Canarian Nougat

The Canarian Nougat is an artisanal sweet typical of the Canarian region

A very particular flavor of this area that reminds us of the Christmas season and although it is traditionally made at this time, the Canarian nougat is distributed throughout the country throughout the year.

History and Origin

The tradition of nougat in the Canary Islands has been going on for many years. It was thanks to some Canarian families who made this sweet during the fairs of the islands, that the consumption of nougat became increasingly famous until it became a tradition.

One of the families responsible for this tradition is the Rodríguez family, who through Doña Juana Rodríguez founded an entire industry of artisanal nougat called "La Moyera" since they come from the Moya. This family was one of the main merchants of nougat in Gran Canaria.

The tradition since then is to eat these nougat prepared in an artisanal way at times of fairs and at Christmas, although if you are not from the islands you can find shops that sell them at any time of the year.

Elaboration

There are several types of Canarian nougat that we will talk about a little later, so its preparation will vary according to the type of nougat in question, especially in some important ingredients that are what give the particular flavor to each type of nougat.

The most common is almond nougat, which contains pieces of almond inside a caramelized and chewy mass. It is prepared mainly by making the dough consisting of a mixture of sugar, egg white beaten to the point of snow and water, to which the almonds and the ingredients of each type of nougat are added.

After having the dough ready, it is poured over a cookie and covered with another layer of cookie inside a paper ring that will serve to mold the nougat. It is allowed to cool and will be ready to eat.

Distribution

If you go to the Canary Islands, you can see that it is very common to see special places that are dedicated to the sale of this typical artisan product of the archipelago. They are protagonists in the festivities of the islands since in these times, the Canarians enjoy much more sharing the gastronomy of the place among themselves and with those who visit.

On the islands, the nougats are sold by artisans and shops that are dedicated to the commercialization of the typical sweet of the island in particular stalls that consist of a very peculiar and picturesque structure that give life to the Canarian tradition.

It is a rolling wood drawer where the different types of nougat are placed arranged in an orderly way, under a colored umbrella.

They can also be found in typical artisan shops of the island, in the tourist spaces and in the streets of the historical cacos of the islands.

Types of Nougat

In the Canary Islands, several types of nougat have been developed that allow us to enjoy great versatility in terms of flavors, without losing the traditional essence of the Canary Islands. The almond is usually the protagonist in these preparations, but we can also perceive other flavors such as lemon and cinnamon.

Within the varieties of Canarian nougat, we find 4 different types, including almond nougat, ground nougat, sugar nougat and the famous gofio nougat.

Below we will describe what each of them is about. In our online store you can find the authentic gofio nougat

Almond or Almond Nougat

Of all the nougats, the Canarian almond nougat is the most famous, its flavor symbolizes the Canarian festivities and the Christmas season, which are accompanied year after year by this wonderful flavor.

The most notable feature of this nougat are the pieces of toasted almonds that contrast with the soft texture of the caramel and egg white that make it so delicious to the palate. After its preparation, you will have tasted one of the most crunchy and delicious sweets in the world.

For its preparation, only 50 minutes will suffice, which will be divided between the preparation time of the mixture and the cooking time. After this you just have to cool it down and it will be ready to eat.

Among the ingredients are almonds, honey, sugar, egg whites and wafer sheets that will serve to cover the nougat.

Ground nougat

Ground nougat or ground almond nougat is a similar preparation, only it does not have the characteristic stumbles of almond nougat. It basically contains the same elements as almond nougat, but changes its preparation and fusion between these.

The ground nougat is prepared in the same way from the mixture of egg white beaten until it is about to snow, sugar and honey, it can be palm or bee.

The flavor of ground almonds will also be added, it is important that they are ground very finely, since when mixed they must create a homogeneous mass.

Once the mixture is created, we will pour it over the cookie or the wafer sheets that will be found on the waxed paper, with which we will wrap our nougat after placing a second layer of wafer or cookie, this time above the mixture.

Bake for 20 minutes and when cooling we can enjoy our ground nougat.

Discover a selection in our online store of the best Canarian nougat

Sugar Nougat

The sugar nougat is made from the typical mixture of egg whites, water and sugar. You can find sugar nougat with almonds in pieces or with ground almonds. The only difference of this Canarian nougat to the other nougat in the area is that its sweetness is due exclusively to sugar.

This nougat does not carry any type of honey or palm, or cane. Its flavor can be enhanced in the same way with cinnamon, matalahúga or grated lemon, and you will also get that crunchy texture characteristic of Canarian nougat after being baked and letting it cool.

Nougat from Gofio

Another variety is the Canarian gofio nougat. It is a nougat with a particular flavor, since in addition to the almonds that always predominate in this famous sweet of the archipelago, it owes its flavor to the sweetness coming from the gofio cane.

In that case, the gofio will be accompanied by sugar, cinnamon, grated lemon and matalahúva. All this mixture must be homogenized. Usually, it is not necessary to use the wafer or cookie, but only pour the mixture into the waxed paper and let it cool.

This mixture is done in a hot cauldron, so it is not necessary to bake it after it is in the tray.

Curiosities of Canarian nougat

The way in which the Canarian nougat is marketed is linked to the traditions of the island since its foundation, where it was a typical sweet of the festivities.

Its preparation is always handmade. Currently there is a large cottage industry that distributes this sweet inside and outside the island and its preparation remains the same since its origin.

The presentation of nougat is something that has not changed either, from the earliest times until now the nougat is presented in a round mold lined in cellophane paper.