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 isPa 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.
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Pa Amb Tomaquet
Written by Jacqueline Meldrum
April 21, 2017
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.
