Balut is one of the popular and famous street foods in Vietnam, loved for its unique flavor and rich nutritional value. This dish is often sold at sidewalk stalls or street vendors, and is a familiar snack for many Vietnamese people. Balut is boiled, served with Vietnamese coriander, salt, pepper and lemon, or julienned ginger to enhance the flavor. Although somewhat unfamiliar to foreign tourists, balut is an indispensable dish in Vietnamese cuisine.
Main Ingredients of Balut
Balut is made from duck eggs in the embryonic development stage, combined with simple spices but creating a unique flavor.
Balut – Main Ingredients
Balut is a developing duck egg, containing the yolk, egg white and duck embryo. The eggs are selected at the stage when the embryo has formed but is not yet complete, creating a rich fat and flavor after boiling.
Salt Pepper Lemon
Salt, pepper and lemon are indispensable spices when eating balut. Salt and pepper are mixed with fresh lemon, creating a balanced sour and salty taste, helping to enhance the flavor of the dish.
Rau Ram – A Special Highlight
Vietnamese coriander has a mild spicy taste, often eaten with balut to reduce the fishy taste of the egg and add freshness. Vietnamese coriander is an indispensable part, creating the characteristic flavor of the dish.
Ginger and Chili
A little shredded ginger and fresh chili is also often added when eating balut, giving the dish a warm taste and balancing the rich flavor of the egg.
How to Prepare Balut
Processing balut is quite simple, but you need to pay attention to the boiling time to ensure the eggs are cooked through, retaining the best flavor.
Materials Needed
- Balut: 5-10 eggs
- Vietnamese coriander: 1 small bunch
- Fresh ginger: 1 small root
- Salt, pepper, lemon, chili
Steps to Take
Step 1: Boil the eggs
Wash the balut, then put it in a pot of water and boil for about 15-20 minutes until the egg is cooked. Test the egg by using a chopstick to pierce it. If the chopstick easily penetrates the egg shell without breaking, the egg is cooked.
Step 2: Prepare vegetables and spices
Wash and drain Vietnamese coriander. Slice ginger and chili. Mix salt, pepper and fresh lemon juice to create a sour and salty mixture.
Step 3: Enjoy
After boiling, peel the duck eggs and serve with Vietnamese coriander, shredded ginger and salt, pepper and lemon. This dish is best eaten hot.
Balut – A Rich Street Food
Balut is a nutritious dish, often considered a health food in Vietnam. With a simple preparation but rich flavor, this dish always attracts diners because of the harmonious combination of the fatty taste of eggs, the spicy taste of Vietnamese coriander and the sour and salty taste of salt, pepper and lemon. For many Vietnamese, balut is not only a familiar snack but also a part of Vietnamese street food culture.
Balut
Balut is a famous and popular street food in Vietnam, with a unique flavor and rich in nutrients. With a simple way of enjoying, served with Vietnamese coriander, salt, pepper, lemon and shredded ginger, balut has become an indispensable dish in Vietnamese cuisine. If you have the opportunity, try this dish to fully experience the flavor of the street specialty of the S-shaped country.
