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Kwek-kwek
Battered fried quail eggs
Kwek-kwek: quail eggs in crisp orange batter with spiced vinegar dip
After dark in Quiapo and around university belts in Manila, fishball carts sell kwek-kwek: hard-boiled quail eggs dunked in a bright orange batter and fried until puffed and crunchy, then speared and dipped in sour vinegar with onion and chilli. The orange comes from annatto, not egg yolk or food colouring, and the batter stays thin so you bite straight through to the creamy egg. Chicken eggs done the same way are called tokneneng. Chef's tip: dust the peeled eggs with cornflour before battering; wet, slippery eggs shed their coat in the oil.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 24 quail eggs
- 3 tbsp cornflourfor dusting
- 2 ½ cups vegetable oilfor frying
For the batter
- 2 ⅞ oz rice flour
- 1 ⅜ oz cornflour
- 1 tsp annatto powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup cold water
For the spiced vinegar
- ½ cup cane or white vinegar
- ½ red onionfinely chopped
- 1 bird's-eye chillisliced
- 1 tsp sugar
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Stir ½ cup cane or white vinegar, ½ red onion, 1 bird's-eye chilli and 1 tsp sugar together and leave to steep while you cook.
2 minStep 2: Lower 24 quail eggs into a pan of boiling water and cook for 4 minutes, then move them to cold water. Crack all over and peel under running water.
8 minStep 3: Whisk 2 ⅞ oz rice flour, 1 ⅜ oz cornflour, 1 tsp annatto powder, ½ tsp gluten-free baking powder and ½ tsp salt, then whisk in ¾ cup cold water to a smooth batter as thick as double cream.
2 minStep 4: Heat 2 ½ cups vegetable oil in a small deep pan over a medium-high heat to 350°F, when a drop of batter rises at once in a ring of bubbles.
5 minStep 5: Roll the eggs in 3 tbsp cornflour, then dip them in the batter a few at a time, letting the excess drip off.
3 minStep 6: Fry in batches for 2–3 minutes, turning, until the coating is crisp and deep orange. Drain on paper and serve hot, on sticks, with the spiced vinegar.
8 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Protein
- 10 g
- Carbs
- 26 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kwek-kwek take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of quail eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of cornflour?
- Arrowroot or potato starch, same amount.
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