Tokneneng (or tukneneng) is a tempura-like Filipino street food made by deep-frying orange batter covered with 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 kwek-kwek, the cooking oil needs to be at least 160°F (71°C).
Tokneneng is commonly found at street food stalls, often with fish balls, squid balls, and kikiam. It is usually served with either a tangy vinegar-based dip (plain or spicy), or a thick sweet sauce made of flour, soy sauce, garlic, onions, and sugar.[2]
History
editThe word tukneneng originated from the 1978 Pinoy Komiks series Batute, illustrated by Vic Geronimo and created by Rene Villaroman. In the language of the protagonist, Batute, tukneneng means "egg".[3][4]
Another origin story involves a balut vendor in Cubao. Accidentally dropping the balut they were selling, they peeled off the shells and deep-fried it in the batter instead of discarding it. This unexpected culinary experiment led to the creation of both tokneneng and its close cousin, kwek-kwek.[3] Yet another possibility is that street eateries (karinderya) repurpose leftover balut and penoy by deep-frying them for the next day. [3][5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 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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