Tortang talong, also known as eggplant omelette,[1] is an omelette or fritter from Filipino cuisine made by pan-frying grilled whole eggplants dipped in an egg mixture.[2][3] It is a popular breakfast and lunch meal in the Philippines. A common variant of tortang talong is rellenong talong, which is stuffed with meat, seafood, and/or vegetables.
  Top: Tortang talong with calamansi; Bottom: Rellenong talong from Cebu stuffed with ground meat and vegetables | |
| Alternative names | Eggplant omelette, tortalong, torta talong |
|---|---|
| Course | Main course, side dish |
| Place of origin | Philippines |
| Serving temperature | Warm |
| Main ingredients | Eggplant, eggs, salt |
| Variations | Rellenong talong |
| Similar dishes | Poqui poqui |
Etymology
editThe name tortang talong means "eggplant omelette"; from a suffixed form of torta ("omelette" or "flat cake"), and talong (eggplant).[4] The name is sometimes shortened to tortalong.[5]
Description
editThe basic tortang talong recipe involves first grilling the whole eggplant until the flesh is soft and the skin becomes charred and almost black. This can be done in a charcoal grill, a baking pan, or over a direct flame while wrapped in aluminum foil (like on a gas stove). The grilling gives the eggplant a characteristic smoky flavor. The charred skin is then peeled off, although the stalk is retained. The flesh is mashed flat with a fork and dipped into a beaten egg mixture seasoned with a salt and spices to taste. The eggplant is then pan-fried until the outside is golden brown and crispy, while the core remains soft and creamy.[6][7][8][9]
The most common varieties of eggplants in the Philippines are the long and slender purple kind. When larger and rounder eggplant varieties are used, the eggplant may need to be halved or quartered (with the stalk still attached) so they can be grilled more evenly.[10][11]
Tortang talong is most commonly eaten for breakfast or lunch. It is served on white rice, sometimes accompanied with a dipping sauce (like soy sauce, vinegar, banana ketchup, etc.) or additional seasoning (like black pepper, calamansi, or chilis). It can also be served as a side dish to meat dishes.[11][12]
Variations
editA notable variant of tortang talong is rellenong talong (also spelled relyenong talong; from Spanish relleno, "stuffed"), commonly anglicized as "stuffed eggplant omelette". This version is cooked in the same way as the regular version, except that the omelette also includes various stuffings of pre-cooked meat (like minced beef or pork or longganisa), seafood, and/or vegetables.[10][13][14][15]
In some versions, the eggplant is not grilled, but is instead boiled, resulting in a softer version that lacks the characteristic smoky flavor of the original dish.[16] Non-traditional restaurant variants may also remove the stalk and puree the eggplant before mixing it with the omelette.[17]
The basic tortang talong recipe as well as rellenong talong stuffed with vegetables are considered vegetarian.[18] A vegan version can also be made using squash, flour, and tofu as an egg substitute.[19]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ McCarthy, Amy (March 13, 2017). "Chef Paul Qui's Forthcoming Restaurant Aqui Will (Probably) Serve Lumpia, Pancit and More". Eater Houston. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ Gold, Jonathan (October 16, 2017). "Jonathan Gold can't stay away from Grand Central's Sari Sari Store". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ Urbano, Chris (November 20, 2018). The World of Filipino Cooking. Tuttle. ISBN 9781462920419.
- ^ Nicole Ponseca & Miguel Trinidad (2018). I Am a Filipino: And This Is How We Cook. Artisan Books. ISBN 9781579658823.
- ^ Edgie Polistico (2017). Philippine Food, Cooking, & Dining Dictionary. Anvil Publishing. ISBN 9786214200870.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Heussaff, Erwan. "Tortang Talong". Tastemade. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ Smallwood, April (September 14, 2015). "A Filipino's Food Pride Runs Deep". Munchies. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ Mishan, Ligaya (December 31, 2015). "At Manila Social Club in Williamsburg, Rambling Filipino Cuisine". Hungry City. The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ Stead, Brentley (September 18, 2018). "Silog as You're Here: Take Kare-Kare to make Filipino fare Pata of your life". Folio Weekly Magazine. Archived from the original on December 6, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ a b Reynaldo G. Alejandro (1985). The Philippine Cookbook. Penguin. p. 189. ISBN 9780399511448.
- ^ a b Ludtke, Caz. "Tortang Talong – Eggplant and Pork Omelet". Eugene Daily News. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ Merano, Vanjo. "Tortang Talong Recipe". Panlasang Pinoy. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ Jennifer Aranas (2015). Tropical Island Cooking: Traditional Recipes, Contemporary Flavors. Tuttle Publishing. p. 143. ISBN 9781462916894.
- ^ "Relyenong Talong (Stuffed Eggplant)". Pinoy Kusinero. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ "Tortang Talong with Giniling (Eggplant Omelet with Ground Pork)". My Style Recipe. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ "Tortang Talong (Eggplant Omelette)". Foxy Folksy. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ LaBan, Craig (November 16, 2018). "Fishtown's Sarvida boldly embraces pungent Pinoy flavors". The Inquirer. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ "Tortang Talong with Quorn Grounds". Quorn. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ Enriquez, Richgail (November 29, 2011). "Vegan Filipino Eggplant Omelette". Foodwhirl. Retrieved December 6, 2018.