{{Short description|Filipino street food}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Use Philippine English|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox prepared food | name = ''Tokneneng'' | image = 05223jfPhilippine cuisine dishes Bulacafvf 10.jpg | caption = ''Kwek kwek'', a popular variant of ''tokneneng'' made with quail eggs | alternate_name = | country = Philippines | region = | course = Snack | served = | main_ingredient = Hard-boiled chicken, duck or quail egg, batter | variations = ''Kwek kwek'' | calories = |similar_dish = | other = }}
'''''Tokneneng''''' (or '''''tukneneng''''') is a tempura-like Filipino street food made by deep-frying hard-boiled chicken or duck eggs covered in orange batter.<ref name="Kraig D 2013 p. 275">{{cite book | last=Kraig | first=B. | title=Street Food around the World: An Encyclopedia of Food and Culture: An Encyclopedia of Food and Culture | publisher=ABC-CLIO | year=2013 | isbn=978-1-59884-955-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9XCjAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA275 | access-date=June 25, 2022 | page=275}}</ref>
A popular variation of ''tokneneng'' is '''''kwek kwek'''''. ''Kwek-kwek'' is traditionally made with quail eggs,<ref name="Kraig D 2013 p. 275"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web | date = 22 January 2009 | url = http://www.filipino-foods.com/filipino-recipes/pinoy-street-food-kwek-kwek-or-tokneneng-recipe | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091205080654/http://www.filipino-foods.com/filipino-recipes/pinoy-street-food-kwek-kwek-or-tokneneng-recipe | archivedate = 5 December 2009 | title = Pinoy Street Food: Kwek Kwek or Tokneneng Recipe | work = Filipino Foods Website }}</ref>
== History == 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".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=History of Street Food in the Philippines |url=https://www.esquiremag.ph/food-and-drink/food/filipino-street-food-a1729-20170526-lfrm}}</ref><ref>Admin. (September 29, 2013). [http://clinquantlife.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/tokneneng-talaga/ Tokneneng talaga]. ''clinquantlife'' Retrieved September 29, 2013.</ref> In Taytay, it is called '''''epalog''''', a portmanteau of ''hepa'' (hepatitis) and ''itlog'' (egg), referring to the yellowish skin associated with hepatitis.<ref>{{Cite web | author=J.C.B |date=2022-10-14 |title=Have you ever tried epalog? This Taytay treat is worth a shot |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/food/848052/have-you-ever-tried-epalog-this-taytay-treat-is-worth-a-shot/story/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}}</ref>
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''.<ref name=":0" /> Yet another possibility is that street eateries (karinderya) repurpose leftover ''balut'' and penoy by deep-frying them for the next day.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kwek kwek & tokneneng (Filipino Orange Tinged Battered Chicken & Quail Eggs) |url=https://www.busogsarap.com/2012/09/kwek-kwek-tukneneng-filipino-orange.html |access-date=2024-08-09 | work = Busog! Sarap!}}</ref>
==See also== * Deep fried egg * Fish ball * Kikiam * Isaw
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Philippine cuisine}} {{Street food}}
Category:Philippine egg dishes Category:Deep fried foods of the Philippines Category:Street food in the Philippines Category:Philippine snack food
{{Philippines-cuisine-stub}}