Tortang talong facts for kids
 
Top: Tortang talong with calamansi;
Bottom: Rellenong talong from Cebu stuffed with ground meat and vegetables |
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| 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 |
Tortang talong is a yummy dish from the Philippines. It's often called an eggplant omelette. To make it, whole eggplants are grilled until soft. Then, they are dipped in a beaten egg mixture and pan-fried. People in the Philippines love to eat it for breakfast or lunch. A special kind of tortang talong is called rellenong talong. This one has tasty fillings like meat, seafood, or vegetables inside.
What's in the Name?
The name tortang talong simply means "eggplant omelette." It comes from two words: torta, which means "omelette" or "flat cake," and talong, which is the word for eggplant. Sometimes, people just call it tortalong for short!
How It's Made
Making tortang talong starts with grilling a whole eggplant. You grill it until the inside is soft. The skin will get a bit burnt and turn almost black. This grilling can be done on a charcoal grill or even over a gas stove flame. Sometimes, people wrap the eggplant in aluminum foil first.
Grilling gives the eggplant a special smoky taste. After grilling, the burnt skin is peeled off. But the stem is usually left on. The soft eggplant is then flattened with a fork. It's dipped into a mixture of beaten eggs, salt, and other spices. Finally, the eggplant is pan-fried until it's golden brown and a little crispy on the outside. The inside stays soft and creamy.
In the Philippines, the most common eggplants are long, thin, and purple. If bigger, rounder eggplants are used, they might be cut in half or quarters. This helps them cook evenly while grilling.
Tortang talong is a popular meal for breakfast or lunch. It's usually served with white rice. Sometimes, people add a dipping sauce like soy sauce, vinegar, or banana ketchup. You can also add black pepper, calamansi (a small citrus fruit), or chilis for extra flavor. It can also be a side dish served with meat.
Different Kinds of Eggplant Omelette
One famous type of tortang talong is rellenong talong. This name comes from the Spanish word relleno, meaning "stuffed." So, it's often called "stuffed eggplant omelette." It's cooked like the regular version, but it has yummy fillings. These fillings can be pre-cooked meat (like ground beef or pork), seafood, or vegetables.
Sometimes, the eggplant is boiled instead of grilled. This makes it softer, but it won't have that smoky taste. Some restaurants might even take off the stem and blend the eggplant before mixing it with the egg.
The basic tortang talong and rellenong talong with just vegetables are good choices for vegetarians. If you want a vegan version, you can use squash, flour, and tofu instead of eggs.
See also
In Spanish: Tortang talong para niños
