Celebrate Canary Islands Day with the authentic flavours of the islands

When a place stays in the memory for a long time, it is often because of its cuisine. Because of a dish whose flavour lingers long afterwards. Because of a scent that transports you back to a particular evening. Because of those recipes that have been passed down through generations and are deeply rooted in a region’s identity.

Canarian cuisine is shaped by moments like these. Of produce that grows on volcanic soil, marked by the Atlantic, and lends dishes their unmistakable character.

Canary Islands Day celebrates this special way of life: the culture of the islands, their traditions and the flavours that have brought people together around the table for generations.

The Islands on Your Plate

In Gran Canaria, few things say as much about the island as its cuisine. Papas arrugadas with mojo, slow-cooked stews, the scent of cumin or freshly roasted gofio are as much a part of everyday life here as the sea and the trade winds.

Many of these dishes were created from what the islands produced: potatoes, maize, watercress, herbs or goat’s cheese. From this developed a cuisine that relies not on embellishment, but on the quality of its produce.

It is precisely this philosophy that also shapes the gastronomic concept of the Seaside Palm Beach.

Steffen Schenk and Canarian cuisine

Chef Steffen Schenk reinterprets Canarian classics with a contemporary lightness. At Bar Africano, sea bass in a salt crust and rabbit in salmorejo sit alongside peach gazpacho with crispy chorizo or beetroot salmorejo with green apple and pistachios. At La Bodega, smoked salmon and cheese from the Finca de Uga reflect a cuisine that values precision, restraint and a strong connection to the islands. The fact that La Bodega was named the best hotel restaurant by the renowned restaurant guide Qué Bueno Canarias 2025 impressively underlines this commitment.

Two Canarian classics to enjoy at home

To mark Canary Islands Day on May 30th, Steffen Schenk shares two traditional recipes that have been part of the islands’ culinary heritage for generations and remain a staple in many family kitchens to this day.

Two dishes that taste just like Gran Canaria: authentic, flavourful and perfect for sharing.

Watercress stew (“Potaje de Berros”)

Preparation

Fry the pork ribs in a large saucepan with the corn cob and a little olive oil. Then add the onion, pepper, tomato and pumpkin and cook gently until softened.

Mix the garlic, salt and cumin into a paste and add to the stock. Then add the potatoes and cook until tender. Finally, fold in the finely chopped watercress.

Simmer the stew over a low heat until it reaches a creamy consistency. The potaje becomes particularly flavourful after being left to rest for a while. It is traditionally served with young Canarian cheese and gofio.

Rabbit in Canarian salmorejo marinade (“Conejo en Salmorejo Canario”)

This dish is one of the best-known recipes in Canarian cuisine. The marinade is key: rich, spicy and characterised by cumin, garlic and herbs.

Preparation

Blend the garlic, coarse salt, cumin and chilli pepper into a paste. Then add vinegar and white wine until you have a rich marinade.

Marinate the rabbit in this mixture along with thyme, bay leaves and rosemary for several hours, so that the meat can fully absorb the characteristic flavours.

Next, brown the marinated rabbit in hot oil until golden, then cook slowly over a low heat together with the marinade until an aromatic, slightly creamy sauce forms.

The result is a dish full of depth and character that has been part of Canarian culinary culture for generations.

Discover Canarian Cuisine at Seaside Palm Beach

At Seaside Palm Beach, we see gastronomy as an essential part of the travel experience. Our cuisine brings together international influences with the produce and flavours of Gran Canaria, creating a dining experience that evokes the spirit of the island and lingers in the memory.

Should you wish to celebrate Canary Islands Day at home, we hope these recipes bring you a little closer to the flavours of the islands. And should you have the opportunity to visit us, we would be delighted to share the diversity of Canarian cuisine with you at Seaside Palm Beach.