Spotlight: Full Moon Eggs (Red Eggs Recipe)

By On February 4, 2012 · 26 Comments · In Chinese Recipes, Home Cooked, Misc, Recipes, Spotlight

I grew up in a pretty modern Chinese family, whereby we followed certain Chinese traditions carried down through the ages more so because it was traditional rather than due to superstitious beliefs (or at least that is how I live my life now).

One way or another, our traditions usually revolve around food and the symbols they represent in life.

Take for example mandarin oranges, which are exchanged and eaten in abundance during the Chinese New Year season due to the similarity of the play-of-words where mandarin oranges sound like the word “gold” in Chinese.

I would like to share with you a little tradition we follow in welcoming a new birth in the family.

According to Chinese customs, when a newborn enters this world and celebrates his or her first full month, the family usually throws a Full Moon party where relatives and close friends come together to welcome the little bundle of joy.

It really is a post-natal baby shower :)

This usually also marks the end of the new mother’s confinement period as well.

Treats such as Ang Ku Kueh and Chinese Red Eggs are consumed and exchanged during this celebration.

In this post, I will be focussing on the making of the red eggs (as I recently made around 30 for cousins J&J’s baby’s full moon party).

The eggs are dyed red to symbolise luck, good fortune and blessings (us Chinese really like the colour red). Eggs are used because they represent fertility and its shape symbolises peace and harmony.

So armed with this knowledge and growing up eating many of these whenever a new baby popped out (relatives and friends), I volunteered to make these for baby J&J junior.

When giving out these eggs, remember, it is even numbers for girls and odd numbers for boys.

Chinese Red Eggs Recipe
(Adapted from BabyCentre.com.my – Baby Traditions: Chinese Full Moon) 

Ingredients:
Eggs (I used 30 eggs) – room temperature to avoid shell from cracking
Cold water
White Vinegar (1-2 teaspoons)
Food Grade Red dye
1 teaspoon of Salt

Procedure:
Place all eggs in a huge pot with the cold water and simmer on low heat over the stove (cook top) for 45-60 minutes.

Place a teaspoon of the vinegar and salt in the water as the water is simmering. This will allow the egg shells to be more porous and susceptible to the red dye.

Once the eggs are cooked, remove from heat.

In a large bowl put a couple of tablespoons of the red dye and using gloves, start colouring the eggs, setting them aside to dry (on a wire rack or another bowl).

You could use a paint brush to paint the shells red, but I couldn’t find one and ended up using my glove-covered-fingers to “paint” the egg shells (hence the artsy tie-dye effect on the eggs).

Once the eggs are completely cooled and dried, you can place them into a basket/container or start handing them out to guests as they enjoy their meal at the full moon party.

Note: The low heat prevents the eggs from cracking.

So tell me my friends, what traditions do you follow to welcome a new born baby into this world?

To find out more about Ang Ku Kueh’s and the recipes, visit Bryan’s blog:

Let’s Get Fat Together

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26 Responses to Spotlight: Full Moon Eggs (Red Eggs Recipe)

  1. leaf (the indolent cook) says:
    February 4, 2012 at 4:32 PM

    I am considering making these eggs for someone in my family for later this year too. :D
    leaf (the indolent cook) recently posted..achacha, a tasty tropical fruit

    Reply
  2. InTolerant Chef says:
    February 4, 2012 at 10:42 PM

    I love hearing about cultural traditions, and how they’ve adapted in modern society. These eggs are lovely, and the tye-dye effect its very funky indeed!
    InTolerant Chef recently posted..Mandarin Almond Syrup Cake

    Reply
  3. Michelle chin says:
    February 5, 2012 at 12:36 AM

    ooh i didn’t know ang ku kueh is used for the full moon event. :) Now, i’ve learnt something!
    Michelle chin recently posted..What I ate during Chinese New Year

    Reply
  4. Cara @ Gourmet Chick says:
    February 5, 2012 at 6:41 PM

    What a lovely tradition and I love the vibrant colour of the eggs.

    Reply
  5. Miss Kimbers @ Fruit Salad and Mixed Veg says:
    February 5, 2012 at 7:54 PM

    Always learning new things through food blogs:) The eggs look nice, how they’re not evenly red all over, but bits of dark and light red mixed in.

    Why do you need to cook the eggs for so long? Is it to make the shell take in the dye well?

    I feel like making coloured Easter eggs:)
    Miss Kimbers @ Fruit Salad and Mixed Veg recently posted..CWA Rhubarb coconut cake

    Reply
    • Ms I-Hua says:
      February 5, 2012 at 9:57 PM

      Hello! It’s to make the eggshell more porous and less likely to crack as opposed to when it’s on high heat :)

      Hope this works for you for Easter :)

      Reply
  6. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says:
    February 5, 2012 at 9:29 PM

    They’re really beautiful! And thanks for the tips re boys and girls! :D
    Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..15 Fun Things To Do in Edmonton, Canada (Part 2)

    Reply
  7. Daniel Pietersen says:
    February 5, 2012 at 9:37 PM

    I love learning new recipes. This things looks wonderful. Can’t wait to try them at home.

    Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    -Daniel

    Reply
  8. joya says:
    February 5, 2012 at 9:48 PM

    I love cooking and habituated to try something new ..Actually its my passion..

    I have never try this Chinese Red Eggs..But now from this blog I will definitely try this..

    Thank you for this sharing..

    Full Moon Seafood House is also my favorite..

    Reply
  9. penny aka jeroxie says:
    February 5, 2012 at 10:36 PM

    Those old traditions are good to keep. It seems so as I get older….
    penny aka jeroxie recently posted..Cooking on the Bodum bistro tabletop grill

    Reply
  10. Norma Chang says:
    February 6, 2012 at 1:04 AM

    Love the artsy tie-dye effect on your red eggs.

    Reply
  11. Becca says:
    February 6, 2012 at 4:12 PM

    We have our own version of red egg and we call it “itlog na pula”.This is a good combination of tomato and onion with dried fish on the side.This is perfect for breakfast with hot
    coffee.. yay! love it!!
    Becca recently posted..24 Hour Electrician Woollahra

    Reply
  12. Daisy@Nevertoosweet says:
    February 11, 2012 at 7:35 AM

    It was my niece’s 100 day celebration last saturday :) so of course it’s a tradition to have Full Moon eggs. But I feel so cheated >_< they didn't even bother dyeing them red! The eggs were simply wrapped in red cellphone paper SIGH…

    Thanks for the recipe :) I might make some for her instead hehe ~
    Daisy@Nevertoosweet recently posted..Coward’s Split – Serendipity 3

    Reply
    • Ms I-Hua says:
      February 11, 2012 at 6:52 PM

      Nice to see the slight differences in the celebration :) 100 days! That’s long man. I would only wait for a month as I would want to eat!!

      Reply
  13. Mark says:
    May 2, 2012 at 2:41 PM

    I never really had the opportunity to try it out… I guess now I have the time.. Lets see what are my outcomes from this dish.
    Mark recently posted..Basic Techniques on Reducing Temp Car Insurance Bill

    Reply
  14. Monica Belluca says:
    May 3, 2012 at 9:02 PM

    I liked the dish… I tried it once in my home… I was satisfied with the outcome I have got.
    Monica Belluca recently posted..Sell PSP to Get Cash

    Reply

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