Pa amb Tomàquet

Pa amb tomàquet is one of the most simple foods in Catalan cuisine (and in my opinion, one of the best!)

What you need:

Bakery Bread, sliced
Ripe Tomatoes
Olive Oil
Garlic (optional)
Salt

Preparation:

There are a few variations when making pa tomàquet. Some people make this dish by toasting the bread. The other option is whether or not to use garlic. Usually it comes down to how much effort one wants to put into making this easy appetizer. I recommend both!

To make this traditional Catalan dish, toast the bread to your liking. Cut the clove of garlic in half and rub it's midsection onto the bread. Then, cut the tomato in half and rub it onto the bread until it is coated red. Last, drip some olive oil and sprinkle a bit of salt onto the bread and serve!

While many people add sausage or meats to their pa tomàquet, roasted red pepper and roasted eggplant/aubergine (called escalivada) are also a common addition to this oh so simple tapa.


Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 13, 2009 at 12:58 PM

    Mmmmm ... sounds yummy ... I can't wait to try out this easy Catalan recipe. Thanks for sharing ... keep them coming!!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Turkish Zeytinyagli Mantarli Kuskonmaz

Image
Zeytinyagli Mantarli Kuskonmaz is a Turkish salad consisting of asparagus and mushrooms. In this recipe, I added some leftover wild rice that I had. This works as a hot dish or a cold summer salad. Enjoy! Serves 2-3 What you need: 3 tbsp olive oil 10-12 mushrooms, sliced 1 bundle of asparagus, chopped 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 3 tsp lemon zest or lemon juice 2 cups cooked rice (optional) In a large pan, heat the 3 tbsp olive oil on medium-high heat. Add the chopped mushrooms, asparagus, salt, pepper, and lemon zest and sauté for 10 minutes. If you are using rice, add the cooked rice and mix for another 3 minutes. Serve hot or cold.
next page

Albanian Jani Me Fasule

Image
This thick white bean soup is a staple in Albania. It is also eaten in Greece. A similar version is served in Morocco called loubia. The combination of mint and chili pepper give it a fresh, spicy taste. Serves 3-4 What you need: 2 cups dry white beans 3 cups vegetable broth 4 1/2 cups water 1 onion, diced 3 tbsp olive oil 3 tbsp tomato sauce 1/2 tbsp dried parsley 1/2 tbsp dried mint 1/2 tsp chili powder 1 tsp salt In a large pot, bring the vegetable broth to a boil and add the 2 cups dry white beans. Cover and boil on medium heat for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the onion. In a pan, sauté the onion in the olive oil for 5 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and the spices and continue cooking for another 7-10 minutes. Add the onion mixture to the pot of beans along with 4 1/2 cups water. Cover and simmer on low heat for 2-2 1/2 hours. Sprinkle fresh parsley on top and serve.
next page

Sicilian Caponata

Image
This eggplant/aubergine based dish has different varieties throughout Italy, most popular in the regions of Sicily, Naples, and Genoa. This recipe is for the vegan-friendly Sicilian Caponata. It can be served as an appetizer on top of bread, on pasta, or as a main dish. Serves 3-4 What you need: 4 tbsp olive oil 2 eggplants/aubergines, chopped 1 large onion, diced 1 green bell pepper, deseeded and diced 6-8 plum tomatoes, diced 1 carrot, diced (optional) 2 tsp fresh basil or 1 tsp dried basil 1/2 cup green olives, chopped 1-2 tbsp capers 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp salt 1 tsp sugar raisins (optional) In a large pan, heat the olive oil. Add everything to the pot and simmer on medium heat for about an hour. Serve!
next page