Balut how to eat that fertilized duck egg of the Philippines

jin2k (44)in #delicacy • 6 years ago

Hello Steemit Community !

Balut is a delicacy of many Filipino and street food made by hard-boiling a fertilized and incubated duck egg or chicken egg.That often scares people away. After all, it is no less than a duck egg or chicken egg boiled with the embryo still alive inside.This snack has become a very common and popular food in the Philippines and Asian countries in a custom dictates that the cooked embryo is eaten straight from the shell.Cracking one open will reveal an interesting, out of this world gastronomic experience for those who would dare. It is said to be a great source of protein and calcium and is good for weak knees.The dish is becoming more popular in restaurants, but for the most part, balut is an inexpensive snack food that’s often consumed with beer. Because the eggs have been fertilized and incubated, they do contain a partially developed duck or chicken embryo.The longer the egg has incubated, the more developed the duck or chicken will be, but balut is always eaten when the bones are still soft enough to be eaten whole.Boiled, fertilized duck or chicken egg including the semi developed, feathery and leathery fetus, known simply as “Balut.”
• Balut eggs are usually incubated for about 16 to 18 days before they're boiled and eaten.
• Look for eggs with thick shells and no cracks.

How to cook Balut ?
Boil a pot of water. Fill a saucepan with water and bring it to a boil over high heat. When the water is boiling, use tongs or a slotted spoon to gently place the egg in the water. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium ,and Hard-boil the eggs for 45 minutes before eating them. Hard cooking will kill any bacteria that might grow in the eggs during the incubation period.Despite what many say, Balut is really not as bad as it sounds or as bad as some make it out to be.
Remove the egg from the water. When the 45 minutes is up, use tongs or a slotted spoon to remove the egg .This will stop the cooking process to help cool the egg faster.
Serve with beer. If you're serving balut at a party or to a group of people, it is traditionally served in the Philippines as a snack that’s paired with beer.Simply place the eggs in a basket or bowl and serve them with your desired seasonings like vinegar and salt. Make sure each person has an egg cup, shallow bowl, and spoon.
How to Eat a Balut ?
Though it was my debut occasion, I quickly figured out that there are really only five simple steps to eating balut.

Locate the rounded end. Some balut eggs will come with a stamp on one end, and that is the end you're supposed to open.
If your egg isn't stamped, find the fatter, rounded end of the egg (as opposed to the more pointed end.
Break the shell with a spoon. Use the bottom of a spoon and tap the rounded side of the egg three times to break the shell. Pick away the cracked bits of shell to form a small opening in the top of the egg, being careful not to let pieces of egg shell fall into the broth.
Prepare your seasoning. Balut is often eaten with salt, vinegar, Take your desired seasonings and mix them together in a small, shallow bow.
Season and drink the broth. Take a small spoonful of seasoning and drop it into the hole you made in the egg shell. Use the spoon to gently stir the seasoning into the broth.When the broth has been seasoned to your liking, put the egg up to your mouth and suck the broth out from the hole in the shell.
Break apart the remaining shell. Once you’ve slurped the broth out of the egg, use your fingers to pick at the shell and peel it away to expose the rest of the egg.Once you get past the notion that you're eating a fertilized duck or chicken embryo, you'll find it's quite tasty. Add salt or vinegar, to taste. The embryo is the last part to eat in a balut.
The balut egg white is edible, but some people choose not to eat it because it’s tough and rubbery.
Thank you for reading my blog and feel free to comment ,upvote .Try eating one and let me know what you think ..