The islands that make up the Canaries are part of Spain, but what kind of influences do we find there?
Historically the Canaries were inhabited by local indigenous people, the Guanchi, an ethnically related population to the Berbers to date completely disappeared, as opposed to some of their traces like pyramids, hypogea and cave paintings.
After the various passages of Phoenicians, Moors, and other navigating peoples, it was the turn of Spain, which made it an outpost for the route to the Americas ; many Hispanics, especially after the civil war in Venezuela, decided to go back and settle on these islands.
Finally, the last great influence comes from the neighboring African continent: from Morocco, Senegal, Cape Verde .
These are the cultural ingredients of a unique mix, where it is perceived in the air, as a special vibration given by the South American vitality, the Spanish frankness, and the African charge .
Africa and South America are also present at the table, both in the recipes and in the single ingredients: exotic fruit, fish, rice and other cereals .
Canarian cuisine: typical dishes
What do you eat in the Canaries? Each island is different from the others and every part of every island is different in itself: on the coasts, more touristy, you eat international food and is full of restaurants, while inside is all more "rural" and sometimes mountain, especially going up volcanoes.
Vegetarian and vegan dishes are not just part of the local culture but things evolve quickly and you just have to ask to have, being careful of the old habit of considering fish or cold cuts as vegetarian dishes.
One of the typical local dishes is the papas arrugadas con mojo piquon : a universal dish made with new potatoes put in salt with the peel, with the addition of vegetable sauce, tomato, lots of garlic and a dash of vinegar .
We also have local cheeses, species of goat, such as Majorero with red pepper, much loved.
A local food is gofio : wheat flour and chickpea or corn flour, toasted and used as a thickening spice; it is very nutritious and exists in a sweet or savory version.
Where to eat (on the street or in the restaurant)
Canaries love barbecues, mainly based on pork and goat meat, or fish, and each yard has a barbecue.
Because of tourism, everyone is used to eating in restaurants and cafés, and every town has at least one typical restaurant with ancient recipes .
There are many festivals, parties and various occasions for eating out in the open or at least outside the home ... one above all, the Tenerife Carnival .
Not to be missed
We mention the papas arrugada con mojo piquon, which is everywhere and is the basis of the Canarian culinary culture, and a dessert called pella de gofio : balls of flour mixed with sweeteners (sometimes natural, sometimes not), which could be a soft nougat.
What to avoid
For a trip of culinary discovery it is good to avoid places that are too touristy, holiday villages, discos, also because alcohol costs half because of the fact that the Canaries are a free port (and have their own special rum with honey ) and therefore it is not difficult to come across tall individuals.
Advice and curiosity
Each island has its own character and all deserve a visit. What unites them is an open character, like the doors of village houses, where a country spirit still lives.
It is nice to discover that everyone grows their own food in the garden, that they live in a slow, pleasant, not stressed way, even though with a healthy pride of being inhabitants of the Canaries.
