Refreshing toast for breakfast, lunch or dinner
This recipe is inspired by the classic Spanish pan con tomate, often eaten for breakfast, snack or tapas in Spain. In this recipe I grate the tomato and serve it family style with toasted bread and a selection of toppings. This allows everyone to add as much or as little tomato as they like (I definitely like more tomato), and chose their favourite toppings. Great for a light lunch or as a sharing platter with friends.
Recipe
Serves: 2 | Time: <10 min
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 1/2 baguette
- 1 cup grated tomatoes (about 5 medium tomatoes)
- 1/4 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1 tsp olive oil
Additional toppings (optional – see substitution for more ideas)
- Jamón ibérico (Spanish ham)
- Anchovies
- Capers
Method
- Grab your grater.
- Cut the tomatoes in half horizontally and grate the pulp coarsely (largest holes of your grater). Discard the skin (see picture 1 and 2).
- Add 1/4 tsp of salt and 1tsp of olive oil to the grated pulp, set aside.
- Cut the half baguette in half lengthwise and then cut each half in 3 (picture 3).
- Toast bread.
- Serve family style letting everyone assemble bread and tomato with their toppings of choice.
Substitutions
I highlight here the core of the dish and suggest some possible substitutions to adapt the pan con tomate to your preferences, diet and ingredients available to you.
Core: Bread and grated tomato pulp.
Substitutions:
Method: You can can also rub the halved tomato directly on the bread to save up on some dishes. Just season to taste with salt and oil after.
Toppings and seasoning: Play around with the toppings and seasonings you like. Some ideas below:
| Other toppings |
| Garlic: rub toasted bread with fresh garlic before topping with tomatoes. |
| Cheese: a classic would be manchego but any other hard cheese would work. |
| Ham: Any ham will do or even chorizo or other cold cuts of choice. |
| Hard boiled eggs, diced |
| Olives |
| Fresh herbs (thyme, basil, etc.) |
Spain
The Global Homecook 