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Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes - Papas Arrugadas

Published: Apr 24, 2017 · Modified: Jul 16, 2017 by Igor · This post may contain affiliate links · 14 Comments

Papas Arrugadas or Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes is an iconic dish native to the Canary Islands. Potatoes are cooked until their skin wrinkles and becomes crispy. A perfect side dish to any meal!

Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes (Papas Arrugadas) make a perfect side dish to any meal. They are really easy to make and require only 2 ingredients! | cookingtheglobe.com

Sorry for posting so little lately, guys, but there is a reason for that. We've been saving some money for a while to go to our very first vacation with a kid (he is 1.5 years old now) and, finally, we did it. We are in Tenerife right now and we will be there for the next 2 months. Quite a lenghty vacation isn't it? Not exactly. It's not a secret that I am working as a freelancer online so I actually plan to work here, not only lay on the beach all days long (a bummer).

Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes (Papas Arrugadas) make a perfect side dish to any meal. They are really easy to make and require only 2 ingredients! | cookingtheglobe.com

We've picked Tenerife because it is known to have a mild and sunny climate all year round. Our first option was Thailand but it's either a wet season in one half of the country at the moment or crazy hot in another part. We pay attention more to things like that now that we have a small kid. Even here, in Tenerife, he managed to get sick on the fourth day after spending too much time in the pool. Then it was the hospital, then it was a couple of sleepless nights, then I got sick, then my wife got sick... I guess that's how it goes with kids, ha! Or we just got super unlucky. Anyway, now everything is GREAT and I will try to do more posts for you, guys!

Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes (Papas Arrugadas) make a perfect side dish to any meal. They are really easy to make and require only 2 ingredients! | cookingtheglobe.com

Being here, it would be a crime to sleep on all the gorgeous foods Canary Islands offer. One of the most traditional and well known dishes is Papas Arrugadas also known as Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes. Be sure that you would see them in every single bar or restaurant in Tenerife if you would ever visit this beautiful island.

Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes (Papas Arrugadas) make a perfect side dish to any meal. They are really easy to make and require only 2 ingredients! | cookingtheglobe.com

The dish itself is super simple. Basically, you just boil potatoes in a generously salted water (usually small new potatoes are used) with skin on, then you remove the cooking water and heat them on a very low heat until they are dry, wrinkled, and a fine salty crust appears. It's interesting that originally potatoes were cooked in seawater! I would love to try that someday.

Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes (Papas Arrugadas) make a perfect side dish to any meal. They are really easy to make and require only 2 ingredients! | cookingtheglobe.com

Usually Papas Arrugadas are served with a Mojo Rojo (red) sauce made from either red bell peppers or chili peppers if you love some heat. Sometimes they can also be served with a Mojo Verde (green) sauce made from cilantro and / or parsley. Here are the recipes I tried so far that are pretty similar to the sauces I tried in Tenerife:

  • A mild version of Mojo Rojo sauce by Bev at Food.com
  • A spicier version of Mojo Rojo by Bon Appetit
  • A Mojo Verde sauce by Spanish Sabores

While I am here, in Tenerife, I'm buying these sauces from local grocery stores to save some time (the ones you see on the photos are store-bought as well) but when I'll get back home I will surely keep making them at home because I'm telling you, these sauces ARE SOMETHING.

Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes (Papas Arrugadas) make a perfect side dish to any meal. They are really easy to make and require only 2 ingredients! | cookingtheglobe.com

Canarian wrinkly potatoes make a great side dish to literally anything. Today we tried them with some stir-fried turkey with veggies and it was heavenly. Be sure to make one of the above sauces together, though, because Papas Arrugadas are way better with them. Oh and don't worry about the salt! It doesn't ruin the potatoes, it only makes them better.

More recipes from Tenerife to come!

Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes (Papas Arrugadas) make a perfect side dish to any meal. They are really easy to make and require only 2 ingredients! | cookingtheglobe.com

Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes (Papas Arrugadas) make a perfect side dish to any meal. They are really easy to make and require only 2 ingredients! | cookingtheglobe.com

Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes - Papas Arrugadas

CookingTheGlobe
Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes get their name from the wrinkly, crispy skin which appears after two phases of cooking. A perfect side dish!
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Spanish
Servings 4 people
Calories 131 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ lb (680g) small new potatoes , skin-on
  • ½ cup coarse sea salt
  • Mojo Rojo sauce (optional)
  • Mojo Verde sauce (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Wash and scrub the potatoes leaving the skin on. Put them in a pan (try to arrange in a single layer) and add the salt and water to cover.
  • Bring to a boil and cook, partially covered, on a low heat, until tender. It should take about 20 minutes, depending on the size of your potatoes.
  • Pour off the water and keep cooking over a very low heat until the potatoes are dry and they skins are wrinkled. Don't forget to shake the pan occasionally so the potatoes don't burn. Serve with some sauce. Enjoy!

Notes

This recipe works the best with new potatoes because of the thin skin.

Nutrition

Calories: 131kcalCarbohydrates: 29.7gProtein: 3.4gFat: 0.2gSugar: 1.3gVitamin C: 46.2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Nutrition Facts
Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes - Papas Arrugadas
Amount Per Serving
Calories 131 Calories from Fat 2
% Daily Value*
Fat 0.2g0%
Carbohydrates 29.7g10%
Sugar 1.3g1%
Protein 3.4g7%
Vitamin C 46.2mg56%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Comments

  1. Renee

    April 25, 2017 at 9:03 am

    5 stars
    These potatoes look fantastic. What a shame you have to work whilst on vacation, hope you enjoy!

    Reply
    • Igor

      April 27, 2017 at 1:29 pm

      It's quite a lengthy vacation, Renee, so it would be hard to afford it without working at all. I would love to, though, ha!

      Reply
  2. Brandi Crawford

    April 25, 2017 at 9:47 am

    5 stars
    YUM! What an informative post. These potatoes look great.

    Reply
    • Igor

      April 27, 2017 at 1:31 pm

      Thanks, Brandi!

      Reply
  3. Shashi at Savory Spin

    April 25, 2017 at 10:41 am

    I adore potatoes and thought I'd had them every way possible - but never have I had Canarian Wrinkly Potatoes (Papas Arrugadas) with Mojo Rojo sauce or Mojo Verde sauce! Thanks for introducing this dish to me and hope you enjoy your time in Tenerife!

    Reply
    • Igor

      April 27, 2017 at 1:33 pm

      I really hope you will give these a try someday, Shashi 😉

      Reply
  4. Tara

    April 25, 2017 at 11:31 am

    Sorry about the rough start to your travels. Hope the next few weeks go much smoother. These potatoes look delicious! I love that wrinkly skin and the pairing with the two sauces.

    Reply
    • Igor

      April 27, 2017 at 1:33 pm

      Thanks for the kind words, Tara! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Lisa | Garlic & Zest

    April 25, 2017 at 11:55 am

    5 stars
    My girlfriend was in the Canary Islands last year and absolutely loved it! She came back with all kinds of new dishes to try -- this sounds simple and delicious!

    Reply
    • Igor

      April 27, 2017 at 1:33 pm

      Yup, the cuisine here is amazing 😉

      Reply
  6. Elizabeth

    May 05, 2017 at 12:37 pm

    5 stars
    Love the idea of a two month holiday in Tenerife! Hope you are having a fab time - this recipe looks amazing!

    Reply
    • Igor

      May 30, 2017 at 3:01 pm

      We are having a great time, Elizabeth, thank you!

      Reply
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