Balut: Filipino Exotic Food

The most famous street food the Filipinos are known for is balut or balot to some. It has been part of "Pinoy" culture and considered an exotic delicacy.

A balut is incubated fertilized eggs (chicken, but mostly duck eggs) that are boiled when the embryo reached 16 to 18 days old. It is eaten in shell and could be served with some salt and vinegar while some like it to be served with beer. Balut is known as an aphrodisiac and a hearty snack.

In the Philippines the best balut is known to be found in Pateros a small municipal in Manila. Balut-Making is one of the major business of the municipality over the years, for most balut makers can be found in Pateros. Balut vendors are commonly seen on every corner of the streets catering not just the exotic delicacy but other egg products as well. Balut-Making is considered as a tourist attraction, some travelers paid to visit the place just to see how it is made.

Here in the Philippines Balut is like everywhere, living in the streets of Manila you could hear a vendor who push around carts and shout the word "Baaaaalut! Baaaaalut!" as it passes every corner of the street. As a child I see how my dad eats it and pair it up with his favorite beer. I can't help but to stare as I see its feathery body and duck's bill all intact. I can see its eyes and head it was like a partially deformed duck inside an eggshell. It is like watching horror films to think it was my dad who eats it. I know it was not that bad for some, but it was a nightmare for me when I was younger. Specially I had a pet named "tweety" which is a small yellow duckling that I had when I was in grade school. 

Now that I'm older eating balut is still a huge challenge for me. Come on, I can't eat. I'm still skittish about it. The fetus inside the shell makes me think it was still a baby. Funny right? But for me it was the egg of horror. 

Balut in Special Cuisines

With the popularity of this exotic delicacy it has been added as main ingredient to other filipino dishes. Giving a fushion on some of my favorite dish with a distinct taste of balut. Here are some dishes how balut was served in style;

• Adobong Balut - adobo is an infamous filipino dish which main ingredient is pork or chicken. It was simmered with soysauce,vinegar with some chopped onions and garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Using balut instead of the usual pork and chicken as the main ingredient is something unique and interesting for many food lovers.

• Fried Balut - The egg was covered with flour and some flavorings and cooked in hot pan. Deep fried balut gives a little extra crunchiness to the delicacy. Others called it "tokneneng".It is usually found on many streets in Manila. Eaten best with vinegar and hot chili and pepper. It think it is the kind of balut that I can try to eat.
  

• Sizzling Balut - giving a twist with your usual sizzling plate dish. Balut can now be served in hot sizzling plate. A unique way to serve a traditional delicacy.
  

Have you tried eating "balut"? Tell me something about it.