Balut is a common street dish in Asia but when you see it for the first time you’ll probably be very surprised and confused. It’s a partially developed duck embryo that’s incubated for 2-3 weeks before it’s boiled and eaten. Not exactly appetizing, huh?
To an average person from western culture, Asian street food probably seems completely crazy. Street food carts in Asian countries offer a variety of dishes that may seem odd to someone who’s not used to them. For example, the idea of eating a fertilized duck egg is probably not your number one thing on your bucket list. But balut is actually considered a delicacy and represents a staple in several countries like Vietnam and the Philippines. Many people even believe it’s an aphrodisiac.
“I mean the dish can be daunting to try,” food and travel host Kristie Hang shared with How Stuff Works, “but every culture has their own so-called ‘weird’ dish that is an acquired taste for many. Scots have haggis, Swedes have surströmming, the Chinese have durian, Taiwanese have stinky tofu and Japanese have natto.”
Would you try balut if you got the chance?
