Canarian Potatoes Recipe - Tapas Recipes | Happy Healthy Motivated (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Nicola · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads ·

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Papas arrugadas is a hugely popular dish in the Canaries served with the mouthwateringly-good red and greenmojo sauces. And a small pot of creamy aioli, if you're lucky. Whether you eat them on their own with the previously mentioned sauces or use them as a crowd-pleasing side dish to go with something awesome like Adeje chicken, everyone loves Canarian potatoes. And when you find our just how quick, easy and cheap they are to make at home - you'll be eating them at every meal!

Canarian Potatoes Recipe - Tapas Recipes | Happy Healthy Motivated (1)

Here's some fun trivia for you. "Papas arrugadas" literally translated into English as either "wrinkly potatoes" or "wrinkly popes". Since no sane person would order that in a restaurant, they're usually called "Canarian potatoes" instead. So in the extremely unlikely event that topic ever comes up in a pub quiz, you're sorted!

If you've ever had Canarian potatoes before, you probably think they're so simple to make that you don't need a recipe. Throw them in a pan with a bit of water and salt and you're good to go, right? Not really... The trick to making the best ever Canarian potatoes is to get the ideal water to salt ratio. this way the potatoes are wonderfully salty and almost crispy on the outside. While the insides are heavenly soft and almost fluffy.

Canarian Potatoes Recipe - Tapas Recipes | Happy Healthy Motivated (2)

After quite literally years of trial and error, I've found just the right amount of salt and water to make the perfect Canarian potatoes. This recipe serves 2 people generously, but you can easily decrease or increase the ingredients to suit you.Just remember that if you change how much water you use, you've got to change the amount of salt, too.

Have you ever visited the Canary Islands and fell in love with them so much you'd like to move there? Check out my Moving to Tenerife book! It's a detailed guide book full of everything you need to know about moving to Tenerife and the Canaries in general. It includes how to get a job in Tenerife, how to become a resident in Tenerife and some basic Canarian phrases to help you get by in everyday life.

📖 Recipe

Canarian Potatoes Recipe - Tapas Recipes | Happy Healthy Motivated (3)

Canarian potatoes

5 from 13 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Canarian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 people

Calories: 400kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 Canarian potatoes (you can substitute small new potatoes)
  • 500 ml water
  • 5 tablespoons sea salt

Instructions

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcal

More Healthy Side Dishes

  • The Most Amazing Honey Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
  • Baked Zucchini Fries
  • Easy Roasted Potatoes with Garlic and Rosemary
  • Lightened-Up Brussels Sprouts Gratin

About Nicola

I’m Nicola, the face behind Happy Healthy Motivated – your go-to guide to becoming your best you!
Read my story

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Lizzy

    Such a unique recipe! My salt loving family would love these 🙂 Have a lovely weekend~

    Reply

  2. David Crichton

    Hi Nicky, I'm intrigued? Are you an American living in the Canary Islands? I've just been to Lanzarote for the last two days with work.

    On a work visit last year I discovered these Canarias Potatoes and absolutely loved them. Your results look perfect. Do you have recipes for the mojo sauces?

    Dave.

    Reply

    • Nicky

      Hi Dave,
      I'm British and live in Tenerife - you almost got it! 🙂 I'm so happy you like my potatoes - they're one of my favourite side dishes. I made some mojo this weekend and plan on posting the recipes on Friday, so keep an eye out.

      Reply

  3. phil mcguire

    hi from phil, i lived in tenerife a few years ago and fell in love with the canarian quisine,after coming back to uk we regularly have a tenerife night with home made sangria and usually roast shoulder of lamb done in the style of ristorante fortuna in los cristianos,i just arrived back from holiday there where my interest has been re kindled, your mojo and papas arrugadas recipes will be getting tried this week however the potatoes will have to be whats available here, i just wondered if you knew the recipe for adeje chicken as done by ristorante otelo, ive tried for years to recreate it, close but not good enough, anyway i just was told they marinade the chicken in mojo before frying in really hot oil hence me looking for a mojo recipe and finding yours, im sure loads of people would like to know how its done, anyway many thanks for the recipes and i look forward to your reply, cheers phil.

    Reply

  4. Nicola Quinn

    Hi Phil,
    Thanks so much for stopping by. Your Tenerife night sounds amazing - what a great idea! I hope you enjoy my mojo recipes when you give them a go.

    The fact that you mentioned Adeje chicken from Otelo is a huge coincidence - I was just talking about it today. Believe it or not I've never experienced Adeje chicken first hand, but I've heard oodles of good things about it and plan to visit as soon as I can.

    I'll send you an email after I've been to the restaurant and let you know if I managed to persuade them to reveal their recipe! If not, I'll post my own version of it so you can give it a go.

    Sorry I couldn't give you an answer straight away!

    Nicky

    Reply

  5. Alan

    Planned to go to Otelo`s in feb,But it`s such a long way up that hill lol .As by chance we found Otelo 2 on the beach by Fannbe.We just had to try it.
    Was very busy but the food was ok, Next time will make the trek up hill.
    I had a little peak through a window into the kitchen,They seem to boil the chicken in stock, Then when its done chuck in the deep fryer for a couple of mins .

    Reply

  6. Alan

    Love the canarian pots.
    Can we use small english pots ? I know we can but would they taste the same.

    Reply

    • Nicola Quinn

      Hi Alan,
      I've made these Canarian Potatoes with new potatoes before and you can hardly taste the difference, so go right ahead! 🙂

      Reply

  7. Lucy Tilney

    Hello, I've enjoyed your recipe for the mojo sauces very much. So delicious and so easy. As in so many dishes, it's the combination of vinegar, oil and garlic which is the secret, like gazpacho.

    In your Canadian potatoes recipe, there is this line "When the water begins to boil, add the salt and stir. Keep an eye on the potatoes and sit them every five minutes." Should it say 'stir them every five minutes'?

    Reply

    • Nicola

      Hi Lucy! I'm so glad you like my recipe 🙂 And thanks so much for pointing out the misspelling in the Canarian potatoes post! You're 100% right - it should definitely stay "Stir them every five minutes." I'll fix that asap. Thanks again!

      Reply

  8. Gail

    Made the green mojo sauce which was delicious thankyou, the Canarian potatoes tasted great but wearnt wrinkly I followed your recipe exactly, do I need to cook them longer?

    Reply

    • Nicola

      I'm so glad you liked the mojo sauce, Gail! And I'm sorry the potatoes didn't come out wrinkly. It could be that your potatoes were slightly larger than the ones in the recipe and you needed more salt for the wrinkled effect. Next time, try adding a bit more salt and see how it goes 🙂

      Reply

  9. Mick

    Hi Nicky,

    Thanks for the recipe. As I'm making them tonight I just wanted to check, when you say "Return the pan to the hob and leave the potatoes to dry." - should I have the potatoes left in the pan on the hob at this point with no heat until they're shriveled?

    Thanks,

    Mick

    Reply

    • Nicola

      Hi Mick,
      No problem at all! I realise this reply is probably a bit late, but yes - that's exactly what I mean. Return the pan to the hob with the potatoes in so the skin dries out. 🙂

      Reply

  10. TERRY

    Green Mojo Sauce
    2 large green bell peppers roughly chopped
    ½ cup fresh chopped coriander or parsley
    4 cloves of garlic minced
    2 teaspoons sea salt
    2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
    4 tablespoons olive oil
    1 teaspoon ground cumin
    1 slice of bread torn into small pieces
    Red Mojo Sauce
    2 large red bell peppers roughly chopped
    6 cloves of garlic minced
    4 small chillies chopped
    2 teaspoons sea salt
    2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
    4 tablespoons olive oil
    1 teaspoon ground cumin
    1 slice of bread torn into small pieces

    Reply

  11. terry

    sorry blend till smooth and thick

    Reply

Canarian Potatoes Recipe - Tapas Recipes | Happy Healthy Motivated (2024)

FAQs

What are the black potatoes in Lanzarote? ›

They are small, round, and have a thin, delicate skin. The most sought-after variety is known as "papas negras" or black potatoes due to their purplish-black skin colour. The flesh of these potatoes is firm, buttery, and slightly sweet, offering a unique texture and flavour profile.

How do you eat papas arrugadas? ›

Papas arrugadas is a traditional boiled potato dish from the Canary Islands. The small new potatoes are boiled in salt water and often served with a spicy sauce like mojo picon or mojo rojo, a chili pepper garlic sauce. Traditionally, papas arrugadas are served as a side dish accompanying a meat main meal.

What are the black potatoes in Tenerife? ›

BLACK CANARY POTATOES

In Tenerife, the andigeño potato crops introduced since the beginning of the 17th century have maintained their initial configuration, as it was done for more than 7,000 years in the highlands of Peru or Colombia ..

What is the famous outlaw potato? ›

Famous Outlaw Potato. Each potato is over 1 lb. before toppings! Butter, cheese, sour cream, bacon, chives and a heaping pile of meat on top.

Are black potatoes good to eat? ›

This process, which is called oxidation, happens because potatoes are a naturally starchy vegetable. And when exposed to oxygen, starches turn gray, brown, or even black. An oxidized potato is completely safe to eat. The process doesn't affect the flavor or texture of the vegetable.

What does papas mean in potatoes? ›

Both mean potato. In most of Spain it is “patata”, in Andalucía, the Canary Islands and all of Spanish-speaking Latin America, is “papa”. Sweet potato is “batata” in Spain and Argentina, “boniato” in Uruguay and “camote” in most other places.

What is the traditional food from the Canary Islands? ›

Traditional Canarian food can be described in two words: simple and delicious. With the emphasis on freshness, everyday Canarian dishes comprise grilled meats or fish (tuna, parrot fish, vieja, swordfish, sea bass), soups, stews and vegetables - many of which are surprisingly hearty.

What is papa's food in English? ›

I believe the closest possible translation of papas to English is porridge. Although I am giving it the name porridge, please don't confuse papas for a breakfast food. No, it was more an indulgence that could be eaten any time of the day. It was almost dessert-like...

What are Viking potatoes? ›

Also known as the Purple Viking potato, Viking potatoes are considered to be an all-purpose variety favored for its unique marbled skin. Viking potatoes are a rare cultivar that is not commercially produced on a large scale due to its inability to be used for processing.

What is a Casablanca potato? ›

Casablanca Seed Potatoes

Casablanca variety has white skin with creamy flesh beneath and produces a high number of tubers. This 1st Early variety is good for boiling and steaming.

What are sunset potatoes? ›

Potato 'Sunset' is a Desiree cross. This late maturing maincrop is high yielding and produces red skinned tubers with creamy yellow flesh. 'Sunset' has good all round disease resistance with medium to high resistance to late blight. It copes well with drought.

What are the dark potatoes called? ›

Purple potatoes are found in unique shades of saturated royal purples, violets, blue-purple, to dark purple, almost black.

What are black potatoes called? ›

Negra potatoes, botanically classified as Solanum tuberosum, is a generic descriptor used for naturally dark-skinned potatoes that belong to the Solanaceae family.

What are little black potatoes called? ›

Shetland Black potato
Potato 'Shetland Black'
GenusSolanum
SpeciesSolanum tuberosum
Cultivar'Shetland Black'
OriginShetland Islands
1 more row

What type of potato is black? ›

Shetland Black potatoes are small to medium in size and are oval to kidney-shaped. The skin is thick and uneven and is a mixture of dark purple and deep blue hues. The skin is also semi-smooth and is covered in light brown, small bumps and spots with a few medium-set eyes.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Last Updated:

Views: 5582

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (59 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Birthday: 1993-07-01

Address: Suite 763 6272 Lang Bypass, New Xochitlport, VT 72704-3308

Phone: +22014484519944

Job: Banking Officer

Hobby: Sailing, Gaming, Basketball, Calligraphy, Mycology, Astronomy, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.