Is it just me, or are mythical creatures having a moment right now? Magic-related food is some of the most aesthetically pleasing food I have ever seen, so I'm zero percent surprised. Mermaid toast was trending a few weeks ago, but now unicorn noodles are spreading like wildfire.
What Exactly Are Unicorn Noodles?
I have to be honest, I was really nervous when I saw these noodles. Usually this level of color equals a high level of food dye and a lot of shit that I don't want in my mouth, so I was shocked to see how natural unicorn noodles are.
You just soak clear or white noodles with purple cabbage in hot water, and then you let it soak for 5-10 minutes (depending on how rich you want the colors to be). The color variations within the noodles themselves come from lemon juice, and you just spray more juice on whatever you want to be pink.
The Science Behind This Mythical Noodle
If you're like me, you're probably wondering how the f*ck does this actually work? Depending on who you ask, it's just some simple chemistry (said a pre-med) or the most complex science experiment in the world (said this poli-sci, econ, undeclared, confused writer). The purple cabbage has a pigment (anthocynanin) that changes color when it interacts with something acidic, such as lemon juice.
Basically, there are ingredients in purple cabbage that cause the noodles to turn pink when they interact with lemon juice. Bam, science.
Are You Hungry Yet?
Rainbow noodles are perfect if you're looking to up your pasta game with something a bit more aesthetically pleasing. I love how versatile they are, too. The creator of the Rainbow Noodle serves them with yummy ingredients like avocado, mesclun, kale, mushrooms, and more.
This recipe is legit so quick and actually healthy. It's truly never been easier to eat it for the Insta.