Canarian Food

There is an incredible selection of food available in Lanzarote, with everything from Indian curry houses and Thai restaurants to American diners and Italian eateries. But since you’ve travelled all the way to the Canary Islands, why not indulge in some authentic Canarian dishes?

Canarian food takes its roots from Spanish cuisine, with some African and Latin American influence due to the islands’ location and history. There is also a handful of traditional recipes kept from the aboriginal people of the Canary Islands which can still be found in Lanzarote today.

Traditional food in Lanzarote is fairly similar to that of the neighbouring islands, such as Fuerteventura, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Fresh fish and seafood are very common things to spy on a typical restaurant menu, thanks to the myriad of fishing opportunities available around the island.

Pescado a la sal is a popular dish usually made of a type of white fish encrusted in salt and baked in the oven. Sancocho Canario is another prominent authentic dish and is a rich stew comprised of salted sea bream and potatoes cooked with a number of herbs and spices. In addition to these delicious meals, most fish and seafood restaurants also offer seared tuna steaks, deep-fried calamari rings and whole octopus.

The locals go head over heels for stews, putting a great deal of love and care into each and every dish. Puchero is one of the island’s many favourites. This hearty stew is primarily made of beef or pork which is slow-cooked alongside chicken, chickpeas, potatoes, a plethora of vegetables and a handful of herbs and spices.

Potaje is another delicious stew which appears on most Canarian restaurant menus in Lanzarote. This stew is a seasonal dish made of whichever produce is available at that time, leading to different flavours and textures each time you order it.

You’ve got to try tapas during your visit to Lanzarote. Popular throughout mainland Spain, the Canary Islands and the Balearics, tapas are small portions of food and come in countless variations. Pimientos de padrón (tiny, sweet green peppers which are cooked in sea salt and olive oil), albóndigas (meatballs served in tomato sauce) and tortilla (Spanish omelette) are just some of many examples of tapas.

Thanks to the wonderful year-round climate enjoyed by Lanzarote, farmers can grow an abundance of fruit and vegetables throughout the year. Papas arrugadas con mojo is a must-try. One of the Canary Islands’ most characteristic dishes, papas arrugadas con mojo is made up of a number of small potatoes boiled in salt water with their skins on and served up alongside a mild green pepper sauce and a slightly spicy red pepper sauce.