Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Balut


Balut is a fertilized duck embryo that is boiled and eaten right off its shell.  And it is listed as one of the Six Most Terrifying Foods in the World by cracked.com.

How to eat it? Firstly, you crack it to make a hole just big enough to sip the broth that surrounds the embryo.  And then you peel it and eat the entire contents – the yolk and young feathery chick inside – but not the white which can be as hard as a bone.

Popularly believed to be an aphrodisiac and considered a high-protein, hearty snack, balut are mostly sold by street vendors during the early evenings on.  Although considered a street food from as far back as I can remember, balut supposedly had crossed over haute cuisine for it is now being served as appetizers in fine restaurants – cooked adobo-style, or as pastry and omelette filling.

I was once fond of balut until a friend hinted that balut is typically malansa and only add impurities to the blood system, as well as the beak and claws of the chick can cut the intestines like a razor blade and cause serious colon problems.  Since then, I bid adieu to balut.  Thus, eat and enjoy balut at your own risk.

By the way, does anyone know the word "malansa" in English?


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12 comments:

  1. Fascinating post but probably won't try this for myself!

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  2. Does not sound at all appetising to me but then each culture is different. Something of a health hazard too. Pleased you didn't include and colour macros.....

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  3. i have friends who can eat 6 pieces of balut in one go. a group of friends and i used to hang out at another friend's apartment in Sta. Ana, and the boys would call the balut vendor to buy all the balut in the basket. i don't know how they can eat the stuff! i can only eat balut in the dark, or when i'm drunk.:p

    "malansa" - fishy, acrid? i don't think there's an exact English translation.

    re your question, no i'm not in the travel industry. lakwatsera lang talaga. but it's been months since i traveled anywhere...now concentrating on my small business.:p

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  4. I haven't tried eating balut..hehehe.. Thanks for sharing the information about "balut"

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  5. I like the "sepia" tone you have apply to the picture but I´m pretty sure I wouldn´t eat those eggs.

    Interesting post, anyway...

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  6. Hi there - well that could be one dish I may not try! But don't tell my kids as I am always saying "how do you know you won't like it!"

    Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

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  7. I can't do it..It's a terrifying thought for me to think of the baby chick inside..

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  8. I had NO idea! Usually, I like to try new foods, but I don't think I will try this one :-).

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  9. Unfortunately, dosen't sound that interesting.

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  10. Balut sounds unappetizing to my English/American tastes, I don't think I'd be adventurous enough to try it...

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  11. I'm sorry but there is no way I could bring myself to try these...Thanks for coming by and and the kind words on my blog. Blessings, Debbie

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  12. I seldom eat it as I don't see them much often in Asian stores here but I do like it when the yolk is big and the chick is tiny. No beak or feathers or anything you can feel while eating, if you know what I mean. :-) Otherwise I can't eat it. And no, I can't eat too much balut at one time haha! Having 1 as an appetizer is enough.

    The only word I can think of for 'malansa' is fishy. But honestly I don't classify balut taste as 'fishy'.

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