One of Tenerife’s most important cultural features is its delicious cuisine. The best way to experience Tenerife’s tasty treasures is to explore away from the main Southern tourist hubs in search of the plethora of fresh food and wine on offer. Tenerife is known for creative and innovative dishes, the products of a jumble of cultures: African, Indigenous Guanche, European and Latin American. A typical dish to try would be a hearty stew with a delicious and fresh vegetable side, traditional tapas or some of the island’s world renowned seafood.
Joe CawleyMy Destination local expert onTenerife
Look out for ‘papas arrugadas’, small potatoes cooked with their skins and covered in salt, or ‘mojo’, a deliciously hearty red or green sauce with an oil and vinegar base. Red mojo has a bit of a kick and is traditionally made with cumin and chilli whereas green mojo is made with coriander and parsley. ‘Gofio Canario’ has roots back to the island’s indigenous Guanche people and is a type of flour, made with toasted grains and ground sweetcorn that can be used in almost anything from bread to stews, and sausages to ice cream. The island is also home to some award winning goat cheeses with the most popular types being Arico and Benijos. Another specialty is honey; look out for the ‘Miel de Tenerife’ label.
Traditional cuisine
Most traditional dishes are simple but bursting with flavor and made from scratch as Canarians are experts at combining different herbs and spices. Traditional dishes include a lot of hearty stews and casseroles. Key seasonings in these dishes include saffron, oregano, thyme, basil, paprika, coriander and cumin. With over 20 different types of mojo sauce each chef will try and put their own mark on it and use it to typically accompany and liven up potato, meat or fish dishes. Restaurante Las Aguas is a top spot to try some traditional dishes while Tapas Pata de Oro is ideal for a banquet of Spanish tapas.
• Restaurante Las Aguas, Gran Hotel Bahia Del Duque, Costa Adeje, Tenerife, 38660. Tel: +34 922 746932.• Tapas Pata de Oro, Bungalow 9, Calle Trasera, Gold del Sur. Tel: +34 922 738482.
As an island Tenerife has some of the freshest and most delicious seafood in the world, including tuna, mackerel, lobster, octopus and crab. Popular fish dishes include cazula de pescado, a fresh fish casserole made with potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and onions. Sancocho Canario is made with yams and potatoes and accompanied by gofio and mojo. Traditional meats found in Tenerife are goat and rabbit; beef, lamb and pork are mostly imported. Popular meat dishes include Puchero Canario, a meat and vegetable stew, Ropa Vieja, meats served with potatoes and garbanzo beans, and Morcillas Dulces, a sweet blood sausage with raisins, almonds, grapes and gofio. El Faro offers up a gourmet meat and seafood experience while Masia del Mar will settle your appetite for fresh, locally sourced fish.
• El Faro, Parque Santiago V, Playa de las Americas – Tenerife, 38660. Tel: +34 922 752 612.• Masia del Mar, Calle El Muelle, La Caleta, Costa Adeje – Tenerife, 38670. Tel: +34 922 710 895.
Fruit and vegetables
Tenerife’s enviable climate allows for year-round growth of tropical fruits and vegetables. The island is known for oranges, guava, pineapple and bananas as well as tomatoes, olives, courgettes and green beans. Popular vegetarian dishes in Tenerife include Potaje de Berros, a watercress stew and Potaje de Verduras, a vegetable stew.
• The African Market in Santa Cruz is one of the best places to find fresh produce. The market is located by the pink clock tower and is only a short walk from the bus station.
Desserts
Local produce is combined with spices and seasonings to create tantalising, flavor-packed desserts. Local desserts to look out for include Truchas de Batata, puff pastry filled with almonds, sweet yams and cinnamon, Platanos Fritos, fried bananas, Flan de Gofio, gofio and custard and Heuvos Mole, a dessert made from egg yolks, sugar and cinnamon. El Faro does a mean banana flambé while La Nonna Restaurant is famous for its desserts and offers tasters if you just can’t make your mind up.
• El Faro, Parque Santiago V, Playa de las Americas – Tenerife, 38660. Tel: +34 922 752 612.• La Nonna Restaurant, Playa del Duque promenade, Costa Adeje. Tel: +34 922 724 781.
Drink
Tenerife’s vineyards are best known for their production of red wines. For the avid wine drinker La Baranda Wine Museum is well worth a visit, with a tasting room on-site where you can try over 300 wines and also a fantastic restaurant. The Canary Islands are known for both rum and honey, and also for honeyed rum, which the locals drink straight as an after-dinner drink.
• Banana Garden, CC Palm Beach, Playa de las Americas. Tel: +34 922 790365.
