Canarian Tapas and Mojo Recipes
Canarian tapas are very popular in Fuerteventura and each resort has local tapas bars where you can try a good range of different traditional foods at the same time. If you are new to Canarian Tapas and would like to know more about their origin and history, then click here. But if you are already familiar with them and want to recreate some of the dishes at home, then we have lots of recipes for you to try. Some of the more popular tapas you will find on a menu in Fuerteventura, are listed below.
- Sancocho Canario
- Gambas Al Ajilo
- Papas Arrugadas
- Pimientos de Padrón
- Queso Asado
- Ensaladilla Rusa
- Rancho Canario
- Croquetas caseras
- Puchero Canario
- Escaldón de Gofio
- Ropa Vieja
Eating Out In Fuerteventura
There is always a good range of Canarian Tapas on offer and each bar or restaurant will have their own adaptations and family recipes that they use. Some will have specialties of the house that are well worth trying’, such as homemade goats cheese from their family farm or freshly caught seafood from their family boat. Others will have a set menu or Menu Del Dia, which is a little more limited where choices are concerned, but is a great way to eat delicious food on a budget. Most restaurants will also have a menu that you can choose from, so you can pick exactly what you fancy. In these establishments, each dish will have a price (or two prices if they offer a tapa and racion option) next to the description, and you can simply order as much or as little food as you like. Often places with a larger tapas selections will also offer deals, such as 5 or 10 tapas for a set price. It is worth asking your waiter before ordering if they have such an offereing, as this way to great way to try more dishes and new flavours and often works out much cheaper than ordering everything individually. The waiters are also really good at recommending popular dishes and translating the more exotic sounding name’s, so that you can chose a nice mixture of the things you like and avoid the things you don’t.
Canarian Tapas – Lost In Translation
In each tourist resort around the island, you will find restaurants offering Canarian Tapas in the form of a ‘meal deal’ which is designed especially to attract tourists. Many chefs and restaurant owners know, that most holiday makers want to try the local cuisine but are often a little intimidated when it comes to deciding what to order. If you have a good command of the Spanish language or a decent app that can translate on the go, then that can make things easier. But there are a lot of dishes which simply do not translate or give you any clue as to what ingredients are in the dish. Good examples of this are sancocho or Bienmesabe ( which are both delicious by the way! ) So, to get around this problem the restaurants have put together a special meal. It is a sort of tasting menu, but with proper tapas-sized portions. These are designed for sharing and made up of the most popular dishes. There will usually be two or three options available, such as Tapas for 2 people, Tapas for 4 people, and Tapas for Two people including a bottle of wine. These will consist of an agreed amount of tapas, for example 10 or 15, all served for a set price. The tapas will be chosen by the chef and designed to complement each other perfectly, so you can just sit back, relax and be amazed at all the different kinds of dishes that are laid out in front of you.
Canarian Tapas and Mojo Sauces
Whatever way you decide to chose your tapas, there are a few staples which are always on offer and accompany Canarian Tapas perfectly. These are known locally as Mojo’s ( pronounced Moho’s ). They are tasty little sauces, which go really well with most tapas dishes and add another level of flavour to your meal. These are usually served with freshly cut bread or a Canarian Specialty known as Papas arrugadas or wrinkly potatoes. Recipes for the three main mojos are below:
- Mojo Rojo or Mojo Picon (Bright red, peppery and spicy)
- Mojo Verde (Green and full of fragrant coriander)
- Alioli (White garlic heaven)
