Description
Rainbow spaghetti is a fun and colorful twist on classic spaghetti, perfect for engaging kids in the kitchen and making mealtime exciting. This recipe involves cooking spaghetti and dyeing portions with various food colorings to create a vibrant, visually appealing dish. Served with a light salad dressing or melted butter, grated cheddar cheese, and mixed salad leaves and vegetables, it offers a nutritious, playful meal experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Rainbow Spaghetti
- 200g spaghetti
- A mix of food colourings (red, yellow, green, blue, and optionally combinations like orange)
- Salad dressing or melted butter, as needed
Toppings and Sides
- 50g cheddar, grated
- Mixed salad leaves and vegetables (such as lettuce, cucumber, cherry tomatoes)
Instructions
- Cook the Spaghetti: Cook 200g of spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Once cooked, drain the spaghetti thoroughly.
- Divide and Color the Spaghetti: Divide the drained spaghetti evenly into separate bowls based on the number of colors you want to create (the recipe uses five colours). Add a few drops of food colouring to each bowl, or combine two colours to create new shades (e.g., red and yellow to make orange). Mix well, adding a splash of water if necessary to help the colour disperse evenly. Let it sit for about 5 minutes.
- Set the Color: Rinse each bowl of coloured spaghetti under cold running water to set the colour and stop the dyeing process. Drain well.
- Serve or Play: If serving as a meal, toss the rainbow spaghetti with some salad dressing or melted butter. Top with grated cheddar cheese and a salad made from mixed leaves and vegetables. For sensory play, place the coloured spaghetti in a large tray or plastic bowl; optionally add ice cubes or let older toddlers practice cutting skills with safety scissors.
- Optional Rainbow Spaghetti Omelette: Mix any leftover rainbow spaghetti with beaten eggs and grated parmesan cheese. Heat a small non-stick frying pan with a drop of oil, cook the omelette until the bottom is set, then finish under a high grill until fully cooked. Cut into wedges and serve.
Notes
- Mixing food colours can create additional shades like orange by combining red and yellow.
- Rinsing the spaghetti under cold water after colouring helps set the dye and prevents mixing of colours.
- The coloured spaghetti can be used as a sensory activity for toddlers with added ice cubes or scissors for cutting practice.
- Leftover rainbow spaghetti is great for making a colorful omelette.
- Ensure safety when toddlers use scissors during sensory play.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: rainbow spaghetti, colorful pasta, kids recipe, sensory play food, vegetarian pasta, fun meal for kids
