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Grated Tomatoes with Olive Oil

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Grated Tomatoes with Olive Oil are something I had for the first time in Spain. It’s a Spanish breakfast — and, it’s also a fabulous appetizer or tomato sauce. Summer tomatoes are worth celebrating and this might just be the best way to do it.Toast with breakfast tomatoes and avocado slices on a white plate.

On one of my trips to Spain, visiting my Spanish sister Pilar, her brother Rafael made a breakfast I will never forget. It couldn’t have been more simple, or more delicious.

In Spain it’s called “Tomate con Pan,” which translates to Tomato with Bread.

Ingredients You Will Need

This is so pure . . .

  • tomatoes – Color and feel are the best cues to ripeness. Ripe tomatoes should be slightly firm, but have a little give when gently squeezed, and they should have a deep red color (or whatever the color is intended to be).
  • salt – I almost always bake and cook with Kosher salt. (It’s coarse and salts foods in a subtle way that enhances their flavor without making them taste salty.)
  • black pepper – Freshly ground is best.
  • extra virgin olive oil – This one is my favorite.

Oh, and bread too, as a vehicle to eat it.

How to Grate Tomatoes and Make this Recipe

– Hold the tomato carefully and place it on the coarse holes of a box grater. Do this over a bowl or on a cutting board.

– Grate until you remove as much of the pulp as possible, but stopping well before you are too close to your fingers! (You can finely chop the rest.)

Cutting board with salt, pepper, olive oil land a partially grated tomato.

– If you haven’t grated the tomato into a bowl, use a flat-bottomed metal spatula to scoop it into one. Then add a bit of coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper.

– Give it a quick drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and serve with a rustic loaf of bread — just pull off pieces and dip them in.

Sweet Breakfast Tomatoes in a white bowl with a piece of bread.

Can you use a food processor?

Yes you can. That said, I think part of joy of this is grating the tomatoes one at a time, at the table, while you’re eating. This is easy for just a few people, but the food processor will definitely help for a big crowd.

Sweet Breakfast Tomatoes in a white bowl.

More Serving Suggestions

  • Not only are grated tomatoes a Spanish breakfast, they also make for a delightful summer appetizer or a raw grated tomato sauce .
  • Spread it on toasted baguette slices and top them with avocado slices. Tomato toast! It’s sort of the reverse of my avocado toast.
  • Serve it over or with chicken or fish.
  • Add it to a sandwich.

During the summer, this is one tastiest breakfasts or snacks imaginable. And its simplicity is part of its beauty.

The key to this being amazing, is of course to start with an absolutely wonderful tomato — right off the vine if possible! Summer is the best time to make it!

Enjoy!

More tomato recipes:

Sweet Breakfast Tomatoes in a white bowl.

Grated Tomatoes with Olive Oil

Valentina K. Wein
Grated Tomatoes with Olive Oil are something I had for the first time in Spain. It's a Spanish breakfast -- and, it's also a fabulous appetizer or tomato sauce.
5 from 6 votes
Print
Prep Time 5 mins
Total Time 5 mins
Course Breakfast, Appetizer, Sauces
Cuisine Spanish
Servings 2
Calories 54 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 2 large tomatoes (about ½-pound each), washed and dried
  • pinch salt
  • pinch freshly grated black pepper
  • drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 1 small to medium-sized baguette

Instructions
 

  • Grate the tomatoes and add the pulp to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Serve immediately with a baguette.

Notes

Calorie count is only an estimate.
Keywords appetizers for sharing, summer brunch recipes
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Comments

  2. barbara says

    I love tomatoes. I have even done something like this with canned tomatoes and cheese – oh so good. But you can bet I will fix this . right now. Thank you B

    Reply

  3. Quyen - KitchenRunway says

    So simple yet so delicious. It’s amazing how beautiful summer produce just speak for themselves. Start with amazing ingredients and you’ll have amazing results with very little fuss. Thank you for sharing! Wish I was in Spain again…

    Reply

  6. Amee says

    tomatoes and bread. most cultures have discovered what a perfect marriage these two are…
    We went to spain a few years ago and this was by far our favorite breakfast…and the olive oil…i just could not get enough…

    Reply

  12. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    It’s recipes like this that make me so excited it’s summer! Love all the beautiful produce that’s around and this looks like such a delicious way to use it! A trip to Spain in every bite 😉 Yum!! Have a lovely week, my friend!

    Reply

  13. David @ Spiced says

    Tomato with bread? That totally doesn’t do this recipe justice! It sounds so basic and boring…but this recipe looks anything but boring. I love European breakfasts! (I mean I love American breakfasts, too, but there is something special about tomatoes and cheeses and assorted breads for breakfast.) Either way, this sounds like a fun recipe for sure!

    Reply

    • valentina says

      So great you have a garden. It’s hit or miss for me depending on how busy life gets. This year all we have are herbs. Next year tomatoes! 🙂 Thanks for visiting. ~Valentina

      Reply

  19. David Scott Allen says

    I started grating tomatoes in the past year or two – and my method leaves the skin but grates all else. There is something about grated tomatoes that is so much better than blitzing them in the food processor. Makes the best sauce! Never thought about them for breakfast, but I will now!

    Reply

    • David Scott Allen says

      It’s funny, when I wrote my comment three years ago, I had no idea that grated tomatoes were a big Spanish thing. Now that I’m getting ready to go to Spain, I have been grating tomatoes onto bread at least twice a week! I forgotten about this post, and like the idea of grating them and dipping the bread.

      Reply

  21. Mimi says

    My cherry tomatoes have ripened, but I’m still waiting on my larger varieties! It’s the only reason I stay here where I live for the summer. That and basil! Not that I have a place to go, but it’s hot hot hot here! Anyway, love your recipe.

    Reply

    • valentina says

      Mimi, thank you. So great you can grow all of that deliciousness! The silver lining of the hot weather. Enjoy and hope your summer is lovely. ~Valentina

      Reply

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