Balut is one of the typical dishes of Filipino street food and consists of a fertilized duck egg, which is incubated for a period and then boiled. It is a snack that has become very popular and widespread in Southeast Asia and it is customary for the cooked embryo to be eaten directly from the shell. Balut is also becoming popular in restaurants, but in most cases it is eaten as an inexpensive snack, often alongside a beer. Since the eggs have been fertilized and incubated, they contain a partially developed duck embryo. The longer the incubation time, the more developed the embryo will be, but balut is always consumed within the period when the bones are still soft enough to be eaten whole.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Prepare the Balut
Step 1. Find a vendor who sells raw fertilized eggs
It's not easy to find balut, but you can check in Filipino restaurants or Asian food. Alternatively, you can try contacting duck farms.
- Eggs are generally incubated for around 16-18 days before being boiled and eaten.
- Check that the eggs have a thick and completely intact shell.
Step 2. Boil the water
Fill a saucepan with water and heat it over high heat. When the water is boiling, take the kitchen tongs or a slotted spoon and gently place the egg in the pot. Put the lid on the pot, reduce the heat to low and let the egg boil for 30 minutes.
Step 3. Remove the egg from the water
After 30 minutes, remove the egg from the water using tongs or a slotted spoon and transfer it to a bowl filled with water and ice. This will interrupt the cooking process of the egg and help it cool down faster.
Step 4. Accompany the balut with a beer
If you are serving eggs at a party or to a group of people, they should traditionally be accompanied by a beer. Place the eggs in a bowl or basket and serve them with the toppings you want. Make sure each person has an egg cup, bowl, and spoon available.
Part 2 of 2: Eating the Balut
Step 1. Locate the rounded tip of the egg
Some eggs have a stamp on one end; that is the part you should open. If there is no stamp, find the widest, rounded part of the egg (opposite the more pointed).
- Place the egg in the egg cup or bowl with the pointed end facing down. Alternatively, you can use a cup or plate.
- The pointed part of the egg contains the egg white, while the rounded one contains the yolk and a liquid similar to a broth.
Step 2. Break the shell with the spoon
Tap the rounded end of the egg three times with the back of the spoon to break the shell. Remove the shell fragments to create a small opening in the top of the egg, being careful not to drop them inside.
- Create an opening the size of a bottle cap.
- Remove the skin under the egg shell using your fingers to access the broth.
Step 3. Prepare the dressing
Usually, balut is seasoned with salt, pepper, vinegar, chilli and chopped spring onion. Mix the desired ingredients in a bowl.
Step 4. Season and drink the broth
Take the dressing with a teaspoon and pour it into the opening at the top of the egg. Gently mix the broth to distribute the dressing.
After seasoning the broth to your liking, bring the egg to your lips and suck the broth through the opening in the shell
Step 5. Break the rest of the shell
After drinking the broth, remove the rest of the shell to be able to eat the solid part as well.
Step 6. Eat the egg
At this point you can season the egg in two ways: by spreading the seasonings over it or by pouring it into a bowl and then rolling it inside. Once seasoned, eat the yolk and embryo together.
- If you want to make the egg even tastier, break the yolk into small pieces with a spoon and dip them one at a time in the sauce. Then move on to the embryo and eat it the same way.
- The egg white is also edible, but there are those who prefer to discard it because it has a rather hard and rubbery texture.
