The island of Tenerife offers diversity in many areas, from its activities to its accommodation, but cuisine is one element that can sometimes get overlooked All types of tourist are catered for on the isle, with authentic, local cuisine and international options both available Whether visitors prefer to eat a familiar dish or to sample the island’s own unique flavours, mouthwatering meals are always available at the many restaurants and hotels in Tenerife. Here’s a taster of what’s on offer:
Meats
Pork, beef, chicken and rabbit are the main meats served in Tenerife, which are often slow-cooked in liquid and served as a stew. Other popular dishes includes chopped, marinated and spiced pork, which is called ‘fiesta meat’, often served with both potatoes and sweet potatoes as a side dish.
Vegetarian options
Fresh vegetables are a common theme for many island diets as they are more practical and cost effective than importing food from the mainland. Vegetable stews made with tomatoes, potatoes, maize, onions and peppers are popular choices. Gofio – a cereal paste prepared with grains such as maize, toasted wheat, or barley – is frequently served with stew.
Specialities
A specialty of Tenerife is ‘mojo’ sauce, which is often served with fresh seafood, such as sardines, octopus, shellfish, boiled vieja (sea bream), tuna, and jareas and tollos (a local, salted fish). It is also particularly delicious served over small potatoes. The sauce is made with a base of oil, vinegar and red pepper sauce then jazzed up with herbs and spices like garlic, cumin, pepper, coriander and parsley.
Meanwhile, adventurous taste buds should sample the traditional moles eggs dish, made with a sweet syrup made for sugar and egg yolk. Other exciting tastes include ‘tollos’ (seasoned and dried shark strips), fried chorizo and sweet black pudding.
Drinks
The many vineyards in Tenerife are in a prime position to offer up the perfect accompaniment to an evening meal. Visitors to the island can enjoy a day wine tasting, visiting historical sites and museums, shopping, and marvelling at the beautiful landscape and ocean views before settling down to a mouthwatering evening meal complete with a nice glass of ‘vino’.
There are plenty of ways to make the most of Tenerife’s tasty cuisine. The all inclusive options offered by many Tenerife hotels gives guests the chance to sample a variety of different dishes at no extra cost. This is a great option for those on a budget and the standard of food on offer is generally very high – as is the case with most Canaries hotels right across the archipelago. If the hotel menu is limited, however, then bed & breakfast is the way forward. This allows visitors to the island to test out some of the many quaint little eateries and popular restaurants and to get a full feel for the island’s local flavours.
