Pan con Tomate Recipe - Spanish Sabores (2024)

Pan con tomate, also known in Spain as pan tumacaor pa amb tomàquetin Catalan, is toasted bread topped with juicy tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt. It makes a simple and satisfying breakfast, tapa, or snack any time of day. Add toppings if desired for an especially delicious pan con tomate!

If you're looking for more popular tapas, be sure to try my recipes for croquetas de jamón and gilda.

Introduction

Pan con tomate is one of those things you'll find throughout Spain, like tortilla de patatas.

My recipe, which is the Madrid style pan con tomate, is not the only way to make this. Many families simply rub raw tomato on the bread, and drizzle the olive oil and salt on top, but I like mixing the tomato, olive oil, and salt together first to improve the flavors.

Ingredients

Fortunately, it only takes a handful of good quality ingredients to make wonderful pan con tomate. Let's talk about the most important ingredients before we get started!

• Bread: It's important to use a hearty, toasted bread that can stand up to plenty of olive oil and tomato juice. In Catalonia, we often use a rustic country bread or a thinly sliced "glass bread" that nearly shatters apart when eaten.
• Tomatoes: Be sure to use the ripest, freshest tomatoes you can find for the very best flavor. In Catalonia, there are special local tomatoes (tomàquets de penjar) that will spread like butter, so use those if you can!
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Experiment with different varieties. You will taste the olive oil, so be sure to use the very best quality you can find. I love a fruity arbequina or spicy picual. If you can find something unfiltered, even better! Learn more about olive oil.
• Sea Salt: Another must. And if you can find Flor de Sal, get some!

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations

• Catalonian (pa amb tomàquet): Serve for breakfast, as a base for tapas, or as a side dish. Rub the toasted country bread or glass bread (pan de cristal) with half of a garlic clove, then rub the tomato right on the bread and top with olive oil and salt.
• Andalusian: Serve at breakfast topped with jamón Serrano or jamón ibérico. Experiment with other cured meats, like lomo or fuet, as desired.
• Madrid Style: Serve at breakfast. Mix a little sherry vinegar into the grated tomato, and mix it with the olive oil and salt before spreading on the bread.
• Basque Style: Use pan con tomate as a base for pintxos. Try either salt cured or marinated (boquerones en vinagre) anchovies on top; or use one of each for a marriage (matrimonio). Alternatively, place a slice of your favorite cheese on top.

How to Make

If you’d like to see the full ingredients and instructions, scroll to the bottom of the post for the printable recipe card.

1. Slice the bread.
2. Toast the slices in the oven or in the toaster.

3. Use the coarse side of a box grater to grate the tomato into a bowl.
4. Stop grating when all the flesh is gone, leaving only the skin.

5. Add the olive oil to the grated tomato.
6. Season with sea salt to taste.

7. Rub the bread with raw garlic if desired.
8. Spread the tomato mixture on the bread.

9. Sprinkle with a little more sea salt if desired.
10. Drizzle with a bit more extra virgin olive oil and enjoy immediately!

Recipe FAQs

Serve

Pan con tomate is extremely versatile. It makes a delicious breakfast (with or without a slice or two of jamón), and is also perfect with other tapas, or as a side to any meal. Check out this roundup of the 50 best Spanish tapas for great dishes to serve with pan con tomate.

Store

Leftovers: You can refrigerate the tomato mixture for 2-3 days as long as it's tightly sealed. Spread it on the toasted bread when you're ready to serve it. However, the mixture will taste the best when it's freshly made.

Expert Tips

• Use the best quality ingredients you can find--such as hearty sliced bread, vine-ripened tomatoes, and flavorful olive oil. This is paramount when making the best pan con tomate!
• Choose a hearty bread that won't go soggy quickly when loaded with the juicy tomato and olive oil mixture.
• Season with salt to taste to bring out the natural flavors of the tomatoes.
• Experiment with toppings to add extra flavor and protein. Try jamón, cured meats, anchovies, or cheese.

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Photography by Giulia Verdinelli

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