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Tokneneng

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tokneneng
Kwek kwek, a popular variant of tokneneng made with quail eggs
CourseSnack
Place of originPhilippines
Main ingredientsHard-boiled quail egg, batter
VariationsKwek kwek

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]

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

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The 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

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Admin. (January 22, 2009). Pinoy Street Food: Kwek Kwek or Tokneneng Recipe. Filipino Foods Website. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "History of Street Food in the Philippines".
  4. ^ Admin. (September 29, 2013). Tokneneng talaga. clinquantlife Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  5. ^ "KWEK KWEK & TOKNENENG (Filipino Orange Tinged Battered Chicken & Quail Eggs)". Retrieved August 9, 2024.