Balut is the Filipino street-food dish made from a fertilized duck egg embryo.
The egg is incubated for a period before being boiled, so the developing embryo is visible inside the shell. Vendors commonly serve balut warm, with salt, vinegar, or a mixture of seasonings. The dish is eaten by opening the shell and consuming the broth and contents in stages.
Balut is strongly associated with the Philippines, where it is sold by street vendors and is often eaten as a snack or late-night food. Duck eggs are traditional, although preparation and incubation time can vary. The embryo’s development explains why the dish looks different from an ordinary hard-boiled egg.
Balut is sometimes confused with kwek-kwek, which consists of battered quail eggs, or with isaw, grilled chicken or pork intestines. Those foods are also associated with Filipino street stalls, but they are entirely different dishes.