Naturally Dyed Leaf Eggs

Who knew that onion skins, old tights and a few leaves from the garden could create something so pretty!?

I’m told this method of dying eggs for Eastertime is quite common in Greece but it was introduced to me by an old neighbour from back in the day, when Beth was a baby and we lived in a little pink cottage in Suffolk.    She made a bowl of them one Easter, for a village picnic and encouraged us to eat them with a sprinkling of salt.

Brown eggs with leaf silhouettes, in a bowl with a feathered wreath behind

They are edible of course but as they’re so hard boiled, they might not be to your taste.  Nevertheless I hate waste so I think we’ll try them mashed up with some mayonaise and spread onto crusty bread.

In the meantime, I’ll just admire them every time I open the fridge.

You will need

Eggs.  The amounts below are for each egg.

The skin of one onion  – just the papery bit, any colour will work

1/2 tablespoon of white vinegar

Small, interesting leaves

Old tights

A drop of oil – olive, sunflower, whatever

Method

  • Collect together your leaves.  Pick leaves with interesting shapes that will fit easily onto your egg
  • Wash each egg and while they’re still wet, lay the leaf on top.  This will help to sort of stick them down
  • Cut off about 12cm /5in of your tights
  • Tie one end and gently place the egg inside, making sure the leaf doesn’t curl up too much
  • Tie the other end

  • Place gently into a pan of onion skins, make sure you have some below and some above
  • Fill the pan with enough water to cover the eggs
  • Slowly bring to a boil
  • Reduce to a light simmer and let them cook for 10 minutes
  • Remove from the heat
  • Add the vinegar and stir
  • Let sit for a further 2 minutes
  • Remove the eggs one at a time, be careful not to burn yourself

  • Cut off the tights while the egg is still quite hot, otherwise the leaf will stick to the shell
  • Peel off the leave to reveal your beautiful design
  • Allow them to cool but while still warm, rub with a drop of oil and buff to a shine
  • Remember they are boiled eggs so they’ll need to be kept in the fridge if you plan on eating them

We were so pleased with how the eggs turned out.  I’m going to experiment with other natural dyes to see what colours we can create.

Love Rachel ❤

 

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