Traditions and Culture-Canarian Mojo Sauce

The Day of the Canary Islands is celebrated annually on 30th May. Around this day, there are endless activities to commemorate the devotion of the people to their islands. Displaying flags or simply decorating balconies with flowers, we are all feeling festive. Children love taking part in the celebration dressed in traditional Canarian clothing. It is certainly a truly special day not only for all the Canarians but also for the thousands of tourists who visit every year, all year round.

This year I celebrated Canary Day with family and friends. On that day one thing definitely is to be present at the table. Mojo. If there was a sauce that truly represents the Canary Islands, this is it. The right pronunciation is “mo-ho” and it normally comes in two variations – mojo verde (green sauce) and mojo rojo (red sauce). Depending on the ingredients, the red mojo could be spicy( mojo picon).

Let’s start with the green one. Loaded with fresh coriander, garlic, olive oil, a splash of vinegar and seasonings, this is the perfect topping for all kinds of meat, seafood, chicken and of course, papas arrugadas “wrinkly potatoes”. Simple and quick, this mojo sauce is the most overflowing blend of freshness that you’ll ever taste.

The right choice for all the spicy loves is the red mojo picon. This is a spicy red pepper sauce made with hot local peppers (Palmera peppers), garlic, olive oil, a sprinkle of vinegar, garlic and seasonings. Often, there is a non-spacy version to the red mojo, however, most restaurants serve only the spicy version. For those of you that can’t tolerate the spiciness, just stick to the green version.

The good news is that it only takes only 10 minutes to make each mojo. The great news is that here in Tenerife you can order it at all the restaurants or buy it in any supermarket.
Honestly, you will love them so much that you will order mojo over and over again while dining out. You will even make some when you go back home, I’m sure! One of each.

Another yummy sauce worth mentioning is garlic aioli, one of the most famous sauces that you will find in the whole of Spain. “Alioli”, in Spanish, is very common in the Mediterranean, although it is available in many local restaurants here in Tenerife. It is primarily made of garlic and olive oil. If you haven’t already, just try it and you will see why Spanish people love it so much. Not only a great bead spread but it is also perfect with your “wrinkly potatoes” or fish.

Every local restaurant has its version of the mojos. Try as many as possible and notice they won’t stop surprising you.

Don’t forget to make some for your friends!