Pan Con Tomate

Yes, it's bread and tomato! This traditional Catalan combination is great as an appetiser, or as a quick snack. It's also uber-trendy these days, and found on the menus of many fashionable tapas restaurants. Try to get very ripe tomatoes, beause they have so much more flavour than those bullet-like under-ripe excuses for tomatoes you'll find in most English supermarkets. Use a good quality oil - if you can get your hands on extra virgin with basil, it adds a little twist. The quantities below are assuming it's a light appetiser or one tapas, so you'll only want one slice per person. However, it's so moreish that you may find yourself wanting more! Don't ruin your meal!

• Ready In: 3 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 4  slices  crusty bread
• 4  garlic cloves (the stronger the better!)
• 2  large  soft tomatoes
•  extra virgin olive oil
•  sea salt

Directions

1. Toast the bread.
2. Cut the tomatoes in half.
3. Peel the garlic.
4. Serve one slice of bread, one half of tomato and one garlic clove per person.
5. To eat: Rub the garlic over the surface of the toast. If you like it *really* garlicky, like me, rub both sides.
6. Rub the tomato over the surface of the bread, squeezing it to get the pulp out.
7. Sprinkle with a little salt and drizzle with olive oil.
8. Serve with slices of serrano (or parma) ham.