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↓ Jump to Recipe ↓Fertilized duck egg, also known as balut, is one of my favorite snacks. I find myself oftentimes CRAVING it and nothing but balut itself will satisfy the craving.
Cooking balut does require some foresight since I was taught to boil the balut for 45-60 minutes before eating. I’ve heard other people say you only need 15 minutes but I just follow my dad’s instructions.
I can prove to you how much I love balut if you take a look at the snack I had after a ball I went to. Don’t worry, I was home by midnight!
What is Balut?
Balut is the best snack ever! But seriously, I know balut has a reputation for being scary, intimidating, maybe even gross to some but I truly love it.
Balut is fertilized duck egg that has been incubated to varying degrees. When you crack open a cooked balut, you should expect to find 4 things: the underdeveloped body of a duck, the yellow yolk, the rubbery white, and a decent amount of liquid.
My favorite part is the soupy bit. It has a strong savory flavor with a lot of depth. I personally think that most people regardless of their view on balut as a whole, would enjoy the soup if just given that. In fact, my husband LOVES the soupy part!
The next bit is the yolk, it is creamy, a little dry, and very similar to the yolk of a hard boiled chicken egg.
I personally do not eat the third part which we can call the (egg) white. It is rubbery, hard, and has not much flavor. Many people do eat it but I find it not worth the hassle.
Finally, let’s talk about the main attraction: the incubated embryo. There are varying degrees of incubation which means there are varying degrees of embryo development. The more developed, the more you will find feathers, maybe even bones as well as it begins to actually look like a duck. If the embryo is young, usually this part is just a small tiny aspect and almost unnoticed.
What Does Balut Look Like?
The balut eggs are typically larger than a standard chicken egg, and their eggshells have a slightly gray color.
As I mentioned above, the inside will look different depending on how developed the embryo is.
Where To Find Balut
I am able to find them in most Filipino grocery stores, but you may also find them in Chinese or other Southeast Asian grocery stores.
What Do You Eat With Balut?
Balut can easily be enjoyed by itself but it is often served with salt and vinegar to enhance its natural flavor.
I love sprinkling a tiny pinch of salt before each bite and then I’ll alternate bits with and without vinegar. There are many options but spiced vinegars such as Datu Puti (see below) are my favorite.
Balut is also classified as pulutan which essentially means “food to eat while drinking.” It is a very popular snack during a night out at the bars.
How Do You Cook Balut?
Balut is extremely easy to cook and can be done in batches. All you need is to bring a large pot of water to a boil, and slowly add the balut eggs so they do not crack. Boil the balut eggs in water for 45-60 minutes!
I love to eat them after they cool a bit but are still hot. My favorite way to eat balut is to dip it in spicy sugarcane or coconut vinegar, then sprinkle a little bit of kosher salt on top.
The result is a savory, tangy, spicy snack!
Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- In a large pot, boil enough water to submerge balut eggs. Once boiling, slowly submerge the eggs in boiling water. Cover the pot and lower the flame to a simmer. Simmer the balut eggs for 45-60 minutes.
- Once cooked, remove the balut eggs and let cool. Crack open and enjoy with topping of your choice! I recommend salt or vinegar