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Pa Amb Tomaquet - Traditional Catalan Tomato Tapa Recipe



My beautiful Spanish friend Populo has made us this simple pa amb tomaquet tapa a few times and we've always been wowed by how good it is.

What is Pa Amb Tomaquet?


Pa amb tomaquet is a traditional Catalan tapa dish. It's a bit like a Catalan bruschetta. The Spanish call it pan con tomate, but this is definitely Catalan rather than Spanish. You'll soon be offered this tapa if you spend any time in Barcelona and they are rightly proud of it.

Pa amb tomaquet is a really simple dish where the flavour of the fresh tomatoes sing. All you need is really nice bread and I'm talking a good sourdough, if you can get it, some ripe flavourful tomatoes, a clove of garlic, a good quality olive oil and salt and pepper. Populo also adds a sprinkle of oregano, so I shall too.






The olive oil and herbs do perk the tomatoes up, but if you use the best tomatoes you can, the flavour is always going to be better.

Keeping tomatoes on the counter top


My other tip is to keep tomatoes on the counter top. They'll continue to ripen and have more flavour. Pop them in the fridge and the flavour is gone. Now I'm only talking about large tomatoes like salad or beef tomatoes. They're happy sitting out in a bowl. You'll see them darken in colour and you'll taste the difference, but small tomatoes like cherry tomatoes have to be kept in the fridge unfortunately as they just don't last long at room temperature.

Scotty Brand - Scottish Tomatoes




I used Scotty Brand tomatoes in my tapa recipe and I was really impressed with them. I've bought Scotty Brand before, as I do like to buy local and they are always good quality, but I hadn't tried their tomatoes before.

So many tomatoes are picked before they are ripe and consequently they have little or no flavour, but Scotty Brand tomatoes are left to ripen on the vine and picked by hand when they are ripe and at their best. You can really tell the difference. I took a wee photo to show you the difference visually too.




A Simple Recipe


You may look at this recipe and think it is so simple and can tomatoes really taste that good on what it ultimately just toast. Why not just slice them and be done with it? Seriously you have to make this and then you will know. I made this a few nights ago and I have craved it every night since. It is that good. I urge you to make this tapa recipe. You will thank me for it. Oh and feel free to leave a comment to let me know if you do try it. I know you will love it!

243 calories per large slice.

It seems like a lot of people have discovered and love this recipe already. Here are a few comments I've had on social media about this recipe.



print recipe
Pa Amb Tomaquet
Pa Amb Tomaquet
A simple tapa from Barcelona. A traditional Catalan dish that celebrates the flavour of fresh tomatoes. It's quick to put together if you are serving tapas or just as a snack. Use the best tomatoes, olive oil and bread you can.
Ingredients
  • 6 ripe salad tomatoes
  • a glug of good quality of olive oil
  • a sprinkle of dried oregano
  • a sprinkle of salt and pepper
  • 4 slices of good quality bread, like sourdough or a bloomer (you can also use baguette)
  • a clove of garlic, cut in half
Instructions
1. Cut the tomatoes in half, then score a cross into the cut side with a knife, not cutting all the way through. This will give the grater purchase on the tomatoes. 2. Grate the tomatoes and discard the skins.3. In a bowl add a glug of olive oil to the tomato pulp, then season with salt, pepper and oregano and set aside until your toast is ready. 4. Toast thick slices of good quality bread and rub each slice with the cut garlic. not too much or it will be super garlicky. 5. Top the toasted garlicky bread with the tomatoes and serve immediately.6. Bite into the deliciousness and groan out loud.7. Thank me later!
Details
Total prep time:
Nutrition facts per large slice (4 slice serving):
156 calories
5 grams fat

Yield: Makes 4 - 6 tapas (depending on size of bread)






Have I put you in the mood for Barcelona? 

Check out my Veggie Guide to Barcelona for more ideas.




Disclosure; I was paid to create this recipe for Scotty Brand. They did not expect a positive review and any opinions expressed are my own.

37 comments

  1. Looks delicious. I've just come back from Spain and wish I'd seen this on the menu!

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    1. Now you are home you can make it yourself. Hope you had a great time.

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  2. This is one of my favourite things to eat when I'm in Spain and you're so right, it may be simple but it is so delicious!

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    1. Yes it tastes a lot better than you'd expect with such simple ingredients.

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  3. Why the faff with grating the tomatoes? Why not just peel and mash them?

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    1. It's actually really quick and easy to do Mike. I would find removing the skins more of a faff and you'd then have to chop as a masher wouldn't make a good job of it. Plus it's the traditional way passed down through families. Your challenge is to try both ways and get back to me, but remember to cut a cross into the halves before grating.

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    2. It'll have to wait until tomatoes are a little cheaper but I'll give it a go.

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  4. I still find it a bit hard to work out what to do with tomatoes when in season (never having been a big fan of tomatoes) but this sounds like an great idea for them

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    1. The olive oil, seasoning, garlic and oregano really lift and compliment the flavour of the tomatoes. Do try and let me know if this converts you Johanna.

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  5. The toasted bread will act as a grater; toast the bread, rub with a garlic clove, salt the bread, then take your halved tomato and rub it hard on the bread throwing the skin away when you get down to it. Then drizzle with oil and add any herbs. That is how they do it is Spain.

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    1. Ahh another way to make it. I guess each region has it's own tips and tricks. Thanks for sharing :)

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    2. I'm from Barcelona. Lynne is right, this is how it's made here. We use a local tomato called a penjar, it's a paste tomato, not a salad tomato but other paste tomatoes like roma will work.

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    3. Thanjs for sharing that. I just used the best tasting tomatoes available just now and it was super tasty. I am rather addicted to this simple dish. Oh and I love Barcelona, beautiful city. I can't wait to visit again.

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    4. Sorry for the typo. Phone fingers!

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  6. This recipe is so simple but its one of my favorites as its packed with delicious tomatoes and not anything else. I love a simple combo f garlic, tomatoes, oregano with dash of salt and black pepper.

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  7. This looks delicious and so easy to make! This would be perfect for drinks and appetizers or a quick snack. Yummy! Thanks for sharing! Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.

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  8. Yum. I've got the perfect sangria to pair with this! Need to make this now.

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  9. Here's hoping that my tomato plants go wild this year so I can make this!!!

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    1. Yes! I gave up on growing tomatoes after a couple of disastrous years. Now I am always on the hunt for good tomatoes. I was glad the Scotty Brand ones were do good.

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    2. So good even. Darn phone fingers.

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  10. Bright summer flavors, love that! This will be a yummy recipe for all those tomatoes that will be coming on soon, YUM!

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  11. You know I always order this when I see it on a menu - it's not just bread and tomatoes, it's much much more than that especially if as you say you use ripe tomatoes. It's one of those dishes that gets overlooked for being too simple so thank you for sharing it.

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  12. I am with you on tasteless tomatoes! It's so important that they are ripe, love this recipe, making tomatoes the hero!!!

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  13. I love that tomato season is here. I always buy a bunch (just because they are pretty!)

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  14. Ooh I love the sound of this. As you say, tomatoes are one of those veggies that can be watery and tasteless, or absolutely full of flavour, so it's important to buy a decent brand. So simple but so good!

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    1. Yes it's definitely worth paying for good tomatoes. You have to try this Becca.

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  15. Super delicious and so pleased to see Scottish tomatoes on show!

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  16. Looks fab! I love learning about different cuisines and the variety of traditional recipes on offer.

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  17. When I visit my mum in Cordoba we often eat something like this for breakfast. Just delicious!

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I love reading comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave one. Unfortunately, I'm bombarded with spam, so I've turned on comment moderation. I'll publish your comments as soon as I can and respond to them. Don't panic, they will disappear when you hit publish. Jac x