Pan con Tomate (Spanish Tomato Bread) is a popular Catalan tapa made with simple ingredients including fresh tomatoes, hearty bread, garlic, and olive oil! A few tips make all the difference…
I love a good garlic bread to start a meal, but today’s recipe is next level bread deliciousness!
Tomato bread the Spanish way!
Also known as pan tumaca or pa amb tomaquet, pan con tomate literally translates to “bread with tomato.” It is made with a few simple ingredients: fresh ripe tomatoes, garlic, good extra virgin olive oil, and a dash of salt.
This tomato bread is a prime example of turning a few humble fresh ingredients into something that is far more than the sum of its parts. So good, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a tapas bar in Catalonia where several tables are not enjoying this dish!
Next to my heirloom tomato salad, this is one of my favorite ways to use up summer tomatoes, especially when they get too ripe in my basket.
Pan con tomate vs bruschetta
What’s the difference between Spanish tomato bread and bruschetta? Both are ways of serving tomato atop slices of bread, but they are slightly different.
Bruschetta is served with small chopped tomatoes, often mixed with other herbs and ingredients, atop of crostini or small pieces of crusty bread. Pan de tomate is even simpler and is made by rubbing fresh garlic and ripe tomatoes directly over warmed rustic bread.
A twist on the traditional Spanish pan con tomate
While the list of ingredients in today’s pan con tomate recipe stays pretty true to tradition, the preparation is slightly different. Traditionally, you would be served bread, tomatoes, and garlic at the table and you would proceed to make your own tomato bread by simply rubbing your sliver of garlic and your tomato directly over the bread and eating it. But in today’s recipe, to make things easier, I choose to serve the tomato bread already assembled.
Using an old fashioned box grater is the easiest way to get rid of the tomato skins and turn your fresh, extra ripe tomatoes into a bit of a puree to spread over some lightly oiled and toasted bread slices.
Ingredients you need to make pan con tomato
This Catalan tomato bread is made with just a few basic ingredients. But it’s important to start with quality ingredients from good hearty bread, to fresh tomatoes, and delicious olive oil. Here is what you’ll need to make this pan con tomate recipe
- Russtic bread (I used Ciabatta bread) – Day old bread is fine here, but make sure it is thick artisan-style bread that can make a sturdy base for the tomatoes.
- Tomatoes – You’ll need 3 large and very ripe tomatoes. I went with heirloom tomatoes this time.
- Extra virgin olive oil – For this recipe, I can’t help but use my Hojiblanca Spanish Extra Virgin Olive oil, which is moderately intense and fruity with aroma reminiscent of fresh cut grass, apple, and tomato!
- Garlic – A large clove is best for rubbing all over the bread.
- Salt – You can use sea salt or kosher salt in this recipe.
- Lime juice – Optional but adds a nice flavor to contrast the tomato and garlic.
How to make pan con tomate
This easy tapa recipe comes together in under 10 minutes, making it a quick and easy appetizer, snack or side dish!
- Oil and toast the bread. Slice the ciabatta loaf in half length-wise then into 2-inch slices. Brush with good olive oil and arrange on a sheet pan. Toast about 6 inches from the broiler for 3 minutes or less, until golden brown.
- Grate the tomatoes. Make a small cut at the top of the tomato an over the large holes of a box grater. Season with salt and a splash of lime juice (optional).
- Assemble the tomato bread. When the bread is ready, rub the garlic cloves over the hot bread. Spread the tomato puree over the bread and then serve.
Tips for success
With such simple ingredients and so few steps, there’s little you can do wrong when making pan de tomate! Just keep these few in mind for the best-tasting tomato bread possible:
- Slice the bread nice and thick. Select a hearty bread and slice it a bit thicker than you might for sandwiches, this will give you a sturdier base for the tomato puree.
- Use ripe tomatoes. Super ripe, juicy tomatoes are key to making pan con tomate.
- Season simply. Aside from the garlic rubbed all over the warmed bread, a good pinch of sea salt or kosher salt is all you need to season. And if you want to amp up the flavo of the tomatoes, a splash of lime juice is a great idea. But otherwise, nothing else is needed.
- Serve soon after you prepare the tomato bread. It’s a good idea to wait a few minutes for the juices and flavors to absorb into the bread. However, be sure to serve pan con tomate quickly, to pevent the bread from becoming soggy.
Serving ideas and suggestion
While this Spanish tomato bread is most often served very simply, with just the ingredients described above, you can also serve it with toppings. Some common, popular toppings are Spanish serrano ham, Manchego cheese, roasted mushrooms and olives.
Serve pan con tomate tapas-style with easy Spanish cocktails, like Tinto De Verano or Agua De València. Or as an appetizer or side dish to any meal. Just be sure to serve and enjoy within a few minutes of preparing, as the tomato puree juices can make the bread soggy if it sits for too long.
More easy tomato dishes:
- Simple Heirloom Tomato Salad with Dukkah
- Tomato Panzanella Salad
- 10-Minute Gazpacho
- Quick Oven Roasted Tomatoes
Browse 30+ Mediterranean Fresh Tomato Recipes. More Spanish-inspired recipes.
Pan Con Tomate (Spanish Tomato Bread)
Ingredients
- 1 loaf ciabatta bread, or similar hearty bread
- 3 tomatoes, large and very ripe tomatoes are best, I used heirloom tomatoes
- Extra virgin olive oil, try Hojiblanca Spanish Olive Oil
- 1 to 2 garlic cloves, sliced in half
- sea salt, or kosher salt
- splash of fresh lime juice (optional)
Instructions
- Turn the broiler function of your oven and position a rack about 6 inches away from the heat source.
- Slice the bread loaf in half length-wise then in 2-inch slices. Brush the bread generously with extra virgin olive oil and arrange on a sheet pan. Toast in the heated oven about 6 inches from the broiler for 3 minutes or until the bread is lightly golden brown.
- Slice a small part at the very tip of the tomatoes and grate the tomatoes over the large holes of a box grater. Discard the peels. Season the tomato puree with salt and a splash of lime juice, if you like.
- When the bread is ready, rub the garlic cloves over the hot bread, then spread the grated tomatoes over the bread. Serve.
Video
Notes
- This tomato bread is best served soon after you prepare it. Do not wait too long where the bread can get soggy.
- This recipe makes about 10 slices of tomato bread, you can plan on 2 slices per person.
- Visit Our Shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including extra virgin olive oils and spices
Yes 5 stars!
I’m from NJ and in September the heirloom tomatoes are lovely. I skipped the shredding and simply sliced the tomatoes. We like like things well-seasoned , so garlic and herbs went into my olive oil before brushing. Thanks for the great recipe! We are happily remembering Barcelona.
Awesome! Here’s another great recipe to try with all those great, ripe heirloom tomatoes!
I lived in Spain for almost 2 years and this was a staple for breakfast most mornings. I love this recipe! Brought back good memories of my time over there. Add some prosciutto or something like jamon serrano and cheese to add another layer of flavor to this. All I’m missing is some cola coa!
can you make a large quantity and preserve this?
Hi, Janet. It’s not something we’ve tried before, but I think you should be able to.
Outstanding! So simple but soooo good. Reminds me of Barcelona!
Love to hear that, Randy! Thank you!
Is easy and simple to make
Love this recipe the only thing different that do is to grate/crush a garlic clove per piece of bread and spread it with a knife before adding the tomatoes. My wife says that I make a pig of myself with it and limits the amount of bread slices I use.
Thanks, Paul!
Really good, had for my lunch yesterday and today, love your recipes
This looks delicious and I’m going to give it a try.
When I’ve been in Italy (a few different areas), the locals have been adamant that bruschetta is simply Italian bread with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. What part of Italy serves it with the tomato mix you mentioned above?
Hi, Kristi. Pan Con Tomato is actually a traditional Spanish tapa. It IS delicious! Hope you love it!
Yes, I know that, I was referring to your mention of bruschetta in this post. The section titled: Pan con tomate vs bruschetta. You say: Bruschetta is served with small chopped tomatoes, often mixed with other herbs and ingredients, atop of crostini or small pieces of crusty bread.
I had an overripe tomato and some nice artisan bread so I made this for breakfast this morning and have been thinking of it all day! Delicious!
Just made this using our own homegrown tomatoes. It transported us right back to sunny Spain, a country we miss so much! Will definitely be making it again – and again.
Wonderful! Thanks, Beverley!
Very lovely recipe! I used the inside of the tomatoes only, yesterday I made Romesco sauce, and as I could not find roasted tomatoes I made my own by grilling the outer part of 12 tomatoes after scooping out the inner core and seeds. Now I could use that inner core and seeds for this recipe. I made 10 slices. Thank you Suzy for all your inspiration.
My pleasure, Marijke! So glad you enjoyed this recipe!
So glad to find this recipe. I ate this and loved it when I was in Spain a few years ago. I didn’t know what it was called but now I can’t wait to make it and relive my taste bud memories! I have made several of your recipes and I am so impressed, you have made me a better cook! Thank you.
I love the hear that, Judy! Thank you for the kind words!
I have been making a ‘tomato melt’ from my aunt’s Weight Watchers group for over 40 years! Toast a hearty slice of bread, add big slices of tomato, a slice of your favorite cheese and zap it for 30 seconds or under the broiler. Long enough to melt the cheese and heat the tomatoes (and be careful it can get pizza hot). Sprinkle with seasoned salt or a sprinkle of garlic oil to your taste. So, so easy to make. I ate this as a great meal or snack, and for whatever reason it was more delicious when I was pregnant. I have never tried it with grated tomatoes and that sounds wonderful too. Thank, Suzy! Love hearing about all these new ways of using simple, fresh ingredients. M.
As a Catalan born I’m glad to read about pa amb tomàquet or pa amb tomata as people in Girona named it. Just let me say, never use a grater for grate the tomato, we use to grate the tomato directly in bread, the used tomato are called “de penjar” (hanging tomato’s) from Balearian that are soft and smoth. Try to find the mature tomates you’ll find and try to grate it directly! That’s the flavoring you’ll need to find. As I said before, I’m really happy to read about this all day dish at home. Thanks!!!
Thanks for sharing, Silvia! I hope you give my version a try!
I LOVE Pan Con Tomate! It makes a super easy appetizer that everyone enjoys.
I’m not Catalan but I live in Catalunya since 2002. Another good way to use this tomato bread is in sandwiches- as they are made here. Forget mayonnaise, tomato bread, with its oil and garlic, is the best you can put in a sandwich (as long as it is a baguette type bread, of course, not square sandwich bread).
Ooo! What a great idea! Thanks, Valeria!