Balut is is a partially fertilized duck egg, typically sold on the streets throughout the Philippines. It's believed to enhance sexual energy and be a healthy snack. In fact, my father-in-law used to eat them by the dozen.
When Jo and I were traveling around in July, we searched high and low for this treat, but never found it... until late one night after dinner. Since I was full and kept hearing horror stories of the taste (since it was a featured treat on NBC's Fear Factor), I backed out.
I've been kicking myself ever since then, because we had such a hard time finding the "snack" and my friend Philip managed to find and try it a week after I did. That's why on a recent trip to the Philippine market in Seoul, I insisted on buying a balut egg. Jo and I were with Tor and Becky and true to form, Tor was down for trying an egg, too.
I have to say that I was quite surprised by the taste. I really was expecting something disgusting, but found quite the opposite. The juice that comes out first is more like a well seasoned beef broth. Once I peeled back the rest of the shell, I could see the duck embryo, fully formed (with eyes, bill, feet, and feathers), and the yolk. The yolk was nothing special, tasting just like any other egg I've devoured in my life, but the duck, well, that was special.
Again, I was expecting something strange, nasty, grotesque. I was not met with that culinary disaster, but with something much more palatable. The duck embryo, tastes like duck. It was delicious. It was, however, very slippery and kept falling out of my hands. Everything about this eating adventure blew my mind!
If you're in the Philippines (or the Philippine Market in Seoul), give this treat a go, I think you'll enjoy it.
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