Balunbalunan

Spicy Adobong Balunbalunan by Ahljhon Miranda

The Tagalog word balunbalunan refers to the gizzard of birds. The gizzard is a muscular pouch behind the stomach in the alimentary canal. It has a thick lining and often contains ingested grit that aids in the breakdown of seeds before digestion. It is found in the lower stomach of fowl.

The portion of the gizzard that grinds ingested food is usually removed before the gizzard reaches market. Because it is very tough, poultry gizzard needs a lot of cooking.

In the Philippines, a common way of preparing balunbalunan is to cook it adobo style, meaning with soy sauce, vinegar and a bay leaf. It is usually paired with atay (liver). It can also be fried or sauteed.

Other English names for balunbalunan: ventriculus, gastric mill, gigerium

balunbalunan = chicken gizzard, craw

also spelled as balumbalunan and balun-balunan