Get ready to take a culinary journey to the sunny Canary Islands with a dish that is as simple as it is delicious: the Canarian Papas Arrugadas!
These small wrinkled potatoes, often served with Mojo sauce (green or red), are an iconic side dish that will win you over with their unique flavor and unmistakable texture.
Do not be deceived by their humble appearance: Papas Arrugadas are a true concentrate of taste and history.
They are perfect to accompany meat, fish, or simply on their own as a delightful appetizer.
Are you ready to get your hands dirty and bring a bit of the Canary Islands to your table? Trust me, the Canarian Papas Arrugadas will win you over!
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: Boiling
- Cuisine: Spanish
- Seasonality: All Seasons
- Energy 180.00 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 39.25 (g) of which sugars 0.50 (g)
- Proteins 5.00 (g)
- Fat 0.75 (g) of which saturated 0.00 (g)of which unsaturated 0.00 (g)
- Fibers 3.50 (g)
- Sodium 19,424.00 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 225 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 2.2 lbs baby potatoes
- 7 oz coarse salt
- as needed water (enough to cover the potatoes)
Steps
Ideal for this recipe are small new potatoes that can be eaten with the skin on, so they should preferably be organic. The variety used in the Canary Islands is called “patatas bonita”.
Wash the potatoes: Rinse the potatoes thoroughly under running water without peeling them. It is important that the skin is very clean.
Place the potatoes in the pot: Put the potatoes in a large pot, don’t worry if they overlap a bit.
Add the salt and water: Sprinkle the potatoes evenly with half of the coarse salt. Then add cold water until the potatoes are completely covered.
The water should be just above the level of the potatoes.Cook the potatoes: Bring the pot to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat and let the potatoes cook gently for about 15 minutes.
Cooking time may vary depending on the size of the potatoes. They will be ready when, pierced with a fork, they are soft but still firm and intact.
Drain and “wrinkle”: This is the key step! Once cooked, drain the water from the pot leaving only a finger of water, add the remaining salt.
Put the pot back on the heat (without the lid) on low flame for 5-10 minutes, shaking the potatoes from time to time.
You will see a whitish coating of salt form on the skin, and the potatoes will begin to “wrinkle,” taking on their characteristic appearance.
This process serves to evaporate the excess water and to set the salt on the surface. Don’t worry, I know you think the amount of salt is excessive, but the potatoes will absorb very little and will be tasty.
Serve: The Papas Arrugadas are ready to be enjoyed! Serve them hot, traditionally accompanied by Mojo Rojo (made with paprika, garlic, and chili) and Mojo Verde (made with cilantro or parsley, garlic, and cumin) sauces.
Storage Tips and Variations for Canarian Papas Arrugadas Recipe
In some recipes, all the salt is added together with the cooking water. I prefer to add half for cooking and the other half to dry them so the Canarian Papas Arrugadas don’t get salted internally.
They can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 2 days and are delicious even cold with the green sauce.
Choose small potatoes and preferably of the same size.
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