Many in the Arabian peninsula eat Uromastyx or soosmar. What is the best way of cooking soosmar?

Answer 1

Like other reptilians, it is always advised to cook soosmar until it is well done. However, some people are known to consume it raw.

When Anthony Bourdain visited Saudi Arabia, he tried it!

Like other meats, there is no single "best way" of cooking soosmar and every one has their own favorites. Often times, the taste you grow up with, mom's cooking, is what influences what you prefer as an adult.

One of my favorite ways is from the "Soosmar Khor International" website:

Ingredients: two fresh uromastyx lizards,soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar, black pepper.

Step 1: make marinate using 1/2 cup soy sauce, three spoons of brown sugar, and two crushed garlic, and 1 cup of water, 1 spoon coarse black pepper. Keep marinated soosmar in refrigerator.

Step 2: marinate overnight.

Step 3: remove uromastyx/soosmar, pat dry, allow to reach room temperature

Step 4: heat barbecue to high temperature. Rub peanut or grape seed oil to the outside of the uromastyx. place on bbq about 6 inches / 18 cm from the flame.

Step 5: cook 7 minutes on each side, rotating half a turn each side to get nice grill marks/scores on the meat.

Step 6: remove from flame and cover in foil for 8 minutes.

Step 7: serve with rice or potatoes (use own recipe).

It is a fusion recipe in that it takes the open fire format often used in the Arabian peninsula and combines with Chinese influenced soy sauce marinade.