What to eat in Gran Canaria? What are the typical dishes in the Canary Islands?

The gastronomy of the Canary Islands is very characteristic and is well known all over the world for its mixture of flavours and proposals. If you are going to visit Gran Canaria, I will tell you which are the typical dishes of the Canary Islands, so that you can try them and don't miss a single one.

Ropa vieja

Ropa vieja is traditionally a dish made with leftovers. It is simple but hearty and is made with pieces of meat and various vegetables, as well as potatoes and chickpeas. Canarian grandmothers are masters at preparing this curiously named (old clothes) dish.

Potajes

Hearty potato-based soups with white beans or bacon, such as lentil stew, watercress stew and vegetable stew.

Escaldón de gofio

Gofio is another well-known Canarian peculiarity. This food is made with toasted grain flour, such as barley or wheat, or ground maize flour. Depending on the grain used, the method of toasting and the salt added, it is of one type or another, which is also distinguished by its colour.

The product is not eaten loose. The most common form is as a sweet or salted peel, in the form of 'escaldón' or in the form of 'gofio escaldado' (with the broth from the watercress stew). It can also be eaten as a dessert in the form of gofio mousse, ice cream or nougat.

Papas arrugadas with mojo

Small new potatoes with a spicy paprika and garlic sauce. The appearance of the papas arrugadas, as the name "wrinkled potatoes" suggests, are made with the skin that remains wrinkled after being boiled with a lot of salt.

Sancocho

Sancocho is one of the most typical dishes to eat in the Canary Islands. The base of the dish is salted fish (e.g. wreckfish or sea bass), to which boiled potatoes, sweet potato, red or green mojo picón and gofio peel are added. It is a very simple dish whose secret to being good lies in the quality of the ingredients.  Although it can be eaten at any time of the year, it is the usual dish on Good Friday.

El Rancho Canario

Rancho Canario is another traditional spoon dish to eat in the Canary Islands. Its origins are lost in time, but what is clear is that it was used to feed a lot of people, as the original recipe is believed to be large in quantity.

There is no single recipe for this dish, but it usually includes beef, bacon, ribs, chorizo, chickpeas, potatoes and fat noodles.

¿Cerveza?

Fancy a cold Canarian beer? Gran Canaria's pride and joy, its own local and most consumed beer, is called Tropical. Its Tenerife counterpart, Dorada, is also found in Gran Canaria.

Rum

Arucas, in the north-east of Gran Canaria, not far from Las Palmas, is home to the Arehucas rum factory, founded in 1884. You can visit the distillery and sample up to 18 different types of rum. You won't leave the factory without buying a bottle.

Canarian Wines

Vino Valara from Bodegas Tunte: This is one of the most renowned Canarian white wines, which in September 2019 was once again awarded the gold medal at the Cata Insular del Cabildo de Gran Canaria (Island Tasting of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria). With aromas of honey, white flowers and almonds.

Or try the red wine of Bodega Beliandra, an exquisite red wine of medium intensity. I can also recommend the wine Agala Crianza from Bodegas Bentayga. It is a clean and bright wine that is distinguished by its cherry red colour.

Spanish Tapas

To be honest, personally I am more of a fan of Spanish tapas, which are also available in every restaurant here in Gran Canaria.

Enjoy a plate of  Serrano Ham, goat cheese, pimientos de padrón (little green peppers with a sweet taste with see salt) or one of those delicious steaming ceramic bowls with prawns in garlic oil (gambas al ajillo), dipping it with corn bread. Mmmmmm just delicious!

Would you like to taste these dishes? Then click here for a list of good Canarian restaurants.

If you already know that you want to visit Gran Canaria, but you are still looking for accommodation:

Click here to see my holiday homes.