The gofio, more than a food, a symbol of Canary identity
- Cécile Barrès
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Impossible to miss the gofio when you are interested in the culture of the Canary Islands! When I moved to Tenerife to open my bed and breakfast Un Jardin al Mar, I discovered this simple and nourishing food, inherited from the aboriginal Guanches people and still very present today in the local cuisine.
What is gofio?
The gofio is a flour of roasted cereals (often corn or wheat, sometimes barley or several mixed cereals), ground in a traditional way. Unlike traditional flours, the grains are roasted before being ground, which gives the gofio a typical, slightly smoky flavour and fine texture.
It is rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals and has long been a staple food in Canarian households, especially in times of scarcity or post-war.
A still artisanal manufacturing
In some areas of the island, such as La Orotava or Icod de los Vinos, you can still visit traditional mills where gofio is produced on site. The grains are first cleaned, then slowly roasted in large cauldrons, before being ground on stones. This ancestral process has remained virtually unchanged for centuries.
Canarian gofio-based recipes
1. Gofio escaldado (or escaldón de gofio)
This is one of the most traditional ways to enjoy gofio.
It is a savory mash, a rustic dish, comforting, often served as an appetizer or eaten with bread or pieces of fresh cheese.
It can be found very easily in Canarian restaurants.
🥄Ingredients (for 4 people):
• 150 g of gofio (corn or wheat)
• 500 ml of broth (fish or meat)
• 1 chopped onion
• Olive oil, salt
• (optional) Garlic, parsley, bell pepper, cilantro, etc.
👩🍳 Preparation :
Sauté the onion in a little olive oil.
2. Heat the broth.
3. Pour the gofio into a bowl, then gradually add the hot broth while stirring.
4. Add the onions and seasonings.
5. Serve warm, accompanied by a red or green mojo (traditional Canarian sauce, see my other article on Canarian gastronomy)
2. Mousse de gofio
It is a creamy dessert, slightly sweet and delicately scented with gofio, often served in the "guachinches" of Tenerife or during local festivals.
🥄 Ingredients (for 4 to 6 people):
• 200 ml of cold whole liquid cream
• 200 g of sweetened condensed milk
• 4 tablespoons of gofio
• (optional) a drizzle of honey or palm syrup to serve
👩🍳 Preparation :
Whip the liquid cream into firm whipped cream (it must be very cold).
2. In another bowl, gently mix the sweetened condensed milk with the gofio until a homogeneous texture is obtained.
3. Gently incorporate the whipped cream into this mixture using a spatula.
4. Pour into ramekins or verrines and place in the fridge for at least 3 hours.
When it’s time to serve, add a drizzle of honey or a pinch of decorative gofio (optional).
You can also flavor the mousse with a little lemon or orange zest or add some dried fruit chips.
In Tenerife, gofio is sold in all supermarkets. Personally, I mainly use it in cakes or pancakes, usually mixed with a "classic" flour (for a more "light" result because it is very nourishing!) and I really appreciate its nutty taste!
I also just tested it in a béchamel to replace flour and it’s very interesting!💗
And finally, an uncooked "bread" of gofio, a simple recipe, very common here and very nourishing to start the day!😉
Pella de gofio (gofio amasado)
🥄 Ingredients (4 people) :
200 g gofio
• a small glass of water
• 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey (optional)
• fruits and/or dried fruit of your choice (well-ripened, crushed banana, nuts, chopped almonds or hazelnuts...)
👩🍳 Preparation :
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl with a spatula and gradually add the water.
When the dough comes off the bowl, finish mixing by hand until all the ingredients are well incorporated.
Form a cylinder with rounded ends and wrap it in plastic film.
Place in the refrigerator for at least one hour then remove the film, cut slices and serve.
This bread can also be eaten in a savory version and then you can add fresh cheese, for example.
Taste Tenerife differently
The gofio is an integral part of the Canarian identity.
To discover this specialty is to enter the history and daily life of the island.
Staying at our guesthouse Un Jardin al Mar, in the north of Tenerife
allows you to explore local markets,
small shops and culinary traditions while enjoying a peaceful setting
with views of the volcano and the ocean.
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