Recipe of Canarian potatoes or wrinkled potatoes from Tenerife

Today we bring you a recipe for Canarian potatoes that you must try if you want to taste the authentic flavours of Tenerife. This is a delicious recipe for potatoes with mojo, which are a real delicacy. They form part of the typical Canarian gastronomy and are a must for visitors. They are gluten-free so they are suitable for all diners and taste exquisite.

What are Canary Island potatoes?

First we would like to tell you about the origin of potatoes in Tenerife. They arrived in the archipelago from South America in the 16th century. At first, the locals used them as ornamental plants in gardens, but then they discovered their potential for food. Today they are part of the Tenerife idiosyncrasy and you can find them in all the local restaurants. They were recognised as a gastronomic wonder in Spain in 2016.

They are also known as Papas arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes) due to their appearance. The potatoes are wrinkled by the action of sea salt that dehydrates the skin, creating folds on the surface. For this recipe you can use black potatoes, sweet potatoes or quick-cooking potatoes.

Best restaurants where to eat Papas Canarias

If you are in Tenerife and you want to give your taste buds a treat, we recommend some of the most renowned restaurants where this is one of the star dishes. Remember that each restaurant has its own charm and brings a unique and authentic flavour to its food.

• • La Lata del Gofio, El Médano
  • La Pandorga, San Andres
  • El Rincón de Juan Carlos, Adeje
  • El Guachinche de Luis, La Laguna
  • El Caldero, La Caleta
  • La Cofradía, Puerto de la Cruz
  • El Caldero, La Caleta
  • La Casa de los Balcones, La Orotava

Canarian Potato recipe

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Here is the recipe so you can prepare them yourself:

Ingredients:

• 1 kg of small potatoes
• ¼ cup of coarse sea salt
• Enough water to cover the potatoes

Wash the potatoes well and place them in a large pot. Cover them with cold water without going over their size and add the sea salt. Boil for 20 minutes or until cooked through. Then let them sit on the cooker over very low heat until all the water has evaporated. Finally, cover the potatoes until they shrivel. Serve with mojo verde and mojo rojo. Don’t forget to upload the photo to Instagram to share with everyone your taste for good food and the authentic flavours of Tenerife.

Some people like to add a squeeze of lemon to the water in the potatoes to give them an acidic touch. However, this ingredient is not part of the traditional Tenerife recipe.

Motojo sauce recipe

You may have heard of mojo sauce, which is normal because it is part of Tenerife’s gastronomic tradition. It can be red or green, and both are served in the same dish. They are used to dress meats, fish and, of course, the delicious Canarian potatoes.

Green mojo sauce

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Ingredients:

• 2 slices of stale bread, broken into chunks
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 2 chopped green peppers
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
• 4 cloves garlic

Red mojo sauce

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Ingredients:

• 2 slices of stale bread, broken into chunks
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 2 red peppers, chopped
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 6 cloves garlic, chopped
• 4 tablespoons olive oil

In both cases, blend all the ingredients in the blender, until you get a homogeneous paste that will be ready to use. You can store it in the refrigerator for more than 1 month.

A variant of this recipe is the Mojo Picón. It has a spicy taste due to the addition of chillies in its preparation.

The aim of this recipe for Canarian potatoes with mojo is that you can prepare it from anywhere in the world. This is a way to revive the Canarian flavours and connect with the essence of Tenerife.