Recipe Difficulty: Easy
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Smoky Black Bean & Corn Soup Recipe Notes
This is a simple black bean soup using basic ingredients. Black Beans & Corn are simmered with tomato, spices, bell peppers, onion, garlic, & jalapeno. It's vegan, gluten free, and incredibly flavourful. I really recommend making this the day before you plan to eat it. I find the flavours improve a lot just by sitting overnight in the fridge. Adding Canned Black Beans with Their Liquid Most of the time when I use canned beans, I strain and rinse them first. In this recipe, I find myself adding the whole can along with the liquid. I use black beans with no added salt, if I only had canned beans with salt, I don't think I would add the entire contents because I want to be able to control the salt factor. The liquid in canned beans is really starchy, and actually adds a thickness to the soup that I kind of like. You don't have to do it though. Or if you are on the fence, add the liquid from one of the cans. Garnish for My Smoky Black Bean & Corn Soup You can garnish with whatever you'd like, but I always want corn chips, pickled jalapeno peppers, cilantro, sour cream & green onion. I wouldn't be opposed to shredded cheese either, and if you had an avocado to use up I can see a bit of that diced on top too! A note about the HEAT factor of this soup. If you aren't adding the pickled jalapeno peppers as a garnish to this soup, I recommend adding some extra heat to the soup while you are cooking it. Pickled Jalapenos are quite spicy, but I find them delicious and flavourful also. Even though in the photograph I have them garnished on the soup as whole slices, that's just for the image. I ripped them up immediately after when I was about to dig in. You probably don't want to use your hands though, finely chop up one or two maximum per bowl and just sprinkle on top of the soup and stir in. Even though I also add fresh jalapenos to this soup, it doesn't add discernable heat, I just like the flavour of them. If you want to add heat but not with pickled jalapeno peppers, another option is Sambal Oelek. I always have a jar of sambal in my fridge, it's a great choice for adding heat to practically anything. Start with a teaspoon in the soup while it simmers and taste it after it has had time to infuse.
Why black beans are a great ingredient to add to your diet
Recipe: Smoky Black Bean & Corn Soup
Ingredients:
Options for Garnish: Corn Chips, Sour Cream, Scallions, Pickled Jalapenos, Cilantro, Lime Wedges
Method:
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Pacifica 100& Vegan & Cruelty Free
Pacifica has a huge array of products from make-up to skin care, fragrance & hair care. After trying a few of their products (pictured above) I definitely can see myself trying other things. I'm pretty minimalist, so some of what they offer wouldn't be of interest to me, but I look forward to seeing what else they carry that works for my routine. I'm 39, so I definitely am always on the hunt for a good cleanser, moisturizer and vitamin C serum. I've never really been too brand specific in a long term sense. Sometimes what I need is based on the time of year and changes to my skin. I purchased these in January, and they all feel super hydrating which is what I was hoping for. Canadian winters are harsh on the skin! Pacifica Vegan Products Review 1. Pacifica Vegan Ceramide Extra Gentle Face Wash This gentle facewash kind of reminds me of Spectro Jel. I'm not surprised it reminds me of spectro because they both mention not stripping away ones delicate skin barrier, and are both suitable for sensitive skin. Pacifica, like spectro jel, has a kind of gel like consistency that is moisturizing but still seems to pull off any makeup I'm wearing. (Really I only wear a bit of foundation to even out my skin tone, sometimes eye brow pencil.) Not sure how it would fare with mascara and heavier make-up. With all that being said I like Pacifica better, because I think it does a better job cleaning my skin. At least it feels cleaner than when I've used Spectro Jel. Pacifica Extra Gentle Facewash is:
2. Pacifica Glow Serum
Vitamin C serums are something I always add to my skin care routine. I have no idea how much they help or improve skin, I figure it isn't something immediate and more about a long term habit that can probably help the look of skin. This glow serum feels nice when I put it on, I like the smell, and I like the packaging and bottle it comes in. Packaging might not seem important, but one of the reasons I'm digging this brand is because of their commitment to more environmentally friendly packaging. From the Pacifica website: "Our goal is zero virgin plastic. Today more than 85% of our PET bottles are made from at least 50% post-consumer recycled material. Our boxes are made from FSC certified paper." This Pacifica glow serum:
3. Pacifica Vegan Collagen Overnight Recovery Cream
The fact that I bought 4 products and love them all is impressive to me. This vegan collagen overnight recovery cream I will definitely purchase again. It feels super hydrating, and in the morning my skin is definitely softer and healthier looking. It's helping my skin survive the dry winter weather here in Canada! Pacifica Vegan Collagen Recovery Cream is:
4. Pacifica Glow Stick Lip Oil
This product I became instantly obsessed with. I stopped wearing lipstick when covid and mask wearing started. I guess I just kind of got out of the routine, then when I put it on again I wasn't digging it. I always find it settles into my fine lines, and I have no interest in figuring out how to make it work. I just want something easy. This lip oil is exactly that. It adds a lovely sheer yet rich tone to my lips, and it's super moisturizing. It feels like I'm nourishing my lips, but it also adds a nice colour to complete my minimalist make-up look. This Pacifica Glow Stick Lip Oil :
Summary of Pacifica Skin Care:
I am impressed with this brand. It's 100% vegan, seems to be making an effort with its packaging to be more environmentally friendly, and even has a section on their site about supporting animal activism. The site doesn't dig deep and give more information, but I hope that the claims are legit. The quality seems great, and honestly I've been using their face wash and moisturizer and serum daily for a week, and my skin looks significantly better than it did prior. As I mentioned above I am 39 years old, I have sensitive skin, and I'm certain I will be purchasing again. If I try new things from this line I will add my thoughts here!
Recipe Difficulty: Easy
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Making your own vegan cream to use in cooking is incredibly simple! You only need two ingredients. Raw Cashews & Water. The raw cashews are first soaked, and then blended together with the water until smooth and creamy. Soaking the cashews first allows them to become soft enough that when you blend them with water the mixture becomes smooth and creamy without any detectable cashew bits. The result is an incredibly rich and versatile vegan cream which can be used for a variety of cooking projects. it's a great dairy-free alternative, and you might be surprised how delicious it is in various recipes.
How to use Vegan Cream Basically, use it anywhere you would use regular cream to cook with.
How to Store Vegan Cream I store my vegan cream in a glass mason jar in the fridge. Generally I don't like to keep it past 5 days, but up to 7 days is possible. You can halve the recipe if you don't think you will use a lot.
Where Do You Get Raw Cashews?
Raw cashews are cashews that have not been roasted or otherwise processed. They are typically off-white in color and have a slightly softer texture than roasted cashews. They are often used in cooking and can be found in many health food & bulk stores and supermarkets. They can also be purchased online. Vegan Cashew Cream Recipe
Yield: approx 3 1/2 cups
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Method:
Recipe Difficutly: Easy
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What is Delicata Squash?
Delicata squash is believed to have originated in North America and was first cultivated by the indigenous people of the region. It was later introduced to Europe and other parts of the world by early settlers and explorers. Today, delicata squash is grown in many parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and South America. Delicata squash is a type of winter squash, which means it is typically harvested in the fall and can be stored for several months, making it a good option for using throughout the winter. It is a relatively small squash, usually around 6-8 inches long and 2-3 inches in diameter. One of the unique features of delicata squash is its edible skin, which makes it easy to prepare and eliminates the need to peel the squash before cooking. The flesh is yellow or orange and the seeds are scooped out before cooking. Delicata squash is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber. It can be prepared in a variety of ways, including roasting, sautéing, and baking. It can also be mashed or pureed for use in soups, casseroles, and pies. It is also quite versatile, it can be paired with sweet or savory ingredients, and can be used as a side dish or as an ingredient in main dishes. How to Roast Delicata Squash This is a simple roasted squash recipe using delicata squash. It is a lovely option for roasting. It's deliciously creamy and there is no need to peel the skin off. It's delicious (and pretty) left on. The delicata squash is first cut in half and deseeded, then sliced into 1/2 inch thick wedges. It gets tossed with maple syrup, extra virgin olive oil, cinnamon, chili powder & salt and pepper then roasted in the oven at 425F until the suqash has softened and the maple syrup has caramelized. About 20 minutes, flipping half way. To garnish, more toasted pumpkin seeds than you would think (such a delicious crunch), an extra drizzle of maple syrup if you wish, lots of pinches of one of my favourite vegan feta cheeses, (Greek Style Fresh Start Fauxmage), and a squeeze of fresh lemon. How to serve Maple Roasted Delicata Squash This would be a lovely side dish to serve over the holidays along side your favourite protein or other vegetable side dishes. I've actually even eaten half of the written recipe as a full meal just to myself. Either way, it is worth branching out and trying delicata squash if you haven't already. I love all squash varieties, but this one is definitely lovely and looks gorgeous on the dinner table. Maple Roasted Delicata Squash Recipe
Serves: 4
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Method:
Aésop I hadn't heard of this brand until I was gifted a bunch of their products at Christmas time. It is definitely on the pricier side, but their products are beautiful and smell great. You can tell from the packaging and the products themselves that they are of exceptional quality. I have tried their Body Cleansers & Creams, Bar Soap & Facial Moisturizers. I love them all. I think Aésop products would make a lovely gift for anyone that appreciates natural vegan skin care, or for yourself if you need extra special pampering. They sell skin & hair care products, fragrance, and incense.
This company has been around since 1987, and its headquarters are located in Melbourne. They pride themselves on sourcing safe and effective ingredients that are plant-based and laboratory made. They have a team of researchers that test and formulate new products with the highest of standards. They are vegan, and do not test their products on animals. They are leaping bunny approved, and a Certified B corporation. Shop Aésop Products
Vegan in Valencia, Spain
About My Trip to Spain
My first trip to Spain I spent most of my time in and around Valencia. I was in the city December 18th - 31st, 2022. I am in a long distance relationship and Jose and I hadn't seen each other for 10 months. We are hoping in 2023 I can make the move to Spain permanently. Anyhow, there is a lot of places to explore in this area. This post will focus on the things I tried this time. Many places did have vegan options, I'm happy to report, and there are definitely some 100% vegan restaurants in this city that I didn't get a chance to visit.
Jose was working while I was here, so we worked around his schedule as far as when we would eat. Sometimes I went off on my own as well. One thing I ran into was that the hours can differ greatly between restaurants. Some places are open all day and night, others open for lunch, then close for several hours opening up again around 8:30 and even 9:00 pm. Jose and I both prefer not to go out late so that dictated a bit where I/we went. Our air bnb had a small kitchen with two burners but no oven. We ate a few simple meals in the apartment but definitely ate out a fair bit! I will break down where to eat as a vegan in Valencia by the restaurants I tried and the areas. Again there are so many options I didn't get a chance to try, so feel free to do other research as well. I honestly didn't have any "bad" food here. Some meals were better than others but nothing completely off putting.
Restaurants I ate at in Valencia
(1-6) located in Old Town Valencia (7) located in Ruzafa (an area in Valencia) (8). located in Benimaclet (area in Valencia)
1. Mali Gastrobar
Mali Gastrobar was one of the first places I ate while Jose was working. They actually have (I think) three locations in Old Town, all really close together. I didn't notice until days after I first ate there while walking around aimlessly and realizing I walked passed it 3 times ha. The first meal I had there was Paella. They had one vegan option for paella. "Paella de Verduras" with Artichoke, Zucchini, Roasted Peppers & Broad Beans. It was incredibly delicious. This was the only Paella I had in Valencia, I would in theory be curious to try others, but this one was perfect. The oils coated my lips, it had deep rich tomato & roasted vegetable flavours with the right amount of brightness.
This Paella served two people. They list the price as "per person" meaning it is actually double what the printed cost was. (I think about 13 euros per person, so 23...I kinda forget). One thing to note is unless you are at a restaurant that advertises take out as an option, it isn't typically a thing here. Since I was alone I asked if there was anyway I could take half of the Paella to go. They were accommodating and gave me a piece of tinfoil and a paper bag to carry the rest home. In theory if you want to be able to bring leftovers, I would just have a bag or small container on your person.
I chatted with a server working at Gastrobar Mali a bit, asked what else he recommended in the area. He laughed and said Gastrobar Mali. He mentioned the vegan burger being really good on their menu. I was intrigued, I don't necessarily *go* for vegan burgers often, but if they are good then it can be a tasty experience. The idea stuck in my head anyhow, and I went back a couple of days later to try their vegan burger while Jose was at work.
he burger was made from textured soy, and I have to say, it isn't a product I have worked with before (not sure why!), but it had great flavour and texture. I'm guessing they would have used beets to give it the colour, but I'm really not sure. It also had caramelized onions, mushrooms, pickles, guacamole, roasted peppers, greens. This burger was really delicious. I think the next time I attempt a vegan burger I am going to give textured soy a whirl! It came with a side of chips. I had a bag with me in my purse, and I took half home because for me it's a lot of food at lunch in one sitting, and I wanted Jose to be able to try it too. To be honest we shared it later haha, and it was even good cold.
2. Noble Cafe
Noble Cafe was the only coffee shop in Valencia I went to, and Jose and I went just once. This was mainly because there was a Nespresso Machine in my Air Bnb, and by the time I was strolling around the city most days I was going for a drink and a meal.
Noble Cafe is located in Old Town Valencia They actually had soy milk as an option, so I was really happy about that. I am always disappointed when I'm going out for coffee and there is no dairy free alternative. Our breakfast was toasted baguette, with tomato puree and olive oil on the side. The pan con tomate I had in Morella was definitely better than the one here, but it was still tasty enough. The space was clean and in theory I would have enjoyed going back more than the one time. I am not sure how many vegan options there were on the menu, but I was happy enough with what we ordered. Somehow I rarely eat food when I'm at a coffee shop anyhow. I'm always there for the coffee and the wifi. I prefer to eat healthy so I rarely go for baked goods. (Though I had a vegan croissant in Switzerland on my little side trip to see family and that was delicious!) 3. Matiz Cantina
3. Matiz Cantina. I stumbled upon Matiz Cantina randomly one evening while Jose was at work. Took a glance at their menu and saw a few vegan options. This place is all about the wine. They had an extensive hand written list of reds and whites. I chose a glass of white, a locally made varietal, and it was delightful.
A dish of olives to nibble on while waiting for food.
I ordered the "Veggie Tartar" to start. The menu said toasted bread, but it was un-toasted. It was still good, toasted is always what I want for things like this though. I had broccoli, almonds, roasted peppers, lots of bright flavour. I ended up ordering the hummus because while this veggie tartar was delicious it wasn't a stand alone dish for me. I needed some richness beside it after some bites. So hummus and more bread rounded it all out. That isn't even a negative comment, I prepare dishes all the time where I want a 2nd or 3rd dish to balance the flavour profile of the entire meal. The owner was really sweet and friendly, she spoke some English to me and I really enjoyed my evening out. (Would have been better with Jose there heh.)
This is the wine list, and the wine I chose. I actually stopped drinking for 1 year and 8 months prior to this trip. I decided a while before that I wanted to enjoy wine while in Spain, so introduced it back in my life. Now that I am home, I have decided to stop drinking again. For me having the ability to cut it out of my life for extended periods of time is the difference between my 39 year old self and my 29 year old self. Anyhow, I think any wine lover would find something delicious at this restaurant.
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My Veganuary Recipe Suggestions
This Taco Salad also has fresh salsa, black beans, corn, quinoa, avocado, fresh mint & cilantro. Then it all gets dressed with a simple cumin lime vinaigrette. I also like to garnish this with pickled jalapeno peppers, a drizzle of coconut yogurt and a sprinkle of smoked paprika.
Roasting Carrots before using them in a soup is a great way to intensify their flavour and bring out their natural sweetness. This roasted carrot soup is one that I make specifically when I want to feel great. It's incredibly delicious and made from predominately whole foods. This carrot soup is also perfectly spiced with a bit of cumin & coriander. I often add cashew cream or nut butters to my soups for added richness/creaminess but this one doesn't need it. This soup simply starts with carrots roasted in olive oil, then I also use a generous amount of olive oil for sweating the onions and garlic (a whole head of garlic in fact). The result, dare I say, is a luscious soup that I find to be addictively good. A touch of maple and a squeeze of lemon adds the right balance of sweet and acidity.
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The Central Market of Valencia, also known as Mercado Central, is an historic public market located in the old town area in the city of Valencia, Spain. It was built between 1914 and 1928 and is one of the largest public markets in Europe. it covers more than 8,000 square metres (86,000 sq ft)
The central market was designed by the architects Alexandre Soler March and Francesc Guàrdia Vidal, and is considered an important example of Valencian Modernist Architecture. The market is housed in a large, rectangular building with a central dome and four corner towers. It is constructed of brick and has a colourful ceramic tile facade. The colourful tilework is beautiful and impressive. It is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, offering a unique and authentic experience of Valencia's food culture.
The Central Market has a long history dating back to the middle ages, when it was an open air market, and popular place for merchants to sell their goods. In the 19th century the market was relocated to its current location and the building that stands today was built.
What can you buy at Central Market Valencia?
The market is organized into different sections, each dedicated to a specific type of product.
The variety of what is offered in this market is incredibly varied. It is home to hundreds of stalls. Of course there is tons of meats, cheeses and seafood if that is your thing. This is a vegan food blog so I am not going to expand on that part any further. While there aren't any vegan cheese products or things like that, there are an incredible amount of whole foods stalls. Fresh vegetables, fruits, freshly pressed juices, dried fruit, preserves, pickles, condiments, roasted vegetables, dry goods, breads, wines, beers, & sweets. I didn't investigate too much about whether any sweets were vegan friendly other than I was able to buy vegan chocolate and turron, which is an authentic almond based nougat, the vegan option I love is one with just the almond and sugar like a peanut brittle in Canada but SO much better.
Central Market Valencia Hours of operation
The market is open 6 days a week from 7 am until 3pm. They are closed only on Sundays and public holidays. It is an extremely busy place (I was there in December). In addition to the market stalls I noticed there was a restaurant or cafe place where you could sit along a bar and order food and a drink.
I also found the vendors to be really friendly. They are happy to talk a bit about their products and traditions. One woman was helping me pronounce words in Spanish when I was trying to order. (I'm studying spanish), and I chatted for awhile with another woman selling turron, tasting some samples before I made a purchase.
I used GPS on my phone to navigate my way to the market. It's pretty easy to get turned around in old town Valencia in my experience. Even with GPS I took a few wrong turns because the streets aren't just on a simple square grid. They twist and turn. That is all part of the fun though. I spent a lot of time in this area in the span of a couple of weeks and I discovered new places all of the time. (With GPS in hand to navigate my way out again!!!) Pro tip because I screwed it up and got really lost my first day, make sure your GPS is set to pedestrian mode, not car mode. (You can't really drive in this area unless you are a local business or person living there from what I can tell).
Shop Turron Below. My favourite are the caramel sugar & almond varieties!
Recipe & Post Tags:
- Pan Con Tomate
- Long Distance Relationships
- Spanish Food
- Tapas
- Vegan In Spain
- Morella, Spain
- Travel Stories
I took my first trip to Spain December 2022. I'm in a long distance relationship, and I hadn't seen my partner, Jose, for 10 months since he visited me in Canada. I had almost missed my overseas flight due to snow in Montreal, I sprinted through the airport wearing far too many layers, carrying my camera gear and definitely wearing the wrong shoes to arrive at my gate at the absolute opposite end of the airport, to my name being called over the speakers, and every employee from the check in spot until I got to my seat knowing my name. Last one on the plane, but I made it.
Seeing Jose was obviously the main point of my trip to Spain, but as a Chef & blogger I of course was excited to explore the food and culture as much as possible while I was there. I am also vegan, and knew that this would add some layer of interest to me navigating the food scene there. How easy was it to be vegan in Spain? I was about to find out.
The "Plan"
When I arrived, I was sleep deprived and exhausted. We had time for one weekend away from Valencia, where Jose lives, and to do that meant leaving directly to our accommodations upon me landing at the airport in Valencia. We had settled on spending a night in Morella, about a three hour drive away.
Morella is a municipality in the province of Castellon, in the Valencian Community, Spain. It is located in the Maestrat comarca, in the north of the province, and is known for its castle, which dates back to the 12th century and is considered one of the best preserved medieval castles in Spain.
The town of Morella is situated on a hill at an altitude of 740 meters, and is surrounded by mountains and forests. It has a population of around 4,500 people. In addition to its castle, Morella is also known for its historical center, which has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, and its annual medieval festival, which takes place in August.
This Road Trip Required all of my Grit
En route to Morella, I did my best to keep my eyes open for the scenic drive, I was dead, dehydrated, fighting a massive headache, but the happiest I had been in months. (As you might be able to tell from the above photo.) Our apartment ended up being 15 kilometers away in a lower lying village called Chiva de Morella, which was a surprise to both of us as it wasn't evident in the booking details, but we didn't mind. We arrived around 4:30 pm to realize we couldn't check into the apartment. The door was locked, and check in, according to a local man whom with Jose had a conversation with in Catalan language, was actually at the "pub" across the street. It only opened at 6. I was a barely functioning human at this point and I just wanted a shower and a rest before trying to find food. We ended up driving up to Morella for better cell signal to see what we could figure out, and so Jose and I could check in with our families to say we had arrived. Jose was also able to make a phone call to the pub even though they weren't open yet, and they gave us a pin number so we could get into the apartment lobby before checking in, though they said they weren't sure if our actual room was unlocked yet. I was praying. We drove back down to Chiva de Morella. Pin code worked to get into the lobby, perfect...up a flight of stairs and halleluiah the door to our room was open. We showered and had a rest and decided to go to the pub for food. Jose was preparing me for the lack of vegan options (he is vegetarian so a bit easier), but I said maybe they will have french fries, those are always vegan..I didn't care at this point about being healthy...I literally just needed calories in my body.
When we walked into the pub, I quickly realized that calling it a pub was a massive exaggeration. It was a tiny one room bar with 3 tables. There were milk crates stacked all along the entry way. Four older men sat having beers and playing cards at one table, 4 older ladies chatting with drinks at another. We did our check in, and Jose asked about food. The woman working told him they only prepare food when people call ahead of time to order. Otherwise they don't pick up groceries. It's a small village, and now my understanding of where I was, was becoming clear. I glanced to a wire shelf to the left of the cash, I spotted 4 bags of potato chips. I told Jose I absolutely couldn't go up to Morella again this night to find food, I could barely walk. We were eating potato chips for dinner. Jose ordered 2 beers, we sat at the one other long table which had another couple sitting at it. We ended up making friends, eating potato chips and drinking beer. Perhaps I didn't have high expectations about dining in a small village, but I certainly couldn't have predicted this outcome. The best part of my first night in Spain was, I couldn't have been happier, and it will remain one of my all time favourite memories. Chips, Beer, new friends, a foreign country, but most of all being with the man I love. No word of a lie, when I reflect back on the past 39 years of my life, these first couple of days with Jose, and the subsequent 2 weeks, were the happiest of my entire life.
The next morning I was ravenous and desperate for coffee. Our room was beautiful, but while they had a nespresso machine, we would have had to bring our own coffee. We packed up and drove to Morella to find caffeine and sustenance.
The center of the town was full market stalls with lots of fruits and vegetables. Jose and I grabbed a few oranges at one of the stalls while we strolled to look for somewhere to sit down and eat. If you are staying somewhere where you can prepare food, then you would have no problem as a vegan as whole foods are widely available. However meat, fish and dairy are also a large part of the food culture here, and we found that while vegetarian options were available to a degree at local restaurants and cafes, vegan options not so much. We didn't scour the entire village, but I don't think there would have been a point in doing so. We stopped in at Restaurante Pere, which was in the main center of the village. We wanted to sit outside but went in to check things out. They had a display case full of typical Spanish pinxtos. Anchovies skewered with olives for example. I noticed Spanish Tortilla de Patatas, and lots of other fish and meat dishes. Vegetarian things, yes, vegan. no.
They had espresso (I didn't even ask about plant based milk for a cappuccino because I knew it wouldn't be a thing), but Jose asked them if they could prepare "Pan Con Tomate, or in the Catalan language "Pa Amb Tomaquet") Our request thankfully was granted. We sat outside, sipped our espressos, and waited.
Out came a large piece of toasty bread with tomato, and did it ever hit the spot. After only having potato chips and beer and not much else while I was flying to Spain, this simple, humble breakfast was exquisite. Pan Con Tomate is a staple dish in Spanish cuisine, and making it at home couldn't be easier. See below for the recipe!
In the future (since our hope is for me to eventually move to Spain) and we definitely plan on touring around, I think he and I would probably bring food with us depending where we were headed. If it were a day trip I would consider packing a picnic with some snacks or sandwiches just in case. Definitely prepare yourself for being able to say "I am vegan" in Spanish. "Soy vegana" but don't assume everyone will know what that actually means. (I had a young man ask if I could eat tomato in Valencia at one restaurant lol). If you don't speak Spanish I would definitely prepare using my translator a few sentences to describe what I don't eat to clarify if necessary.
Recipe: Pan Con Tomate
Quantity: Make as much as you want. 2 tomatoes is enough for 6 slices of bread.
- 1/2 inch thick slices of good quality Crusty Bread
- Tomatoes, Fresh & Ripe, Cut in half
- Garlic cloves, peeled and cut in half
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil for Drizzling
- Sea Salt
Method:
There are a couple ways to make pan con tomate, some recipes simply rub the cut tomato onto the toasted bread, others grate the tomato and then spoon on the pulp. Both are great, the one we had in Morella seemed like maybe it was rubbed with the tomato, whereas I had it in Valencia with a lot more pulp on top, so was probably grated tomato.
- Preheat your oven to 450F
- Grate the tomato halves into a bowl, you can drizzle a bit of olive oil and add a pinch of salt to the tomato pulp if you'd like, simply leave it until the end, or add a bit now, and a bit later. I fall into the "a bit now and later" category, because I like seasoning ingredients at different stages.
- Place bread slices directly on the rack in the oven until golden and well toasted. The amount of time will depend on the bread you use, how thick it is, and your particular oven, so just keep an eye on it.
- Remove the toasted bread from the oven, and rub each piece with the cut side of garlic. 1 clove should be enough for several pieces.
- Now spoon the tomato pulp on top of the toasted bread, drizzle with a bit more olive oil and another sprinkle of sea salt.
- Serve straight away, while the toast is still hot, and before it becomes too wet from the tomato.
Author
Hey! I'm Trisha
I'm a chef in Prince Edward Island, Canada
I create, photograph & share beautiful vegan recipes. For me plant based food is about nourishing the body, mind & soul. I hope to inspire your creative side & to demonstrate that a vegan diet can be fun, satisfying & delicious.
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