Iguana?

[BrentC]

At my local Korean-Latino supermarket -- the only place I consistently find whole brisket -- I spotted a pack of iguana meat and was wondering if anyone had tried to barbecue iguana.

I lived in Central America for a few years, and iguana was mainly consumed in a soup (soap de garrobo). A Google search mostly turned up travelogues of eating barbecue iguana in Tiajuana, without recipes.

Welcome any thoughts on the feasibility/how to cook -- it'd be fun to do some garrobo the next time we have our friends from our time in El Salvador over! Thanks!

[Huskee]

Hmmm, that's the one thing Meathead forgot to include on his temperature magnet! I would definitely suggest a temp of well done for starters, but as you can probably guess I have no real idea. I'm just thinking what I'd do to be safe on my first attempt. SeriousEats.com has this video (link below)...although it's not a recipe per se... They say it tastes like a combo of chicken and crab, and another website compares it to a combo of chicken & rabbit.

https://vimeo.com/39521201

[johnsteen]

At the state fair they would put it on a stick, batter it, and deep fry it.

[LangInGibsonia]

Being reptilian, it should taste similar to rattlesnake or alligator. I've had both of those and wouldn't recommend low and slow for that type of meat. It's too lean and I think it would be VERY chewy. Sautéed in garlic herb butter or battered and deep fried would be my first thoughts. I bet you could sub iguana for any 'gator recipes you find on the interwebs. Reptile meat that I've had has a mild flavor (think chicken) with a firm texture (overcooked lobster tail) but still juicy.

[Danjohnston949]

BrentC, Isn't Iguanna commonly referred to as Chicken of the Tree? I don't know if that means you cook it like Chicken?
Eat Well and Prosper! From Fargo ND, Dan

[Nate]

Also known as Bamboo Chicken

[BrentC]

Thanks, everyone, for the thoughts on iguana. I'll likely buy some either this weekend or in a couple weeks and will experiment. Will report back.

[Breadhead]

I would check with someone at the market that you can buy it at. Someone there might have some information on how to cook it and maybe even a recipe.🤔

[Nate]

I got curious and started searching around... You are right, there isn't a lot of grilled or barbecued recipes. I did find some stuff that said and/or looked like they were going over open flame at a higher heat level 450 ish.

This is the perfect opportunity for you to become our expert, write some techniques and recipes, and start a food blog or something.

Please keep us posted... I wouldn't mind to try it.

[Spinaker]

I would like to try it. I could see a high temp cook over an open fire. Skin on.

[LangInGibsonia]

BrentC Did you ever try the iguana?

[gcdmd]

I've eaten alligator sausage in N'Yawalins. I wonder how iguana would work in something like that.

[Baker Dan]

When I was at Memphis in May last year I well known team was cooking this for their anything but category. I got to taste it. Not a fan