marbled eggs – just in time for Easter

Looking for a fun way to serve hard boiled eggs?  Start with the eggshell.  Years ago when the kids were younger, I would make colored eggs for them as part of the Easter egg hunt.  I would also make marbled deviled eggs to serve to the adults.  Marbled eggs are a cinch to make and you most probably have the ingredients on hand.  I prefer to naturally dye the eggs especially since the eggs will be eaten.  But before I go into detail of how to marble and dye the eggs, I have always been curious as to the symbolism of a bunny handing out eggs and the religious aspect of Jesus’ resurrection.  Scanning the world wide web, I found a couple of reasons for the connection:

German folklore suggests a story about a rabbit laying eggs and hiding them in a garden.  It was pre-Christian Germany where people worshiped gods and goddesses.  Ēostre, the goddess of spring and fertility, chose the rabbit as her symbol.  The Springtime meant new life and rebirth and eggs were a symbol of fertility.  According to history.com Easter eggs represent Jesus’ resurrection; the egg reminds Christians of the rock tomb from which Christ arose.  This association came later when Roman Catholicism became the dominant religion in Germany in the 15th century and merged with already ingrained pagan beliefs.  The Easter bunny legends were brought to the United States in the 1700s, when German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania Dutch country.  Naturally dyed eggs dates back to medieval times and were given to all servants at Easter.

To make the marbled eggs you will need –
eggs
purple cabbage (blue dye)
turmeric (yellow dye)
beet juice (pink or red dye)
cabbage and turmeric (green dye)
brewed coffee or black tea (brown dye)

Place eggs in a pot and cover with water; bring to a boil.  Remove from heat, covered, and let sit for 11 minutes.  Drain and add running cold water over eggs.  Allow eggs to cool completely (place in fridge overnight if you like).  To achieve a marbled look, gently crack the egg all over and allow egg to sit in dye for at least an hour.  For instructions on how to make the natural dye, click here.  Once the egg has reached the color you like, remove from liquid dye and dry with a paper towel.  Proceed to carefully peel the egg.  The longer you leave the eggs in the natural dye, the more pronounced the color will be.

The Culinary Chase’s Note:  Experiment with different designs by using rubber bands or string around the egg before immersing in the dye.  For a slight Asian flavor, add soy sauce and star anise to the black tea when steeping.  Enjoy!