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.

Beet Pickled Eggs a Pennsylvania Dutch Recipe (6)

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

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Additional Time 1 day d

Total Time 1 day d 35 minutes mins

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? ›

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.

How to make pickled eggs that aren t rubbery? ›

It takes at least 24 hours for the pickling liquid to work its magic on the eggs, and letting them rest there for a few days is even better. If you're not going to eat them in the first few days, it makes sense to add a bit of water to thin out the brine.

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!

Why are my pickled eggs rubbery? ›

Prolonged exposure to the pickling solution may result in a rubbery texture. A common practice is to puncture the egg with a toothpick to allow the pickling solution to penetrate to the egg's interior, but this is dangerous as it can introduce Clostridium into the finished product.

Who pickled the first egg? ›

Some say that they originated in Germany in the 1700's. They were certainly around England by the 1830's. But everyone agrees that pickled eggs were a great idea and a useful snack in saloons and taverns.

Do English eat pickled eggs? ›

A British classic - perfect for picnics or a satifying snack.

Why don t pickled eggs go bad? ›

While recipes can vary from brand to brand, store-bought pickled eggs are often submerged in pickling solutions consisting of ingredients like beet juice, vinegar, water, and sugar. Commercial pickled eggs can also contain sodium benzoate, which is a common preservative that keeps food stable on store shelves.

Is apple cider vinegar better than white vinegar for pickled eggs? ›

For pickled eggs, swapping white vinegar for apple cider vinegar is a no-brainer. While white vinegar has a pretty even taste and doesn't affect the eggs much in terms of color, apple cider vinegar brings a complexity of flavors and provides the eggs with a unique hue.

How many times can you reuse pickle juice for pickled eggs? ›

How many times can I reuse pickle juice? To be on the safe side, we wouldn't recommend reusing it more than once, although some say you can safely reuse it 2 or 3 times. Again, watch for changes in the clarity of the brine. BONUS!

How many pickled eggs should you eat a day? ›

while they still may have cholesterol in them my guess is 1 or 2 a day with your regular food is OK. JUST don't over do it,as with any single food to much is probably bad for you in the long run. Originally Answered: Are pickled eggs healthy? Pickling was to used to preserve food so it could be kept for months.

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.

What causes botulism in pickled eggs? ›

Pickled eggs left at room temperature developed botulism in the yolk, which had been pricked with a toothpick, before the acid pickling solution was able to equilibrate throughout the egg. To prevent botulism toxin from forming in non-canned foods, low-acid foods need to be refrigerated after they are cooked.

How long should you let pickled eggs sit? ›

Give the eggs at least 24 hours in the pickling brine before you eat one. That way, the flavors have time to penetrate the egg. A few days is even better.

How long do homemade pickled eggs last? ›

Pickled eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 months, but they are best when consumed within the first month for optimal flavor.

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.

Which country invented beetroot? ›

Beets are believed to originate along the coasts of the Mediterranean (sea beets) and were first cultivated for their edible leaves. The Greeks, like the Romans, cultivated beets for their leaves, but ate them as food and called them teutlon or teutlion, because the foliage resembled squid tentacles.

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.

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