Traditional Canarian Food: What to Eat in Tenerife

Canarian cuisine is one of the great surprises of a trip to Tenerife. Influenced by Spain, Latin America and Africa, it is simple, fresh and full of flavour. Best of all, eating well here does not have to be expensive.

Papas arrugadas

The signature dish of the islands. Small, waxy local potatoes are boiled in very salty water until the skin wrinkles. They are served with mojo sauce and are the perfect accompaniment to grilled meat or fish.

Mojo sauces

Two classic sauces are served with almost everything:

• Mojo rojo — red, spicy, made with peppers, garlic, oil and vinegar.
• Mojo verde — green, milder, made with coriander or parsley and garlic.

Fresh fish and seafood

Tenerife is surrounded by the Atlantic, so fish is a must. Look for cherne (wreckfish), sama and vieja, usually grilled simply and served with a squeeze of lemon. Octopus (pulpo) and prawns are also excellent.

Gofio

A toasted grain flour that is the historic staple of the Canarian diet. It is eaten at every meal — mixed into soups, kneaded into dough, or made into a sweet dessert with milk and honey.

Canarian cheese

The islands produce excellent goat and sheep cheeses. Queso fresco is mild and fresh, while aged cheeses are richer and nuttier. Try cheese with mojo and a glass of local wine.

Meat dishes

• Conejo en salmorejo — rabbit marinated in a spicy, garlicky sauce.
• Cochinillo — roast suckling pig.
• Carne de fiesta — marinated pork served at celebrations.

Desserts

• Bienmesabe — a sweet almond cream served with ice cream or sponge.
• Frangollo — a creamy corn and almond pudding.
• Quesillo — a soft Canarian flan with caramel.

What to drink

• Malvasía — a white wine from the north of Tenerife, historically famous across Europe.
• Listán negro — a light, fruity red.
• Barraquito — a layered coffee with condensed milk, liqueur and cinnamon, a Canarian speciality.

Where to eat

Look for guachinches — small, family-run restaurants, often in the north, serving home-cooked food and local wine at very fair prices. They are the most authentic way to taste the Canaries.

Eating your way through Tenerife is half the fun — don't leave without trying papas arrugadas with a good mojo.