This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
Pan con Tomate is one of the simplest but most impressive Spanish appetizers you can serve. It’s fresh, rustic, and takes only a few minutes of hands-on prep when you grate the tomatoes earlier in the day.
The combination of crisp toasted bread, raw garlic, juicy tomato pulp, sea salt, and olive oil creates a bright, savory bite that pairs perfectly with paella nights, dinner parties, or casual evenings at home. This recipe uses a small baguette, making it easy to prepare for 2–4 people without leftovers.
Check out our Spanish paella dinner party for a complete menu.
Pan con Tomate Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 pieces 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Spanish
Description
This Spanish-style Pan con Tomate recipe (Spanish tomato bread) tastes fresh, rustic, and wonderfully delicious, and can easily be prepped ahead.
Ingredients
- 2 very ripe tomatoes (very soft to the touch)
- 2–3 cloves of garlic
- Olive oil
- Sea salt flakes
- 1 small French baguette
Pro Tip: We like the La Brea Bakery Take & Bake Twin Pack (use one, freeze one)
Instructions
Complete these steps earlier in the day to make cooking feel effortless:
- Cut tomatoes in half along the equator (the horizontal line around the middle of the tomato, perpendicular to its stem).
- With the cut side down, grate the tomatoes using an extra course cheese grater into a small glass bowl. The skin of the tomato will separate naturally as you grate. Once you get towards the end of the tomato, discard the skin and end. Do this for both tomatoes.
- You will be left with a mix of tomato chucks and tomato liquid resembling a liquidy jelly.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Use a garlic peeler to peel the garlic and set aside until later.
When you are ready to serve, complete these steps:
- Cut one small baguette into four even pieces using a serrated bread knife. Slice each piece lengthwise so the soft center is exposed (similar to how you would cut the bread for four small sandwiches).
- Arrange each piece soft side side up in an oven and bake as instructed.
- While the bread is baking, take out the grated tomatoes from the refrigerator.
- Once the bread is done, remove from the oven and rub the center side of the bread with the peeled garlic.
- Spoon the grated tomato onto each piece evenly. Each piece can hold more than you think, so use all of the grated tomato!
- Sprinkle each piece with a pinch or two of sea salt flakes, and then lightly drizzle each piece with olive oil.
You are now ready to serve and enjoy!Â
Notes
Use very ripe tomatoes: If the tomatoes aren’t soft and overripe, they won’t grate well and the flavor won’t be as sweet.
Grate the tomatoes ahead: This Pan con Tomate recipe allows you to prep the tomato pulp in the morning (or a few hours ahead) which makes it feel effortless when guests arrive.
Bread matters: A small baguette works best because it toasts evenly and doesn’t overpower the tomato flavor. La Brea Bakery Take & Bake baguettes are perfect.
Garlic size and intensity varies: Rubbing the garlic directly onto the warm toast gives control—you can make it mild or strong depending on how much you rub.
Season generously: Don’t be shy with the flaky sea salt. Tomatoes need salt and it brings the whole Pan con Tomate recipe together.
Serve immediately: Once topped, serve the Pan con Tomate right away so it stays crisp.
Hosting a full Spanish dinner party? Pair this easy Pan con Tomate recipe with our oven-baked Spanish paella recipe — it’s the star of our Spanish paella dinner party menu!
Email This Recipe
Our Recipes
One Pan Lemon Chicken
Bacon Deviled Eggs with Mayo
The Only Salted Dulce de Leche Ice Cream Recipe You’ll Ever Need
Red Wine Sangria (Fruit Forward, Balanced, and Party Ready)
Classic Deviled Eggs (Easy Summer Appetizer Recipe)
Maple Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Our dinner party hosting post walks you through the exact approach we use in our home to host relaxed but impressive dinners without all the last-minute chaos and stress, including:
Hosting a Spanish paella dinner party is ideal for busy modern families and parents because it’s interactive, memorable, and surprisingly easy once you prep ahead, especially with these tips.
