Pa amb oli Mallorquin: tradition, ingredients and how to make it
My grandmother was an excellent cook, as were most women of her generation, I’m sure. This was mainly because they were fully devoted to their homes and because it was also a matter of saving money for the family. People couldn’t go to restaurants very often, and there weren’t as many ready-made meals available in the supermarket either.
Nowadays we all have to work long hours, both men and women, and in the evening, when we get home, the last thing we feel like doing is cooking.
But of course, after a long day, we’re certainly hungry…
For times like these, in Mallorca we have an excellent solution: easy, quick, economical and, above all, very tasty – Mallorcan pa amb oli.
What is pa amb oli?
Well, literally, in the local language, pa amb oli means bread with oil. On paper, it seems very simple, but the ingredients used and their quality play a key role.
The traditional ingredients
Pa amb oli makes for a perfect light lunch or dinner without much fuss; you just need to make sure you choose the best-quality ingredients and the result is guaranteed.
The basis of it all is a good couple of slices of Mallorcan brown bread, preferably baked the same day in a traditional oven.
The next essential ingredient is the ramallet tomato – a small, round, firm and juicy tomato that’s ideal for rubbing over the bread. Other types of tomato aren’t suitable, because whilst they may be large and attractive, when it comes down to it they don’t release their flesh as we want them to.
High-quality olive oil, preferably extra virgin, is the third ingredient on which you shouldn’t skimp.
The finishing touch is a pinch of sea salt, to suit your own taste.
What accompaniments and cured meats are used?
As well as the basic ingredients, you can top up your pa amb oli with cheese, ham and any quality cured meat you fancy.
Some good Mallorcan olives (trencadas or pansidas) and a little fonoll marí will make the perfect accompaniment for a really tasty pa amb oli.
How to make an authentic pa amb oli
Put simply, it involves rubbing the tomato over the bread, drizzling a good splash of oil over it and adding a pinch of salt. Then combine it with cheeses, cured meats and accompaniments to your taste. But, as they always say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so here’s a short explanatory video below.
¡Bon profit! or Bon Appétit!
Pa amb oli in Mallorcan culture
You might be surprised that something seemingly so simple is so important to Mallorcans. And it really is, because here on the island you’ll even find places where the only thing on the menu is pa amb oli, served with a thousand and one accompaniments and prepared with boundless imagination. In fact, the term ‘pambolieria’ has recently emerged to describe this type of specialist restaurant.
Where to buy Mallorcan products to make pa amb oli
Pa amb oli represents the essence of Mallorcan cuisine: simple ingredients, quality produce and Mediterranean tradition. With good country bread, extra virgin olive oil and local produce, you can enjoy one of Mallorca’s great culinary icons at home. You can now discover the island’s most traditional products in our shop. Discover the best gourmet products from Mallorca
A very typical summer dish, and one of my favourites, is tumbet. The link below takes you to a post about this dish, with a recipe: El tumbet – summer dish