Pappa al pomodoro is a dish of peasant origin, typically Tuscan
Pappa al pomodoro is a “poor” dish of Tuscan cuisine, born as a way to reuse stale bread. The ingredients, testifying to its peasant origin, are unsalted Tuscan stale bread, tomatoes, garlic cloves, basil, Tuscan oil, salt and pepper. These are simple but authentic ingredients where seasoning is the key to this delicious dish.
The recipe became famous throughout Italy thanks to Vamba’s book, Il Diario di Gian Burrasca, where in a famous scene the protagonist rebels against the food and life of the boarding school by asking for pappa al pomodoro.
Today, it is no longer considered a “poor dish” but rather recognised by dieticians and doctors as a healthy dish.