Beet Pickled Eggs a Pennsylvania Dutch Recipe (2024)

by Patti Estep 17 Comments

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These red beet pickled eggs come from the Pennsylvania Dutch. It's an easy recipe that pickles both the eggs and the beets. Use in salads or simply as a snack.

Beet Pickled Eggs a Pennsylvania Dutch Recipe (1)

My husband grew up in central Pennsylvania in the town of York, not far from Pennsylvania Dutch Country, where some Amish communities still reside today. When I first visited the area with him many years ago, I was treated to some amazing food.

Never mind the fact that his mother was an amazing cook and his dad a chef, the local cuisine had a few culinary dishes that I had never tasted. One in particular that he likes to make is pickled red beet eggs.

Beet Pickled Eggs a Pennsylvania Dutch Recipe (3)

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Beet Pickled Eggs a Pennsylvania Dutch Recipe (4)

What's a Pickled Red Beet Egg?

They are hard-boiled eggs that are pickled with a warm spicy mix of spices with cooked fresh red beets. The beet juice mixture creates beautiful bright pink/red color in the egg whites while the yolk stays a nice golden yellow.

In this recipe both the fresh beets and the eggs are pickled. It's different from a traditional dill pickle flavor and not like a sweet pickle. This recipe uses spices such as cinnamon and clove for a spicy mix that's different from anything I've had before.

Beet Pickled Eggs a Pennsylvania Dutch Recipe (5)

How to Eat the Pickled Beet and Eggs

We usually just eat them as a snack or a side dish. They are great for picnics and summer parties.

However, they are super yummy in salads and the beautiful color of the beets and the eggs makes quite a nice presentation.

How Long Will They Last?

Keep them in the jar in the fridge for a few weeks up to a month at most. It's more than likely that you'll eat them well before then.

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So get your hands on some red beets and try this tasty pickled snack.

Beet Pickled Eggs a Pennsylvania Dutch Recipe (7)

More PA Dutch Recipes

  • Millie's Chicken Pot Pie
  • Ham and Green Bean Soup
  • Pork and Sauerkraut

Beet Pickled Eggs a Pennsylvania Dutch Recipe (8)

Red Beet Pickled Eggs

This is a tasty Pennsylvania Dutch favorite recipe that adds tons of flavor to beets and eggs and gives them a beautiful red color.

4.50 from 16 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Appetizers and Snacks

Cuisine PA Dutch

Servings 4

Calories 91 kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 large beets washed and most of the tops cut off
  • 1 cup cider vinegar
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1 teaspoon clove powder
  • 1 teaspoon allspice
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 hard boiled eggs peeled

Instructions

  • Boil the beets in water until they are fork tender.

  • Peel and slice the beets.

  • Place beets and eggs in a 1 quart mason jar.

  • Pour vinegar, sugar and water into a medium saucepan. Add spices and bring to a boil. Stir until all the sugar has dissolved.

  • Pour the pickling liquid over the beets and eggs. Allow to cool slightly before moving to the refrigerator.

  • The pickled eggs will be ready to eat in a day or two. The beets can be left in the jar for up to two weeks.

Notes

You can eat the beets and eggs pretty quickly but I think it's best to let them marinate at least overnight.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 91kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 6.8gFat: 4.8gSaturated Fat: 1.6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 186mgSodium: 105mgFiber: 0.7gSugar: 2.6g

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although attempts have been made to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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About Patti Estep

Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stacy

    Hi,
    Can I just double this recipe as is

    Reply

  2. MJ

    Beet Pickled Eggs a Pennsylvania Dutch Recipe (9)
    Growing up in a PA Dutch home… pickled eggs were not my favorites. (Mom never used the spices). These however, are delicious!!! I still don’t like the eggs… but my husband loved these eggs, and I thought the beets were excellent. I had run out of allspice so I added a dash of nutmeg. These are great!!

    Reply

    • Patti Estep

      Glad to hear it MJ. Thanks for sharing. We'll have to try nutmeg sometime.

      Reply

  3. Kiefer

    My grandmother cut off the leaves, but kept the stems in the mix, we called them red beet strings and they were my favorite part. Can also add some sliced onion.

    Reply

    • Patti Estep

      Kiefer, we have added onions but I never heard of red beet strings. We'll have to try it soon. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply

  4. Elie

    I find that putting the warm brine over the eggs makes them terribly dry and chalky. Am I doing anything wrong?

    Reply

    • Patti Estep

      Hmm. Could it be the eggs? Have you tested the boiled eggs without pickling them? Maybe they are over-boiled. I really haven't had that problem so I just guessing.

      Reply

  5. Jewel

    Do you ever re-use the liquid after the eggs and beets are devoured?

    Reply

    • Patti Estep

      Jewel, yes we do that all the time.

      Reply

  6. Barbara

    In this recipe, is 1 t. a teaspoon or a tablespoon, please? I bought all I need to make the recipe, but am now a wee bit flummoxed!
    Thank you,
    Barbara

    Reply

    • Patti Estep

      Barbara, I mean teaspoon when I use a small t. Thanks for pointing that out. I'll try to remember to spell it out next time.

      Reply

  7. Judi

    Can you use monkfruit sweetener instead of sugar?

    Reply

    • Patti Estep

      Jodi, I have never used monkfruit but my guess is you could. Let me know how it turns out.

      Reply

  8. Faliesha

    Do you use ACV for your vinegar? Thanks !

    Reply

    • Patti Estep

      You can use ACV but we usually just use white vinegar.

      Reply

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Beet Pickled Eggs a Pennsylvania Dutch Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Where did pickled eggs and beets originate? ›

United States. German-speaking Anabaptist refugees, who are by now commonly called the Amish, brought their particular variation of the pickled egg to Pennsylvania. The so-called Pennsylvania Dutch created the pickled beet egg, where beets were added to the recipe turning the eggs into a pinkish color.

Are pickled beet eggs good for you? ›

Red beet pickled eggs provide high protein snacks for weight loss. But they are great to eat as a side dish with any meal. Or you may want to use them in egg recipes such as deviled eggs. So good for winter meals and even better with summer picnics!

How to make pickled eggs that aren t rubbery? ›

And If the eggs sit in that liquid too long, you get rubbery eggs. There's a simple enough way to avoid this problem. You want the pickling liquid to do its job in the beginning, and then after the eggs have reached the proper degree of pickling, you can dilute the solution with some water.

How long do you leave pickled eggs before eating? ›

Refrigerate at least two days before serving. Keep a supply of pickled eggs in your refrigerator for a quick, healthy snack. Use pickled eggs to make egg salad or devilled eggs. Slice them for a sandwich filling or chop them to garnish a salad.

What is the history of pickled beet eggs? ›

According to the Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America, red-beet pickled eggs have roots in Pennsylvania Dutch cooking brought over from Europe, and early farmers in Appalachia took to them as a way to preserve foods that could be eaten months later.

Who pickled eggs first? ›

A hard-boiled egg cured in vinegar or brine and sealed in a jar could last for months as a tasty and affordable bar snack. German saloon owners had first introduced pickled eggs – along with lagers, which also had a longer shelf life – to working-class America in the mid-1880s.

How many pickled eggs can you eat a day? ›

How many pickled eggs should (can) I eat a day? So, we did some more digging, and found that eating one egg a day wasn't going to kill you; in fact, it may actually REDUCE heart disease. Other studies have shown no ill effects on people who have consumed up to 12 eggs a week!

Is it OK to eat pickled beets every day? ›

The answer is yes! Pickled beets can offer several potential health benefits. If you want to boost your fiber intake or get more antioxidants in your diet, pickled beets may be a good option. Just remember to watch your sodium intake, as some brands of pickled beets can be high in sodium.

Why add sugar to pickled eggs? ›

Quick Pickled Egg Tip

I like adding sugar because it helps balance the acidity of the vinegar and I like a slightly sweet pickle. If any of you are old hands at making pickled eggs, please feel free to share your expertise (or favorite recipe) in the comments.

Why don t pickled eggs go bad? ›

The process involves immersing hard-boiled and peeled eggs in a flavorful pickling liquid, typically consisting of vinegar, spices, and other seasonings. Over time, the eggs absorb these flavors, resulting in a fantastic tangy flavor and a longer shelf life.

Do you have to boil vinegar for pickling? ›

No, there are other methods for pickling, including quick pickling and refrigerator pickling. But this pickling method does call for boiling the brine. This process helps bloom the flavors of the ingredients and help speed up the pickling process when it's added to the fresh vegetables or fruit.

Is it okay to make pickled eggs in a plastic jar? ›

If you choose to use plastic containers, make sure that the containers are food grade and have not been used for non-food items. The safest option for pickles is glass jars. At Container & Packaging Supply, we have many glass jars that will work perfectly for all of your pickling endeavors.

Can you eat 2 year old pickled eggs? ›

Pickled eggs can go bad. Pickling eggs is a good way to preserve eggs, but if it is not done properly you could have problems with food borne pathogens like clostridium or botulinum. Commercially pickled eggs are probably safer than home pickled eggs. According to Wikipedia, pickled eggs can last three to four months.

What is the best vinegar for pickling? ›

Most pickle recipes call for distilled white vinegar. This is the clear, colorless vinegar made by fermenting grains. It has a mellow aroma, tart acid flavor and does not affect the color of light-colored vegetables or fruits.

Do you refrigerate eggs while pickling? ›

Pickled eggs need to be hard-boiled and peeled prior to making the brine solution of vinegar, salt, spices, and other seasonings. Pickled eggs MUST be always stored in the refrigerator. The pickling solution must completely cover all hard-boiled eggs.

Where did pickled eggs originate from? ›

Most likely it was German immigrants who first brought the practice of pickling eggs over during the Revolutionary War, although the English popularized serving pickled eggs as pub food to accompany, if not encourage, drinking.

Where did beets originated? ›

Beets are one, of not very many, important food crops that originates from European native flora. The ancestor of beets is the wild plant sea beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima L.) having its natural habitat at sea shores from the Mediterranean and southern Europe.

Where did pickled vegetables originated? ›

Pickles have a very long history and are found across all cultures. The earliest known examples are cucumbers that are known to have been pickled some time around 2030 BC in Mesopotamia, when inhabitants from northern India brought cucumber seeds to the Tigris valley.

What is the origin of pickled vegetables? ›

Pickling with vinegar likely originated in ancient Mesopotamia around 2400 BCE. There is archaeological evidence of cucumbers being pickled in the Tigris Valley in 2030 BCE. Pickling vegetables in vinegar continued to develop in the Middle East region before spreading to the Maghreb, to Sicily and to Spain.

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