When we think of the Canary Islands, the first things that come to mind are their wonderful climate and dreamlike landscapes. To these attributes, we should add an original and creative gastronomy, with flavours that are completely different from those found in the rest of Spain’s cuisines.
The kitchens of each of the eight islands have their own peculiarities and characteristic products, such as coriander or millo, which make their gastronomy one of the most unique in Spain.
Would you like to discover the typical food of Gran Canaria? We reveal it through 10 delicious dishes. Take note!
The typical canarian dishes you must try if you bisit Gran Canaria
Canarian gastronomy is characterised by simplicity with a touch of exoticism. In its cuisine, traditional products are combined with simple preparation methods, typical of grandmother’s cooking, resulting in exquisite and healthy dishes for lovers of traditional cuisine.
Among the typical Canarian dishes, the following are absolute must-tries.
Sancocho
The unusual name of this dish means “half-cooked food” and consists of boiled salted fish, usually meagre or wreckfish, served with sweet potatoes, boiled potatoes, green or red mojo sauce and gofio in a clay casserole dish. It is perfect if you are looking for a dish with few calories, but with all the flavour of the Canary Islands.
Although it is traditionally associated with Good Friday, it is a festive dish that can be enjoyed throughout the rest of the year, standing out as one of the most popular gastronomic creations in the Canary Islands.
Rancho canario
Among the typical food of Gran Canaria, this classic dish is a delight if you love spoon dishes. Its secret is nothing more than humble and simple ingredients, cooked with great care. A stew made with chickpeas, potatoes, tomato, thick noodles, pork and chorizo, paprika and saffron that you simply must try if you want to gather strength and face the day with energy.
Stewed parrotfish with wrinkled potatoes
You may not know what a vieja is in Canarian gastronomy. It is a typical fish from the islands that can be cooked in countless ways. In this recipe, the parrotfish is prepared in a vegetable broth with potatoes, tomato, spring onion, garlic, coriander, cumin and chilli, and, of course, olive oil. It is then served with wrinkled potatoes.
How are wrinkled potatoes prepared? They are made with typical island potatoes, known as papas bonitas, which are boiled unpeeled with plenty of salt. The result: delicious potatoes, either on their own, served with dishes like this one or with the typical Canarian mojo sauce.
Watercress stew
Another of the hearty Canarian stews that cannot be missed in winter. Its ingredients are very complete, as it includes a good amount of vegetables and a little meat. Watercress, green and pinto beans, pumpkin, pepper, onion, tomato, corn on the cob, garlic and pork ribs, together with spices such as cumin and saffron, are enough to create a very tasty and complete dish.
Potato broth
Then we have potato broth, another of the most popular Canarian spoon dishes on the island. It consists of a broth made with potatoes, tomato, green pepper, onion, coriander, garlic and cumin, with eggs cooked in it. It is a dish similar to the tomato soup found in Andalusian villages, quick and easy to prepare, with a delicious flavour that recalls earlier times. If you are vegetarian and love garden-based dishes, this one will surely win you over.
Ropa vieja
Ropa vieja is a dish eaten in many Latin American countries such as Cuba, Mexico and Chile, among others, and, of course, in the Canary Islands. It is a leftover-based dish, as it can produce both a first course, the soup, and a second course, the ropa vieja.
It is prepared with beef flank, shoulder or brisket, cooked like a stew, together with potatoes, chickpeas, aromatic herbs and vegetables. After boiling the meat and chickpeas, the broth is removed and can be used for soup, while the meat is shredded and sautéed with all the other ingredients.
Canarian puchero
This is very similar to the version you can find on the Spanish mainland, but with a Canarian touch: piñas de millo, or corn on the cob, one of Gran Canaria’s typical products that make this puchero unique. Its secret: top-quality products cooked slowly. Its main ingredients include different meats such as beef, hen and pork, as well as carrot, cabbage, sweet potatoes, potatoes and legumes.
Rabbit in salmorejo
Although the name may cause some confusion, this salmorejo has nothing to do with the Andalusian version. For this dish, the rabbit is marinated in a sauce made with garlic, bay leaf, white wine, vinegar, hot pepper, thyme, oregano and sweet paprika, and then fried. Finally, it is simmered with the sauce, and it is ready to serve.
Pork meat
This is one of those Canarian dishes that cannot be missing from any traditional pilgrimage festival, although you can also find it in bars and restaurants throughout the rest of the year. It is made with marinated pork seasoned with paprika, oregano, thyme, wine and oil, fried and served with fried potatoes or wrinkled potatoes. It is a recipe enjoyed by both adults and children and one you will love if you are fond of meat-based combination dishes.
Roast pork leg
This is one of the most common ways to eat pork on the island. A very simple recipe consisting of roasting a pork leg in the oven and then cutting it into slices. It is usually used to fill sandwiches or eaten as an enyesque, that is, as a tapa.
All the buffet restaurants at Lopesan hotels offer, once a week, a themed day featuring typical Canarian food. What are you waiting for to discover it?
