Tortang Talong has been named as the best egg dish by traditional food guide Taste Atlas, rising above the American Eggs Benedict and the Japanese Omurice and bringing pride to Filipino cuisine.
Described as a "simple Filipino dish", Tortang Talong (Filipino eggplant omelette) got the highest rating of 4.7 stars out of five.
"Tortang Talong is a simple Filipino dish made with a combination of roasted eggplants and lightly beaten eggs," Taste Atlas said of the dish, a staple viand in many Filipino households.
What makes Tortang Talong so good? On the taste side, it's the crispy edges and the soft, silky center. On the economic side, it's inexpensive, versatile, and easy to cook.
"Inexpensive and quickly prepared, tortang talong can be enjoyed at any time of day as a hearty breakfast, lunch, or dinner," Taste Atlas said.
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In its simplest form, Tortang talong is made out of whole eggplants roasted and then dipped into an egg mixture before pan-frying until the edges are crispy. Salt and pepper are usually added for flavor.
The dish however can be elevated in many ways. For those with money to spare, ground pork or giniling can be added to the dish. Soy sauce and oyster sauce also make for a good flavor booster, while some prefer to add tofu or tokwa.
Presentation-wise, some serve their tortang talong with diced tomatoes.
But whether you prefer your tortang talong plain and simple or elevated, what's a must for Filipino households is to serve and eat it with piping hot rice and a side of banana ketchup.
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