Canarian cuisine is characterized by the fusion of elements and a pronounced contrast of flavors, the result of high quality products and ingredients. For the Canary Islanders, food is part of their identity, of vital importance in their culture and in their daily life. In this article we will talk about the most typical dishes with which to celebrate the Canary Islands Day on May 30.
On May 30, the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands celebrates its day. On this date, the people of the Canary Islands commemorate the celebration of the first session of the Parliament of the Canary Islands, a body created in the 1982 Statute of Autonomy of the Canary Islands, under the protection of the 1978 Constitution. The first parliamentary session took place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on May 30, 1983.
The products of the Canary Islands, high quality foods
The volcanic origin of the islands, its mild temperatures and the pampered artisan elaboration make that many of the star products of its gastronomy are under Protected Designation of Origin (P.D.O.). Among them, its excellent volcanic wines and cheeses such as the Majorero, from Fuerteventura, the Palmero or Flor de Guía, made in Gran Canaria, stand out. All of them have an excellent flavor and are recognized worldwide.
The magnificent climatic conditions of the Canary archipelago are perfect for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, protagonists in most of the local dishes, and also protected by denominations of origin. A clear example of this are the ancient Canary potatoes, among which the prized black potato stands out. In addition, the mild climate of the Canary Islands allows the cultivation of many exotic fruits, such as papaya, mango, pineapple, avocado and, of course, the popular Canary Island banana. The only type of banana that has achieved European recognition as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).
Celebrating the Canary Islands Day, a display of Canary Island recipes
May 30 is a very special date for all Canary Islanders. On this day, there are many corners of the Archipelago that dress up in typical costumes and dance to the rhythm of the rondallas or prepare delicious banquets full of Canary Islanders.
Roots, traditions, crafts, typical costumes and, of course, gastronomy. Codfish, pork, moray eels, wheat, veal, mackerel, mackerel, goat or kid, gofio, etc.
To elaborate typical Canarian dishes, it is not necessary to take into account the calendar, but it is true that on this date so marked in the Canarian calendar, families celebrate by preparing delicious meals. The table is very varied, from papas arrugadas with typical mojos to stews, casseroles, grills, gofio and much more.
Below, we recommend five dishes with which to celebrate the Canary Islands Day in style and which we have already talked about in Marca Canaria.
Five dishes to celebrate the day of the Canary Islands
Wrinkled potatoes with mojo
Wrinkled potatoes with mojo are possibly the best known dish par excellence of the Canarian gastronomy. It is a very simple dish to make, but for which it is essential to get the potato from the Canary Islands. These are especially tasty, the best known is the black potato, although there are many types, and the mojo with which they are usually accompanied is red, whose main ingredient is the piconas peppers, although it can also be accompanied with green mojo.
Canarian stew or puchero canario
The Canarian stew, also known as puchero, is a delicious and very nutritious dish of the Canarian gastronomy that is formed by a great amount of vegetables and also by a moderate amount of meat. The usual ingredients of puchero canario are chickpeas, as well as millet pineapples, beans, cabbage, carrots, pumpkin, bubango, potatoes and beef and pork. Sometimes it can also be served with gofio. We talk about this dish in more detail in this post: Puchero canario, a nutritious dish to prepare in winter.
Scalding of gofio
Gofio is the most basic food of the Canarian diet, consumed since aboriginal times. Gofio is a very fine flour made from toasted cereals such as wheat, millet or barley.
It is usually consumed in different ways, but probably the most common is in the form of escaldón. This can be prepared in different ways, but it is usually composed of gofio dough, which is made with a meat or fish broth, to which vegetables and meat are added to taste. We talk about this dish in more detail in this post: Escaldón de gofio, one of the most popular dishes of the Canary Islands.
Grilled cheese with mojo
Another of the most classic dishes of Canarian gastronomy and very easy to prepare. It consists of cutting some slices of Canarian cheese, preferably if it is smoked cheese from La Palma or another island. We put it in a frying pan with a drizzle of oil for a few minutes, and when it is at its optimum point, it is presented on a plate accompanied by red mojo picón or green mojo. It can also be accompanied by palm honey and gofio.
Meat party
It is the typical dish par excellence that you can find in all the Canarian "guachinches" and typical village festivals. Carne fiesta is composed of pieces of pork marinated in garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, paprika, vinegar and white wine, accompanied with fried potatoes and small pieces of parsley. We talk about this dish in more detail in this post: Carne fiesta, the most popular Canarian recipe in stalls.
If you want to know more about the Canarian recipes and learn how to prepare delicious dishes, we recommend you to visit the gastronomy section of Marca Canaria.
Paula Vera
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