Psychological studies have shown that blue instills us with a sense of calm and tranquility. For fans of Percy Jackson, the color has also been known to increase the appetite. To satiate ourselves, let’s highlight some of the most appetizing foods that taste better blue.
Pasta
Did you know that blue pasta can be created without using any artificial dye? It’s true! Pasta artisans have discovered that all you need to create natural, beautiful cerulean noodles is a bit of red cabbage and baking soda. Don’t ask us about the exact science behind the method—we’re still surprised that red cabbage has actually turned out to be good for something.
Tortilla Chips
Next time you’re at the store, be sure to keep in mind that not only are those cobalt corn chips tastier than the boring yellow ones, they’re also marginally healthier. Not that it will make much difference when they’re piled high with nacho cheese and seven-layer dip. Still, it’s something to think about for your next Super Bowl party.
Falafel
We felt it was only fair to throw a bone to our pal Magnus Chase with this one. Blue falafel is a rare occurrence out there in the wild. In fact, if you do come across some blue falafel in your travels, there’s a good chance something might be wrong with it. But it’s nothing that more hummus and tzatziki sauce can’t fix.
Tofu
Let’s be real: tofu isn’t so great in any color. But that just speaks to the transformative power of blue food dye. What was once bland soybean curd can become . . . slightly more interesting bland soybean curd. If nothing else, it’s still super fun to make a tiny blue igloo with the blocks if you aren’t going to eat them.
Gummy worms
Here’s a not-so-fun fact: there’s actually no such thing as a blue raspberry. Nonetheless, candy manufacturers have perpetuated the myth for generations in the form of the tasty, translucent, neon-blue gummy worm. Not that we can blame them—the blue ones are always the first to go when your friends get a hold of the bag.
Cookies
This final entry is a shout-out to the OG mother of Blue foods herself, Sally Jackson. Readers have spent over ten years fantasizing about her mouthwatering sea-colored cookies, well-documented as Percy’s favorite dessert. If you want to take a stab at making them yourself, check our own recipe for Percy-Inspired Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing.
