At its most basic this tapas recipe can be made in 10 minutes. Add a
few twists and twirls and it will still only take you 15 minutes.
Complicated or simple, this is one of the most authentic of all tapa
recipes.
COOK'S NOTES
Originating from Catalan in Spain, this simple dish is now served all over Spain
in varying ways. In its simplest form, toasted bread is rubbed with tomato and
garlic then seasoned with salt and pepper. The Spanish for this recipe is pan
con tomate but in Catalan it is known as pa amb tomaquet.
Our tomato bread tapas recipe is reasonably simple using
blended tomatoes, garlic olive oil and seasoning. We top it off with Spanish
ham but cheese or chorizo are superb additions. At the end of this recipe we
suggest how this Spanish tomato bread tapas can be prepared in advance and
served in a very attractive manner.
The recipe includes a tablespoon of concentrated tomato
paste. The reason is simple, tomatoes in the UK never contain the flavour of
those in Spain. A tablespoon of tomato paste goes some way to increasing the
tomato flavour. Be sure to use largish tomatoes which are fully ripe for the
full flavour.
KEY POINTS FOR SPANISH TOMATO BREAD TAPAS
Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
How Difficult
Easy
Freeze?
No
Servings
4 tapas
Ingredients
How Much
Spanish ham
60g / 2oz
Tomatoes (ripe)
4 medium
Garlic
2 cloves
Concentrated tomato paste
1 tablespoon
Olive oil
1 tablespoon
Rustic type bread
4 portions
Salt and pepper
To taste
Method for Tomato Bread Tapas
Peel the tomatoes by scouring them lightly with a
sharp knife and putting them in boiling water for 45 seconds.
The skins can then easily be removed. Cut the tomatoes into
quarters.
Peel and chop the garlic. Blend the tomatoes,
concentrated tomato paste, garlic and olive oil with a mini blender
or food processor. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Toast the bread until golden brown. Spread the
tomato mixture on the bread, top with Spanish ham and eat
immediately. If you want to prepare the tomato bread in advance,
don't place the tomato mix on the toasted bread because it will
quickly be absorbed making the bread a soggy mass. Instead serve the
tomato mix, ham and bread separately as shown in the picture on the
left.
