Traditional foods of Tenerife
Among the many varied culinary options on Tenerife, it is almost impossible to find any type of overseas cooking that is not represented. But likewise there is no shortage of opportunities to enjoy the island’s own traditional cuisine: a style of cooking strongly impregnated with the tastes of the sea and of the Americas. Simple to prepare but rich in taste and in unusual features, and thanks to the contributions of young and innovative chefs, it is not short of originality either.
On the menus of the restaurants which are most respectful to the islands traditional cuisine, there is no lack of entrées such as the delicious “carne de fiesta”, or goat’s meat, octopus, fried moray eel, goat’s cheese or black pudding, which are prepared with a sweet taste in the Canary Islands.
Among the fish, caught in the waters off the island, the ones in greatest demand are the delicious viejas, which are served boiled, samas, tuna and sardines. Among the meats, rabbit in salmorejo sauce, and pork, prepared in a thousand different ways. Huevos mole, frangollo, truchas, príncipe alberto, or any other traditional dessert is a perfect finish to a real Canarian meal. Don’t miss the opportunity to try a genuine island banana.
Gofio, the diet of the Guanches, the ancient in-habitants of Tenerife, was principally made up of cereals toasted and then ground with large rocks. This is still today part of the diet of the Canarians. When it is mixed with fish soup it makes a typical dish which is much loved called el escaldón.
In the Canaries, dishes of both meat and fish are generally served with papas arrugadas, or Canarian potatoes, boiled and served in their jackets with abundant salt, and also mojo picón, which is red, or coriander mojo, which is less hot and green in colour. There are over thirty different kinds of potato available in the Canaries which are descended directly from the first specimens brought to Europe. They immediately and fruitfully adapted to the climate and the volcanic soils. The most delicious of them all, a true delicacy, is the so called “papa bonita”.
We have a small selection of Canarian recipes that you can try for yourself.