Tokneneng (or tukneneng) is a tempura-like Filipino street food made by deep-frying orange batter covered hard-boiled chicken or duck eggs.[1]
 Kwek kwek, a popular variant of tokneneng made with quail eggs | |
| Course | Snack |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Philippines |
| Main ingredients | Hard-boiled quail egg, batter |
| Variations | Kwek kwek |
A popular variation of tokneneng is kwek kwek. Kwek kwek is traditionally made with quail eggs,[1] which are smaller, with batter made by mixing annatto powder or annatto seeds that have been soaked in water. Kwek kwek and tokeneneng are often falsely used interchangeably. To cook a kwek kwek the cooking oil needs to be atleast 160°F (71°C).
They are often sold by street food vendors around busy areas and are usually sold alongside fish balls, squid balls, and kikiam.
They are also usually served with either a non-spiced/spiced vinegar based dip, or a thick sweetened sauce which is made of flour, soy sauce, garlic, onions and sugar.[2]
The name tukneneng originated from the 1978 Pinoy komiks series Batute, illustrated by Vic Geronimo and created by Rene Villaroman. In the language of main character Batute, tukneneng means 'egg'.[3][4]
Another origin story of the tokneneng and kwek kwek is when a balut vendor in Cubao accidentally dropped the balut she was selling on the ground and decided to peel off the shells and deep-fried them in batter instead of throwing it away and wasting them.[3] Another possibility related to this is how balut and penoy vendors sell their leftovers to street eateries (karinderya), which in turn deep-fry them for next day's serving. [3][5]
See also
References
- ^ a b Kraig, B. (2013). Street Food around the World: An Encyclopedia of Food and Culture: An Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. ABC-CLIO. p. 275. ISBN 978-1-59884-955-4. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ Admin. (January 22, 2009). Pinoy Street Food: Kwek Kwek or Tokneneng Recipe. Filipino Foods Website. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
- ^ a b c "History of Street Food in the Philippines".
- ^ Admin. (September 29, 2013). Tokneneng talaga. clinquantlife Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- ^ "KWEK KWEK & TOKNENENG (Filipino Orange Tinged Battered Chicken & Quail Eggs)". Retrieved August 9, 2024.
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