Natural Vegetable Dye

Most store bought food coloring contains toxic ingredients such as FD&C Yellow 5, FD&C Red 40, and Propylene glycol.  Instead of feeding our bodies these harmful chemicals, you can make your own homemade safe and natural food coloring that can be used to dye eggs, create art on plates, and more!

To begin choose your vegetable of choice; I used beets, sweet potatoes, and kale. Using a mandolin or knife thinly slice the veggies and dehydrate until almost crispy.  Then place in a blender until a fine powder is created.  

Note: If you don’t own a dehydrator you can purchase already dehyrated vegetables in most natural grocery stores.

At this stage you can use the edible vegetable powder to add color to dishes.  The powder is mostly flavorless, but creates a visually pleasing look.

Create homemade vegetable food coloring by adding water to the powders and then straining through cheese cloth or a find mesh strainer.  Some particles will be left in the solution, but I think they add a colorful dimension.

Using a spoon dab some of the vegetable dye onto white plates for an artistic look!

Use can also “paint” the entire plate using a silicone basting brush.  Allow the thin layer of vegetable dye to dry at room temperature. You will then have an edible, colorful plate to present your food upon!

This natural vegetable food coloring can also be used to dye eggs.  However, instead of using water to create the dye, use vinegar as it will help the color to soak in.  The eggs will turn a soft pastel color, perfect for Easter time!

The possibilities of color combinations are endless and you can also use fruits such as blueberries, pomegranate, plums, and cranberries to create the dyes.

Have fun playing with your food!