Have you ever wondered what lizard meat tastes like? While it may not be the most popular dish in North America, lizard meat is quite a delicacy in some parts of the world. So let’s take a closer look at why people might eat lizards and what they taste.
What does lizard meat taste like?
The taste of lizard meat highly depends on how it has been prepared.
While some may describe it as somewhere between chicken and seafood, others have found its flavor to be more similar to beef.
Generally speaking, the only way to accurately describe the taste is by simply trying it yourself. However, lizard meat is considered a delicacy in some regions, especially in certain parts of Asia and Africa.
Preparation techniques vary widely from place to place but are generally boiled or roasted over an open flame.
Since lizards tend to be small, their meat can be pretty chewy. Nonetheless, its unique flavor – depending on how it’s cooked – can make it a surprisingly enjoyable dish for many.
Why People Eat Lizards
In some parts of the world, eating lizards is a delicacy.
Eating lizards has been around for centuries, especially in tropical areas such as Africa and Southeast Asia. In these regions, lizards are seen as a source of protein that can provide much-needed nutrition to those living in poverty.
How to prepare a lizard for eating
Preparing a lizard for eating can be pretty involved, but with some expertise, the result can be rewarding.
The first step is to locate and capture your chosen lizard.
Depending on the species, trapping lizards can range from shooting them with a slingshot to setting traps in warm and sunny patches of open grass.
Once you have your lizard, it’s important to kill it humanely by squeezing its neck or submerging it in water until it has stopped breathing.
As soon as the lizard has perished, you should remove its head and viscera before saving any edible parts like the liver and eggs from females. Finally, these ingredients will need to be cooked over an open fire or prepared however else you choose to enjoy this unique delicacy.
Can lizards be eaten raw?
Eating a raw lizard may not be the most delicious thought to most people, but it is entirely possible, and in some parts of the world, it is pretty standard.
While lizards can be eaten raw, they usually carry bacteria and parasites that could make you sick, so it is highly recommended that if you consider eating one raw, you take precautions and know how to sanitize them properly.
This includes harvesting them from an uncontaminated source and disinfecting them with vinegar before consumption.
Additionally, consuming a large quantity of any wild protein can cause deficiencies in certain essential amino acids due to an imbalance in the diet, so diversifying your protein sources is also advised.
Recipes for eating lizards
1. Lizard Kabobs
Ingredients:
-1 pound of lizards, cut into 1-inch pieces
-1 green pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
-1 red pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
-1 onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
-1/4 cup of olive oil
-1/4 cup of vinegar
-1 teaspoon of salt
-1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
Instructions:
1. Preheat the grill to medium heat.
2. In a large bowl, combine lizard pieces, green pepper, red pepper, onion, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and black pepper.
3. Thread lizard onto skewers alternately with vegetables. Grill for 10 to 12 minutes or until the lizard is cooked through.
2. Lizard Fajitas
Ingredients:
-1 pound of lizards, cut into strips
-1 tablespoon of chili powder
-2 teaspoons of cumin
-1 teaspoon of garlic powder
-1/2 teaspoon of salt
-1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
-2 tablespoons of olive oil
-8 flour tortillas
-1 cup of shredded lettuce
-1/2 cup of diced tomatoes
-1/2 cup of sour cream
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, combine lizard strips, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Marinate for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat the grill to medium heat.
3. Grill lizard strips for 5 to 7 minutes per side or until cooked through.
4. Warm tortillas on the grill for 1 to 2 minutes per side.
5. Assemble fajitas by placing grilled lizard strips on tortillas and topping them with lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream.
Conclusion
Overall, lizard meat can be an enjoyable culinary experience for adventurous eaters looking for something new. Of course, before trying this delicacy out for yourself, ensure you obtain your lizards from a reliable source and always practice safe handling techniques when preparing them for consumption! However, if you’re willing to try it, you may be pleasantly surprised by its unique flavor.
