Cooking with natural food colouring solutions is an excellent way to add vibrant hues to your dishes without resorting to artificial additives. Not only are natural food colouring solutions healthier, but they also add a unique flavour profile to your cooking. Here are some ways you can incorporate natural food colouring solutions into your cooking.
Create Custom Colours
One of the biggest advantages of using natural food colouring solutions is the ability to create custom colours that aren’t available commercially. For example, you can mix beet juice with turmeric to create a beautiful shade of orange that isn’t achievable with any single ingredient. Experiment with different combinations to discover new shades and hues that can add depth and dimension to your dishes.
Incorporate Into Batters and Doughs
One of the easiest ways to incorporate natural food colouring solutions into your cooking is by adding them to batters and doughs. For example, you can use matcha powder to give a light green hue to pancake batter or add a touch of beet juice to a bread dough for a pinkish hue. Remember to adjust the quantity of the natural food colouring solution according to the desired colour intensity.
Infuse Liquids
Another way to add colour to your cooking is by infusing liquids such as milk, cream or syrup with natural food colouring solutions. Simply add the desired natural food colouring solution to the liquid and let it steep until it reaches the desired hue. You can use this coloured liquid in recipes that call for that particular liquid, such as adding pink infused milk to rice pudding.
Dress Up Desserts
Natural food colouring solutions can also be used to dress up desserts such as cakes, cupcakes and frosting. For example, you can use spirulina powder to give a bright blue hue to cream cheese frosting or add raspberry puree to buttercream for a lovely pink shade. You can also use natural food colouring solutions to make homemade sprinkles or sugar crystals for a unique touch.
Add Colour to Savoury Dishes
Natural food colouring solutions aren’t just for sweet treats. You can also add them to savoury dishes such as soups, stews and dips. For example, adding turmeric to a soup can give it a golden yellow hue, or using beet juice to colour hummus can give it a pinkish hue. It’s a great way to add visual appeal to dishes that may be lacking in colour.
Conclusion
Natural food colouring solutions are a versatile and healthy way to add colour and flavour to your cooking. Whether you’re baking a cake or making a savoury dip, natural food colouring solutions can elevate your dishes to new heights. With these tips, you can experiment with different natural food colouring solutions and take your cooking to the next level.