minutes.
- Strain separately in glass jars and add the vinegar when your coloured water are still hot and mix. Leave to cool. Then place the eggs in these jars (BE CAREFULL, PUT IN THE JARS AS MANY EGGS AS THEY FIT AND BE COMPLETELY COVERED WITH COLORED WATER!)
- For the marble effect: in a small bowl, place white or red onion peels, cutted in tiny pieces, add the eggs in cold water and then roll the eggs into the bowl with onion peels to stick a few peels on them.
- Use white net or beige calson and rubber bands to close the eggs and then put them in the jars with colours.
- The longer you keep the eggs in coloured water, the stronger the colour! Keep them in coloured water from 2 hours until overnight! To polish: spread them with vegetable oil. Ready!
Don’t forget to tag us #foodenyo on Instagram, if you remake this one! We’d love to see your recreations!
Enjoy,
Foodenyo
