Pane Pomodoro Is The Italian Equivalent To PB&J

In Italy, there’s a slightly different bready snack that reigns supreme – pane pomodoro.

In the United States, many associate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with childhood nostalgia- and for good reason! The classic PB&J often graced our lunchboxes and awaited us when we got home from school. In Italy, the same childhood experience rings true but with a slightly different bready snack- pane pomodoro!

There’s a specific name for that afternoon snack kids come home to after class: la merenda. All over the differing regions and households of Italy, la merenda is prepared in a variety of ways. It generally starts with bread and can include a variety of pantry or household ingredients. Salame, slices of cheese, or even a quick spread of Nutella – but our favorite rendition of la merenda is pane pomodoro. 

Pane pomodoro quite literally means “tomato bread” in Italian. It requires only 4 ingredients: a hearty slice of bread, olive oil, salt, and the star – a ripe, juicy tomato. The bread gets brushed with olive oil and grilled or toasted until crunchy, then rubbed with the cut-side of a tomato. A sprinkle of salt, and voila – pane pomodoro!

Though the tradition of la merenda is generally for kids, we feel like this is yet another Italian custom we could happily adopt ourselves! Buon appetito!