Tips on choosing delicious balut and how to boil balut without cracking the shell
Balut is a familiar dish, known to be a very nutritious food. Let Dien May XANH’s culinary section show you how to choose and boil balut perfectly!
1. What is balut?
Balut is a developing duck embryo that is boiled and eaten in the shell. It’s a popular and affordable street food in Vietnam, readily available almost everywhere.
In East Asian countries, balut is considered a nutritious and popular dish. It’s widely consumed in countries like China, Cambodia, and the Philippines. However, each country has its own unique preparation methods and recipes.
Balut in Vietnam typically contains embryos that are 9-11 days old. It’s commonly eaten with Vietnamese coriander (rau răm), salt and pepper, or salt, pepper, and lime/kumquat. In some regions, it’s also served with pickled vegetables.
Besides the traditional way of eating, balut can also be used in other dishes.
2. What are the benefits of eating balut?
According to traditional medicine
Balut is believed to nourish yin, enrich blood, improve memory, promote rapid body development, and provide extremely high nutritional value.
When combined with the right herbal remedies, it is said to have incredible effects. Vietnamese coriander is believed to aid digestion, dispel cold, improve eyesight, disinfect, warm the stomach, and especially treat indigestion.
Fresh ginger is thought to stimulate digestion, strengthen the heart and blood vessels, detoxify food, relieve colds, act as an antioxidant, and especially combat sexual decline.
According to traditional medicine, balut eaten with the above spices is considered a miraculous remedy for anemia, weakness, malnutrition, and impotence.
According to modern medicine
According to health experts, balut contains nutrients such as protein, phosphorus, and calcium. It also contains various vitamins, vitamin B1, and niacin.
Despite its nutritional content, it should be consumed in moderation for optimal benefits. Overconsumption of balut can lead to the production of bad cholesterol in the blood, causing health problems like cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Furthermore, accompanying ingredients should not be eaten in excess, as this can negatively impact health. It’s recommended to eat a maximum of 2 eggs at a time with a small amount of Vietnamese coriander (about 5g), a little shredded ginger, and only 1-2 times per week.
3. How long does it take to boil balut?
How to choose delicious balut
A good balut, when held up to the light, will have a full yolk and not much empty space at the top. The shell should have a light dusting of white mold and feel heavy in hand.
If buying from a familiar vendor, ask about the age of the eggs. Choose larger or smaller eggs depending on your preference and purpose.
Alternatively, you can test the eggs by placing them in water. Fresh and good eggs will sink to the bottom, while older eggs will float or tilt. Eggs floating on the surface are likely spoiled.
Avoid eggs that are too light, have black spots on the shell, are hollow inside, or make a rattling sound when shaken. These eggs may be old or spoiled.
How to boil delicious balut
Place the balut in a pot and add enough water to just cover them. Avoid adding too much or too little water, as the water may evaporate before the eggs are cooked. Add a little salt to the water while boiling to prevent the shells from cracking.
Boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat once the water boils. Continue simmering for another 15 minutes, then turn off the heat and remove the eggs. For older eggs, boil for an additional 5 minutes to reduce the richness.
This article has provided you with the necessary information on how to choose and boil balut for the best taste. We hope you find it helpful and can apply it successfully!
*Information referenced and compiled from Wikipedia
