The ultimate tapa for Catalans (pa amb tomàquet) and Spaniards (pan con tomate) is a simple yet beloved classic—crispy grilled bread rubbed with tomato, drizzled with olive oil, salt, and, if desired, a hint of garlic.
If you’ve ever set foot in Barcelona or its region, you probably saw this Pan con Tomate or Pa amb tomaquet on every table. Surely your waiter will ask you if you want something with your meal. It’s simply inconceivable not to order it. Pan con tomate, or its Catalan term Pa amb tomàquet, is integral to their culture. So popular, to the point of having a book written about it, by Leopold Pomés called Teoria i práctica del pa amb tomàquet. You know it’s a serious matter when a whole book is written about a single dish.
History of Pan con tomate
Nèstor Luján wrote about pan con tomate in 1884, although its origin goes way back to the 16th century. It was a way to revamp dry bread by adding the juice of a tomato to it and letting it soak in all that delicious tomato flavour. Today, the technique is also used in sandwiches, called Bocadillo (Spanish) or Entrepà (Catalan). Instead of adding mayonnaise or mustard, they cover the inside of a baguette bread with tomato pulp and olive oil and fill it with Iberic ham, cheese, egg tortilla, sausage, etc.
The rest of Spain also does pan con tomate, although it isn’t as holy as in Catalonia. It is done differently and often with a different type of tomato. The Spanish version uses a cheese grater to pick up the pulp from the tomato. There are also other variations, like the one in Majorca, where they slice tomatoes, add them to bread, and top it with olive oil, vinegar, capers, and olives; this one is called Pamboli amb Tomàtiga.
Special Hanged Tomatoes from Catalonia
The tomatoes used are typically the ones you’ll see hanging on a string at any Catalan market called ramallet. This type of tomato has a thicker skin. Therefore, they can be conserved for a long time; the hanging factor also helps to preserve them. The skin loses water and thickens, resulting in a concentrated interior which tastes sweeter and bolder than most tomatoes. Plus, it has the perfect texture; once rubbed on the bread, the pulp breaks apart quickly and evenly, leaving the skin behind. It also gives the bread this uniform “tomato topping” without too much of the “water” that most tomatoes are filled with. The perfect tomato for this dish!
To reproduce this dish at home, I suggest an Italian pear-style tomato or any meaty tomato that doesn’t contain much water.
The Bread
Catalonia’s two main bread types for pan con tomate are a flatbread called coca or a round loaf. However, the most important thing is to use a suitable “artisanal” type of bread; its form doesn’t ultimately matter. I prefer the flatbread, and most restaurants do too. Its crust is crunchy and interior fluffy, with many holes to trap the pulp.
There are two ways to toast bread: lightly in the toaster or oven or, as is often done in rural restaurants, with the round loaf of bread grilled lightly on the BBQ. Remember, it was initially made to revamp dry bread; it should not taste like toasted bread, so go easy on the toasting. The bread should stay relatively white to prevent it from overpowering the delicate taste of the tomatoes and olive oil.
Service
This dish is usually consumed with other tapas as an appetizer or side dish. In rural restaurants, the grilled bread, tomato, garlic, olive oil, and salt are brought separately to the table and let you make your pan con tomate. They often offer a garlic clove with it, which you can rub on the bread before adding the tomato.
Of course, if you are lucky enough to find some, the famous Iberic ham would be a popular topping for this dish.
Other Tapas Ideas
So.. let’s make this Catalan ritual going!
Pa amb Tomàquet | Pan con tomate
For this recipe, I’ve made two versions of pan con tomate: the “Traditional Catalan way” and the “Spanish way.”
Directions
Traditional Catalan Way
- Cut a slice of flatbread or round loaf bread and lightly toast it.
- Scrape lightly the garlic clove, cut into 2, on the bread.
- Then, cut a meaty tomato its length into two and rub it on the bread.
- Add excellent extra-virgin olive oil and some salt.
Spanish Way
(This version has a more generous amount of tomatoes)
- The Spanish way consists of lightly toasted bread.
- Cut the tomato in two, and collect the pulp in a bowl with a cheese grater.
- Add the tomato mixture to the bread with a spoon, and top with extra-virgin olive oil and salt.
Serve with tapas or any Spanish dish!
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27 Comments
A different execution, but basically the same ingredients as the typical Bruschetta with tomato in Italy 🙂 these are the kind of things I also love to eat in hot summer days, simply perfect. Good, light, refreshing.
Fairly similar to Bruschetta yes! Thanks for stopping by!
Oh my gosh, this looks amazing! Hopefully one day I will make it to Barcelona, but until then I’ll just have to try this dish!
It s a good preview of Spain 🇪🇸 for sure
Topped with thinly sliced Jammon, this is my preferred Tapa! 🙂
A good Jamon iberico de bellota especially;)
Now you’re talking! 🙂
I love the simplicity of this. So often it is the simple foods that transcend the taste buds, the important part is to use really good ingredients.
For sure!
Thanks for stopping by!
This looks so simple, yet still so delicious. I can’t believe that I have never seen it before; however, I think a trip to Spain is in order so that I can try the “real deal”.
Simplicity=happy tastebuds
A trip to Spain is always in order;)
I am a bread lover…so this is for me!! That market looks amazing….how I wish I could shop at one of those. How do you like it in Spain?? This recipe would be entertaining perfect.
The markets in Barcelona are such a happy pill to me! I love to go walk around markets here, a little paradise for foodies. Hope you’ll come visit some day!
Fabulous write up, I love the story as well as the recipe! And yes, I am rather partial to this tapa too. Markets in someone else’s back garden always look more attractive to me!
I do think Barcelona has fantastic markets! Santa Caterina Market is my happy place!
Me encanta! Este es my favorito tapa de Espana. 🙂 Seriously though, the first time I tried it I ordered it twice! It’s amazingly simple and deliciously elegant!
Si claro, un tapa que nadie puede olvidar;)
Oh wow. Thank you for reminding me of my trip to Spain nearly 20 years ago. I remember eating this several times and it was tomato heaven. I actually have a good crop of tomatoes coming in right now. I think I’m going to make this over the weekend!
To bring back some Spanish memories pan con tomate 🍅 is the way!!
I love tapas and this dish looks very yummy 🙂
It s the mother of all tapas;)
This looks so good, so simple and fresh. I have all the ingredients to make this too! Can’t wait to try it!
It’s a great dish to let your guest to themselves also;) I’m thinking BBQ party! Enjoy!
Just loved the recipe
Very informative indeed. Our future daughter in law did a thesis on Catalan culture. We’ll try to impress her with this and other authentic recipes from the region. Thanks
Interesting this Catalan culture! They like a lot the Mar y Montana they call, which is basically surf N turf. I have a couple of Catalan recipes on the site, I hope you check it out! Rabbit in chocolate, arroz negro, etc.