Just like many parts of Asia, the Philippines has its share of bizarre, weird, unimaginable… whatever you may call it. Perhaps you can call it Filipino creativity or ingenuity, but we make no qualms about catching, swatting, cooking and eventually eating many creatures never thought possible in other cultures. With stomach built to welcome unconventional delicacies, some Filipinos sees all animals as opportunities to create delicious feast shared with family or friends, whether as only option for meal or a simply dose of adventurism.
The Filipino kitchen is an efficient venue to prepare food. Every bit of an animal is used. From head to tail, and everything in between becomes a part of a dish or a side dish on its own. Are you ready for the Philippines’ most exotic food?
Balut
Perhaps the most popular exotic food the Philippines is known for, balut has been among the top exotic dishes the world has to offer, gracing travel, adventure and cooking shows on many occasions. A balut is a fertilized duck/chicken egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell. Balut eggs are believed to be an aphrodisiac and considered a high-protein, hearty snack. Baluts are mostly sold by street vendors in the regions where they are available. It takes 28 days to hatch a Duck’s egg and producing this one of a kind egg, a perfect balut is boiled at 17 days, when the chick is still wrapped in white and showing no beak or feathers.