06 July 2010 11:00
Serving up a treat in Spain
It’s still entirely possible to enjoy the true taste of Spain on holidays to the Balearics and the Canaries. Come along with us as we take you on a feast for the senses...
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Largely famed for their golden beaches and crystal clear seas, the Canaries and the Balearics are real favourites when it comes to cheap holidays to Spain. However, they also offer unique eating experiences for anyone willing to go beyond the usual tourist trap cafes and restaurants.
When it comes to cuisine, Holidays in mainland Spain often take all the attention, especially to the major cities of Barcelona, Madrid and the region of Andalucía. But you’ll actually find there’s a lot more to the islanders’ diets than just paella, chorizo or tapas.
For example, Menorca is often considered to be a rather quiet island, better known for its peaceful holidays in tranquil, lush surroundings than its inventive dishes. While it’s true there are some absolutely beautiful spots in Menorca, such as Punta Prima and Santo Tomas, it’s also made its mark on the culinary world too. Caldereta de Llagosta (pictured) was created here – a thick stew of spiny lobster served with thin slices of bread to soak up all the delicious juices. It’s a rather expensive dish but well worth the price as the best-tasting lobsters in the world are caught in the sea between Majorca and Menorca.
Another slightly controversial claim to fame for Menorca is mayonnaise. Often claimed to have a French heritage, this famous creamy sauce was actually originally created in the Menorcan capital, Mehon. Hence the name, which is phonetically similar to the region it came from.
Although not actually food, perhaps the most delightful taste to excite your palette in Ibiza is its famous liquor Hierbas Ibicencas. This 30% proof alcoholic drink is flavoured with 18 different herbs, seeds and plants including Aniseed, Rosemary and Lemon Peel. The result is a unique, fiery explosion on your tongue – an acquired taste for sure, rather like Guinness or Marmite. The good news is that if you love it, it’s available in all the major supermarkets so you can take some back with you when you’re on your way home from your holidays!
Coming on to the Canaries, each island doesn’t have a signature dish as such, but there’s a good variety of cuisine which is exclusive to them. Papas Arrugundas (Boiled Potatoes) may not sound like much, but it’s about the quality of the ingredients as much as the cooking style here. Boiled in salted water, the potatoes are often served with wrinkly skins and a special sauce called Mojo made with olive oil and vinegar. Mojo comes in many forms, with the spicy ‘picante’ being a popular variety.
Along with the potatoes, it’s fair to say that holidays in the Canaries cater to vegetarians well with dishes like Gofio (a distinctive blend of maize and wheat used for many meals) and Potaje de Benros, which is a clear, light watercress soup. It’s a very refreshing course perfect as a starter on a hot, sunny day. And considering places like Puerto Rico in Gran Canaria enjoy 340 days of sunshine a year, it’s something you’ll probably get the chance to try!
But it’s not all vegetables on holidays to the Canaries; Pejines is an original fish dish which plays on the principle of the more famous sun-dried tomatoes. Small fish such as sardines are coated in olive oil and herbs and then left to dry under the hot sun. The resulting flavour really packs a punch, as you get the crispy saltiness of the fish mixed with the mellow, sweet taste of the local olive oil.
As you can see, the cuisine of these islands is surprisingly diverse, and hopefully your appetite has been whetted for trying out new eating experiences on your holidays to the Balearics or the Canaries.
To go on a taste-filled tour of the sunny Spanish islands, visit
sunmaster.co.uk and take your pick from the millions of cheap holidays to Spain we have on offer.