A question I would always get from my friends when they are planning a trip to Spain is: what should we eat?
And to be honest it is not easy to answer this question because: there is plenty of choice! The Spanish cuisine is very rich and every region has its own typical dish and meal routine. So my advice would be for them to enjoy the food of the region they are visiting.
And as soon as they are back from their holidays, and they tell me how much they enjoyed food and sun in Spain, the next thing they would ask me is: can you please let us know how to prepare a delicious paella? And how about a Spanish omelette? And a healthy and chilled gazpacho? And …
I feel so happy to know that they loved so much my country’s gastronomy! And I feel even happier since I created Tasty Mediterraneo which allows me to share with them, and with you all, many of the traditional and healthy recipes from my beloved Mediterranean country.
The recipe I have prepared for you today is very simple: a Spanish style toast with tomato, also known as: “pan tumaca”, “pa amb tomàquet”, “pa amb oli”. It is a classic breakfast and tapa almost everywhere in Spain, but mainly in some regions of the Mediterranean coast of Spain like: Catalonia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands…
You only need 5 ingredients and 5 minutes. Really, there are no excuses for not trying it! I am sure you will love it!
If you try this healthy and simple Mediterranean recipe, please let me know, leave a comment and rate it. I would love to know what you come up with!
- 8 slices of bread
- 3 tomatoes
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and cut in half
- 4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- Salt
- Wash well the tomatoes. Cut them in half and grate them while being careful of not cutting yourself on the box grater.
- Toast the bread slices (in a toaster, on a grill or in the oven, as you prefer) until golden.
- Prepare the garlic as indicated in the ingredients description. Rub it on the toasted bread.
- Spread the grated tomatoes over the bread; add a small pinch of salt and ½ teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil on each bread slice.
This recipe makes a perfect Mediterranean breakfast served with a freshly squeezed orange juice.
You can add some aged cheese (Manchego, Comté, Parmesan,…) as a topping for your “Pan con tomate” for a perfect "tapa" or sandwich.
Shelley
I love this recipe, I actually minced the garlic and added it to the grated tomatoes with the salt and olive oil, then scooped it up with the toast – absolutely delicious!
Margarita
I’m glad you like it Shelley 🙂 Enjoy and happy healthy cooking!
Vicki
So happy to come across a recipe for tostadas – they are so delicious! My husband and I were in Spain in December 2019 and loved the tostadas, tapas, paella, and everything else we ate (especially in the Mercado San Miguel).
Margarita
Hi Vicki, I’m glad you like it 🙂 Enjoy and happy healthy cooking!
Lynda
Can you also add the garlic and olive oil to the tomato and if so, how much?
Margarita
Hi Lynda, yes you can add the olive oil and the garlic to the tomato. You should add half a garlic goose completely mashed. But if you plan to keep the mix in the fridge you should know that you should eat it within maximum 2 days. Enjoy and happy healthy cooking! 🙂
Mike
Hi Margarita, I am in Mallorca and want to make this the same as you get in cafés and bars. I can’t believe they go to the trouble of grating the tomatoes. Do you think they put them in a food processor?
Thanks,
Mike
Margarita
Hi Mike, most of the cafés and bars would use already prepared tomatoes, some of them are store bought. The traditional recipe for “pan tumaca” in Mallorca uses a variety of tomatoes called “Tomate de ramallet”, you cut the tomato in half and is extended directly on the bread. My suggestion would be that, when you are back home, you grate the tomatoes to avoid the skin, or if you want you can peel them and put them into a food processor. Enjoy and happy healthy cooking! 🙂
Mike
Thanks Margarita, I have the Ramellet romatoes and will experiment.
Margarita
That’s great! 🙂
Sydney Patton
I was on Majorca this summer and loved having this for breakfast. Thank you for the recipe and information. I’m making this tomorrow!
Margarita
Hi Sydney, that’s great! Enjoy and happy healthy cooking! 🙂
Matt
I recall this breakfast having a name like migas in Sevilla when I lived there in the late 1980s. ¿Do you know it?
Margarita
Hi Matt, migas is a completely different recipe. It’s made with bread crumbs, chorizo, garlic,… nothing to do with the Spanish style toast 😉 Enjoy and happy healthy cooking!
Jan Ric
I live in Spain and have an abundance of tomatoes this year, but the are large cherry tomatoes how can I adapt this recipe and store, preferably a quantity to freeze for guests next month
I await your response
Margarita
Hi Jan, since the cherry tomatoes are small, instead of grating them I would suggest you to add them into a food processor or blender and process them a bit. Then you could freeze only the blended tomatoes, and add the rest of ingredients once you unfreeze them. Enjoy and happy healthy cooking!
Rachelle
Sooo happy I found this recipe???
Margarita
Enjoy Rachelle! 🙂
Carol
We loved this in Spain last summer – I found your recipe this morning and we have just enjoyed it for lunch – just as good as in Granada! Thank you!
Margarita
You’re welcome Carol, enjoy! 🙂
Amy
Hey! Do you have nutritional information at all? This seems amazing!
Margarita
Hi Amy, no I do not add nutritional information to the recipes. But I can tell you that tomatoes are a very good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K, folate, potassium, manganese and dietary fiber. That, together with the health benefits of garlic and extra virgin olive oil, makes it a very nutritious toast to have as part of your breakfast or at any time 😉 Enjoy!
Antonio
Is is ok to butter the toast ?
Margarita
Hi Antonio, the Spanish style toast doesn’t use any butter, only extra virgin olive oil as indicated in the instructions. Enjoy!
Laura
Hi. I adore this recipe. Can you tell me if there is any way you could freeze it please.
Margarita
Hi Laura, I am happy to know you like my recipe 🙂 I have never frozen the fresh grated tomatoes, although I believe you could do it and just take them out of the freezer 20 minutes before you want to consume them. What I usually do is I grate a large amount of tomatoes and I keep them in a jar in the fridge, if the jar is well closed the tomatoes can perfectly last 3-4 days in the fridge and be ready to add to your toast with the garlic, salt and extra virgin olive oil whenever you want. Enjoy and have a nice week!
Michaela
I will try this for sure. I am in teneriffe right now and it this every day. Yummy!! I am grateful I found this recipe here!!
Margarita
Hi Michaela, you are welcome. Enjoy Tenerife and the pan tumaca 🙂
Michaela
Thank you, Margarita, for sharing these recipes. It makes me want to return to Grenada! I am so excited to try more of these recipes in my own kitchen!
Margarita
Hi Michaela, you are welcome 🙂 I’m happy to know you like my recipes, enjoy!
Amy
I am like your friends- just returned from Spain and looking to recreate this delicious treat we enjoyed for breakfast or late afternoon tapas most days! So glad I found your site. Can’t wait to try this recipe and more!
Margarita
That’s great Amy, enjoy! 🙂
Carmella
Hi Margarita,
Going to try this now and have one question; how long will it keep in the fridge?
Kind regards
Carmella
Margarita
Hi Carmella, the fresh grated tomatoes can perfectly last 3-4 days in the fridge. Once they are grated you’ll just have to add them to your toast in the morning with the garlic, salt and extra virgin olive oil 😉 Enjoy!