The Canary Islands are home to typical dishes and ingredients, always linked to the unique environment. Ingredients are provided by the rich Canarian Agriculture, that is specially diverse because it is blessed by a climate which is both Subtropical and Mediterranean. Mojo (pronounced mo-ho) is a sauce which may be orange, red, or green depending on its ingredients. Mojo often has some garlic and can be moderately spicy. Red mojos are often used on meat, while green mojo is chiefly served with fish. Both are served with bread or stewed potatoes. Canarian mojo is often considered the father to all mojos of Latin America, especially Cuba, due to heavy Canarian emigration.
Canarian Mojos are traditionally handmade with fresh ingredients
One very typical product is gofio, a flour obtained by grinding roasted cereals. Gofio is converted into various dishes or added to many foods. It is mixed with warm milk as a drink for breakfast, as well as made into a dough-like food and eaten alongside meals. Some foods are dyed yellow, using a local azafran (saffron) as food colouring. Goat cheese is manufactured in many ways. Fresh white cheese has a light flavour and it is often served with mojos or gently topped with bee-honey or palm-honey. Canarian Bee honey is unique, just like the endemic flowers visited by the bees. Palm-honey is the concentrated sap of the native palm species, extracted by a millenary technique. Both bee-honey and palm-honey are used in many ways to prepare different dishes of the local cuisine.
A sweet indulgence is frangollo, It is a paste made from maize flour, sugar, grounded almonds and raisins. Tropical fruits are commonly grown on the islands. Some are grown on a very large scale. The most widespread is the banana, followed by mango, avocado, Figs and Cactus Figs (Opuntia ficus-indica). Fruits are processed by local manufacturers in order to prepare delicious jams with or without sugar.
Visit our shop. Canarius offers a wide range of Canarian Foods and Drinks. We also ship living plants of exotic fruit trees, so you can grow your own flavours at home.
Avocado is part of the typical Canarian salad.
