Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs with Onion Skins

Eggs have been a part of the Easter tradition ever since I can remember. One of my sharpest childhood memories back from Ukraine are of my mother, and her mother, in the preparation for Easter. Oh, they were on it! As it should be, Easter was taken very seriously and observed carefully; from worship to the feast celebration afterward.

The experience of observing its hugeness and importance in those days was really quite humbling. Beginning with

… Palm Sunday, to Good Friday, to the glorious Easter Morning (with service beginning at 6:00 am to commemorate Christ’s early morning rise) and the week following, church services were more frequent than any other time of the year. Everyone greet each other with a special greeting of, “He is Risen!” and reply with, “Risen indeed!” That is really special.

Most of these traditions are kept today, but sadly in a somewhat lesser urgency. Secondary to worship, the menu for Easter would typically be large and inclusively have dyed eggs. As a curious child, I asked my mom why we color and eat eggs on Easter, and I remember the impression I got was that eggs resemble new life and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I have also continued this tradition in my own household so that my children may remember the true meaning of Easter.

It is also very interesting to know a deeper history of this tradition. People from different parts of the world decorate different designs according to how their culture views the blossoming of life. More commonly, eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Christ. The hard shell around the eggs stand for the tomb and the cracking of it represents the breakthrough of death, opening of the tomb, and the resurrection of Christ into life. Similarly to the Bread and Wine during communion in church, the dyeing and eating of eggs on Easter is a symbol and reminder for Christians of the glory and miracle of Easter.

Interestingly, Easter egg hunting or bunnies historically have not been a part of the Easter celebration in Christianity, or in my own life. I personally don’t see how they serve to represent and glorify Christ’s resurrection. And so they’re typically not done in my family. In the busyness and distractions of life, we can use reminders to help keep our eyes and hearts on the true meaning of Easter. Enjoy these chemical-free dyed eggs this Easter!

Ingredients:

8 cups (2 L) – cold water
Onion skins (From about 30 large onions. Or a packed clear produce bag of yellow and red onion.)

12 large – eggs (brown or white)

Instructions:

1. Fill a medium pot with water. Add onion skins.

2. Submerge onion skins into the water by pressing down with a spoon. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low (about 2.4/10 on a digital stove). Cover the pot with a lid, keeping it slightly cracked and let the onion skins simmer for 1 hour. Remove from the burner and set it aside on a counter top for 24 hours to allow the onion skins to release all the color possible.

Dyeing Instructions:

Submerge eggs into the cold burgundy water with onion skins. Return the colored water back on the burner to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and boil for 10 minutes (or to your color shade preference) rotating the eggs occasionally. When the eggs are cooked, transfer them into a bowl of cold water one by one using a spoon. Let them sit in cold water for 30 minutes. Remove the eggs from the water and store them in the fridge.

5 from 3 votes

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Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs with Onion Skins

Prep Time

1 d 1 hr

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

1 d 1 hr 10 mins

 

These Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs with Onion Skins are chemical free. The recipe requires only 2 ingredients. I also used home-grown eggs which are so tasty. Clean and healthy eggs cannot get any better than this!

Course: Easter

Author: Valya at Valya's Taste of Home

Ingredients

• 8 cups 2 L – cold water
• Onion skins From about 30 large onions. Or a packed gallon size Ziploc bag of purple and red onion.
• 12 large - eggs brown or white

Instructions

1. Fill a medium pot with water. Add onion skins.
2. Submerge onion skins into the water by pressing down with a spoon. Bring it to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low (about 2.4/10 on a digital stove), cover the pot with a lid slightly cracked and let the onion skins simmer for 1 hour. Remove from the burner and set it aside on a counter top for 24 hours to allow the onion skins to release all the color possible.
3. Dyeing the Eggs Instructions:
4. Submerge eggs into the cold burgundy water with onion skins. Return the colored water back on the burner to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and boil for 10 minutes (or to your color shade preference) rotating the eggs occasionally. When the eggs are cooked, transfer them into a bowl of cold water one by one using a spoon. Let them sit in cold water for 30 minutes. Remove the eggs from the water and store them in the fridge.

If you make this Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs with Onion Skins recipe, please share a picture with me on Snapchat, Instagram Facebook or Pinterest. Tag with #valyastasteofhome. I’d love to see your creations! ?

Looking for more Easter recipes? Here are more to choose from:
MINI PASKA EASTER BREAD RECIPE (CUPCAKE SIZE PASKA – KULICH)
CARROT CHEESE SPREAD WITH SMOKED SALMON APPETIZER
HEDGEHOG COOKIES RECIPE – EZHIKI
PASKA EASTER BREAD RECIPE
SWEET BRAIDED EASTER BREAD WITH RAISINS

Kitchen items I used in making this recipe:
(If you need any of these items, simply press on the picture to order. Thank you for your support!)

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