Natural Dyed Easter Eggs with Trout Mayo and Herbs
Eggs: For best results use white-shelled eggs if you can find them (it is virtually impossible to in Australia, so use the palest brown eggs you can find), always organic free-range. Method and Timing: We cracked the eggs before dyeing to colour the egg whites in a pattern, this is optional, but works well for eggs that have already cracked. The dye takes time, longer on darker shells, so you may have to leave each egg in the dye for 2-3 hours. prepare extra dye containers if you want to colour more eggs and multiply the quantity of dye by the same number. Staining: both the turmeric and beetroot dyes can stain porous surfaces such as benchtops and floors. Make sure you work on layers of old newspaper or a plastic table cloth to protect the surfaces. This recipe shows how to dye 3 eggs, one each in pink, orange and duck egg blue. Assumes eggs have been boiled (for 3-5 minutes) beforehand. Serving suggestion follows.
Prep Time3 hours hrs
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time3 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Servings: 2 -4
For the natural dyes:
- 1 small beetroot
- 2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 cup finely shredded red cabbage, packed
- 3 cups water
For the Eggs with Trout Mayo and Herbs:
- 3 natural dyed eggs
- 25 g smoked trout salmon or mackerel
- 1 sprig spring onions
- a few dill or fennel fronds
- 2 tablespoons organic mayonnaise
- pepper to taste
- wedge of lemon to serve
To make the Beetroot (pink) or Turmeric (orange) Dyes:
To make the Red Cabbage (duck egg blue) Dye:
To dye boiled eggs in plain colours:
To dye boiled eggs - shells and whites in patterns:
To serve the Eggs with Trout Mayo and Herbs: