This is a really special episode for me, because I walk you through exactly how I make kokkina avga, or red dyed Easter eggs for Greek Easter. Anyone who grew up in a Greek household will understand how special this activity is during the Easter season. It is traditionally done on Holy Thursday. However, for the purposes of filming I made this batch earlier. My husband and I will make a fresh batch on Holy Thursday with our children!
I pick up this special Greek red dye from a local Greek store called Steve's Market, and you might be able to find it in a Greek specialty store near you. The key to getting them the gorgeous deep red you see here is using brown eggs. Of course, you can use any brand egg, but the darker brown they are, the better. Once you have the dye and the eggs the rest is a fairly simple process.
The first step is hard boiling the eggs so they are completely cooked. This is simply a matter of time, but I always give them eggs a spin to make sure they are completely cooked. My kids love that trick! Then I let the eggs cool enough so they can easily be handled. While they are cooling, I get the dye ready on the stovetop. I should note that I always use a tall sided stock pot because the dye is so potent anything it touches gets stained. A deep pot helps prevent it from getting splashed on your clothes!
The last step I add in is shining the dyed eggs with oil once they’ve been blotted on a paper towel. This makes them gorgeous to look at in a bowl on the table! In this episode you’ll see my son and I play the egg cracking game – a favorite of children at Greek Easter.
I love sharing my Greek Easter traditions with you and hope you enjoy them too. It's a very special time for Greek families everywhere and continuing these traditions, no matter where we live, is deeply meaningful to us. Have a wonderful Easter season!
RED EASTER EGGS
This is my method of dyeing perfectly deep red eggs for Greek Easter. Before you begin make sure you have at least one packet of red dye specifically for Greek Easter eggs. You can usually buy this at a specialty store or online.
Ingredients & Equipment
1 dozen brown eggs
1 package red dye
White vinegar
Water
Deep stockpot
Disposable rubber gloves for handling the dye
Metal slotted spoon
Olive oil
Paper towels
Instructions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the eggs carefully. Boil the eggs for at least 12 minutes, or until they are completely cooked and have reach the hard boil stage.
Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and allow them to cool until they are comfortable to handle.
While the eggs are cooling, pour out the water and refill the stockpot with the amount of water and vinegar indicated on the red dye packet. Put on your rubber gloves and add the dye very carefully.
Dye the eggs according to the package directions. While the eggs are dyeing, set up a large platter lined with paper towels.
After the dye time indicated on the packet is up, remove the eggs with a metal slotted spoon and place them carefully on the lined platter to allow them to drain.
After the eggs have dried add a touch of olive oil to the tip of a paper towel and gently polish each eggs to bring it to a high shine.
Store the eggs in the refrigerator until you are ready to crack them.
Nikki Glekas is the owner of Nikki Glekas Events, a full-service catering and events company located in Stamford, CT. She is currently operating with COVID-safe procedures and is happy to discuss your event and catering needs with you. To discuss further please contact team@nikkiglekasevents.com or call 203.658.8659.