A slice of toasted bread with tomato jam on a black plate, placed on a wooden table near a loaf of bread and a tomato.

PAN CON TOMATE

Serves: 2–4
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Equipment: Grill Pan, The Chef’s Press 13 or 18 oz.

4 slices of rustic country bread (sourdough or similar)

2 very ripe tomatoes (Campari, heirloom, or vine-ripened work well)

1 clove garlic, peeled

Flaky sea salt, to taste

Extra virgin olive oil

Optional: pinch of red chili flakes

  • Grill the Bread:

Heat your grill pan over medium-high. Place the slices of bread under the Chef’s Press to create even contact and develop a beautiful char. Grill 2–3 minutes per side, until golden and crisp. Make sure to check after about 45 seconds; the additional weight will brown the bread faster. Your heat needs to be hot enough to create grill marks, but not so hot that the bread does not become crispy outside of the grill marks.

*The Chef’s Press Pro Tip: I like to only grill one side of the bread; it’s the best of both worlds, crispy on one side and soft and chewy on the other side.

  • Prep the Tomato:

Cut the tomatoes in half horizontally. Using a box grater over a bowl, grate the cut side of the tomato until only the skin remains. Discard the skins.

  • Season the Tomato Pulp:

Stir in a generous pinch of flaky sea salt. If using, add a pinch of red chili flakes for subtle heat.

  • Rub the Garlic:

While the bread is still warm, lightly rub the surface with the raw garlic clove. A little goes a long way—this step adds depth without overpowering.

  • Assemble:

Spoon the grated tomato mixture generously over each slice of grilled bread. Drizzle with high-quality olive oil. Finish with a little more flaky salt if desired.

Print Recipe
Print Recipe
Fresh bread, heirloom tomatoes, garlic clove, salt in a marble bowl, and a pastry cutter on a wooden table.
Two grilled cheese sandwiches in metal toasters on a black grill pan.
Grilled sandwich on a gray plate, sliced tomatoes, a garlic clove, a loaf of bread, and metal grilling tongs on a wooden table.
Hands grilling garlic on bread slices on a round wooden cutting board.
Person grating tomato over a bowl in a kitchen with a stack of cookbooks in the background.
Fresh chopped tomatoes in a white bowl on a wooden table.
A white bowl with tomato pulp and seeds, with a spoon inside, on a wooden cutting board. Next to the bowl is a mound of tomato skin and pulp. A metal spatula and a piece of bread are partially visible in the background.
A slice of toasted bread with tomato sauce on it, placed on a black plate with olive oil. There is a bowl of additional tomato sauce on a white plate beside it, on a wooden table.