With its volcanic soils and microclimates, the Canary Islands maintain perfect growing conditions for all sorts of foods. With a history of making inexpensive and substantial meals from local produce, it’s no wonder people flock to the Canaries for gastronomical delights. Let us take you on our Canary Islands food tour.
Photo by: pkazmierczak/Fotolia
Combined with local staple foods, herbs and spices, and international influences, visitors are continually wowed by the intense flavours produced. Local cuisine has Spanish, African and Latin-American twists.
Fresh from the islands
Many fruits are grown on the islands and taste unlike what you’re used to at home. Try the Canary banana, mango, papaya, and avocado straight from the groves.
Meat prepared on the island consists of rabbit, goat and pork. Locally-caught fresh fish include cherne, sea bass, grouper, and tuna.
Popular herbs and spices used to flavour dishes are cumin, bay leaf, paprika, saffron, and oregon among others. Combine these elements and you’ve got a stunning meal that makes you want to go back for more.
A variety of cheeses are produced on the islands with cheeseries offering tours and tasting sessions. Some islands are better known for certain cheeses. For example, the majorero from Fuerteventura, palmero from La Palma, and flor de guia from Gran Canaria. Try them all!
Traditional dishes
An extremely popular dish is papas arrugadas, boiled salted potatoes, served with mojo, a traditional sauce. Variations of tapas can include this dish along with local cheese, meat and fish. We include a recipe for cooking your own papas arrugadas below. Mojo is also used in fish dishes such as caldereta and sancocho canario.
Experience other traditional dishes such as carajacas, cazuelas, and ropa vieja; all made from fresh, locally produced ingredients.
And to wash it down…
The islands are also home to many vineyards, with over 200 alone across La Palma, Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Some vines are unlike any others found outside the Canary Islands as the phylloxera vine aphid wiped them out in the 1860s. Use your hire car to get to the hidden vineyards in the many valleys for a tour and samples.
When dining out, request a wine to complement the dish you’re eating- there’s one for every occasion and palate.
Ron miel, or honey rum, has become extremely popular with tourists. So much so, that many holidays end with a bottle or two in suitcases to bring home.
Canary Islands food tour – experience them
There are lots of food tours already established so let a guide do the planning for you. Sample the best of Canarian cuisine across several of the islands.
Tenerife – Walk through La Laguna to learn more about the architecture and history before sampling cheese, dates and wines in Tegueste. Four course Canarian lunch is provided with a different wine for each course. Take advantage of the stunning view overlooking the Tacoronte Valley. Finally, visit Candelaria and awe at the Basilica and statues of Guanche Kings.
Gran Canaria – After an historic tour, take a stroll around a market, learning more about fresh produce. Select your ingredients ready to make local dishes with a local chef. You’ll learn direct from an expert how to make papas arrugadas and mojo.
Fuerteventura – Learn more about local produce from the area with a visit to an aloe vera farm and an ecological farm (cultivating olive oil and wine). Head closer to Betancuria and see where the majorera cheese is made. Meet the goats that produce the milk and sample cheese with local honey and jams.
Las Palmas – Explore a farm in the Valley of Agaete. Sample and learn more about their award-winning wine, coffee, and cheese products. Revel in the fantastic surroundings of the valley.
Papas Arrugadas – Photo by: chandlervid85/Fotolia
Make your own papas arrugadas and mojo
Take 1kg of small potatoes and wash well to remove any dirt. Place these in a saucepan with 200g of coarse sea salt and pour in enough water to just cover the potatoes. Place a cloth over the pan and boil until the potatoes are cooked. Remove the cloth. Don’t add any more water but sprinkle on a little more salt and heat again on a low setting until the potatoes are dry.
Serve these with a red mojo sauce. Soak 2-4 dried peppers for an hour then squeeze, remove the seeds and cut into rings. Peel and dice a garlic clove and crush with the pepper, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp cumin seeds, and ½ tsp pimento or paprika, until you have a paste. Add to the paste 200ml olive oil and 50ml white wine vinegar slowly, stirring well.
Taste the real thing
If your tastebuds are tingling just from the thought of all the cheese and wine on offer like ours are, book your hire car in the Canary Islands now and visit as many different vineyards and restaurants as possible to take full advantage of Canarian cuisine.
Have you tried a Canary Islands food tour? What were your favourites cheeses or wines? What restaurants would you recommend people visit? Let us know in the comments!
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Written by Jessica Juby.
Canarian foods are really delicious, well cooked and very tasty. I love all their local dishes. You surely can’t resist it! Loved their cheese too!