This is possibly one of the least-appetizing pictures I’ve ever posted on eyechow. And when you hear what that brown sludge consists of (pork fat – you can see the white chunks – flour, oil and/or broth), it doesn’t sound much better. Even though it looks like rotten baby food, you’ll have to take my word for it that this meal was actually delicious. This was definitely my most authentic meal during my few weeks backpacking in Tenerife.
Two girls I made friends with at my hostel (best friends, hilariously both named Vicky) were from nearby Gran Canaria, and they had brought their car over for the weekend trip. One day I went out sightseeing with them and we stopped at an inconspicuous local restaurant for lunch, because they wanted to show me what an authentic Canary Island meal looked like.
Although I can’t remember what I was told at the time, I’m almost positive that this “sludge” is Escaldón de gofio. It’s an odd meat or fish mixture consisting of broth, sometimes oil, sometimes herbs or vegetables and gofio canario, a flour created by grinding roasted sweet corn and other toasted grains. The result is almost like an intensely thick gravy, which is why it’s so delicious; who doesn’t love gravy! The meal was hearty and satisfying. In addition to the classic escaldón de gofio, we also shared various small plates of meat, french fries and a delicious trio of dipping sauces: a spicy orange one, a classic mayo one and a bright green herbaceous one. The fresh, acidic lime was necessary to cut through all the meat and fat. Shockingly, but probably since we shared small plates, I didn’t feel gross after this meal. I would honestly eat it all again with gusto!
Tagged: backpacking, broth, Canary Islands, corn, Escaldón de gofio, french fries, gofio canario, Gran Canaria, gravy, herbs, island, lime, local, lunch, mayo, mayonnaise, meat, oil, pork, sauce, strange food saturdays, Tenerife, travel, vegetables
