Pinoy Street Food - Balut

In the coming days, I will be featuring Filipino street foods. To kick things off, I will start with one street delicacy that reigns in the long list of Filipino street foods and not everyone have the guts to eat them. The Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam are the countries that sell these kind of delicacy on the streets and it does resemble an old way of presenting food during today’s modernization.

The duck embryo, known locally as “balut” has been the most sought out snack during the evenings and during nightly booze that needs a certain flavor to the drinking session. I had my first taste way back in my high school and I was fortunate enough to just eat the “delicious” portion. It’s actually great to know that this type of treat is considered as one of the most exotic delicacy around the world.

Balut Vendors

Balut vendors are usually found plying their routes at night and if you’re into one of those drinking joints in downtown, expect 1 or 2 of them standing by just in case you want to have some. This delicacy blends well with your beer and I still don’t know why that’s the case.

The numbers

12, 16, 18, 20, 21… Those are the numbers that are asked what type of balut do you want to eat. Actually, those numbers represent the entire lifetime of the eggs which are placed in the incubators, or not. The 12-day eggs are simply hard-boiled ones that are already in their embryonic stage, while the 16-day ones are quite farther along but most people say that the real balut is the 18-day eggs, which has quite the balance of “crispness” and it’s lusciously awesome. The 20 and 21-day ones are for those that really into, what they say, as “hardcore” type of lifestyle. I wouldn’t know how these ones taste but, really, I could try it but I prefer not to.

One bite is not enough

Well, I can say that the safest number of them all is either 12 or 16, but I’m either 16 or 18-day. Anyway, when you already chose which kind you want, the balut vendor then grabs one and hands it to you from their basketful of eggs. Careful though, the egg is pretty hot but this actually important for its overall taste.

Firstly, you have to crack its top portion gently and remove it so that you can sip its savory broth before you remove the entire shell. Pour the vinegar-onion condiment then just eat it all the way. It actually takes 2-3 mouthfuls with tiny chunks that can add a bit of crispness to the whole egg. You may see them feathers, feet, wings and even head of the duckling but it’s all about the art of eating right? Well, you don’t want to try that out, but it’s certainly one of the most appetizing and savory treats that I’ve ever tasted.

Also, Cebuanos, if not most people, say that balut is one of the aphrodisiac treats found around the world. I didn’t know that.

_{Image Credit: The Takeout}