“Coca amb tomaca’’, tomato on a dough base Mountains of Alicante-style
‘Coca amb tomaca’. ‘Coca de tomate’. The two names exist. Tomato on a dough base. We’ve eaten it thousands of times.
It’s a typical dish from Alcoy and of practically the whole area that we know as the Mountains of Alicante, where our olive grove is to be found.
Our grandmothers made it, then our mothers and now, it’s obvious that we’re going to make it exactly the way they taught us.
And for this reason, we have to confess that’s it’s a recipe we’re really fond of.
It’s a dish that, in the same way as paella, so typically Valencian, is made to regale those we love most.
Prepare this recipe and you’ll see how you agree with us that we have before us something really delicious in spite of its simplicity. So let’s get started. Here are the ingredients for 4 people.
Ingredients
For the dough base
- Half a tumbler of extra virgin olive oil
- Half a tumbler of water
- 2 water tumblers of flour
- 1 spoonful fresh yeast
- Salt
For the tomato topping
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 kg. tomatoes peeled and chopped
- 3 green peppers
- Salt
Preparation
- Make a mound with the flour on the kitchen worksurface. Make a hole in the centre. Pour in the water, the extra virgin olive oil and the yeast.
- Knead until you’ve made a compact dough. While you’re kneading, add a little salt. You’ll have to keep on adding more flour or water until the dough is compact.
- Cover a baking tray in oil and spread the dough equally over the tray. Later on, you’re going to put the baking tray into the oven.
- Cover the dough with a cloth and wait until it rises.
- Now we’re going to prepare the topping. Cut the pepper up into pieces which are roughly 2cm in size.
- Take a frying pan and cover the base completely with extra virgin olive oil.
- Fry the pepper lightly
- Before the pepper has turned completely golden, add the tomato.
- Leave the mixture on a low heat and keep stirring it so that it doesn’t stick.
- The dough will certainly be ready by now. So, take the topping and spread it over the base.
- We’ve almost finished. Make certain the oven has been preheated to 180 degrees and put the tray in.
- Now, all you have to do is wait until the ‘’coca amb tomaca’’, the tomato on a dough base is cooked. To check, prick it with a fork and when the fork comes out completely dry, you’ll know it’s ready.
- Leave it to cool down and serve.
Note: You can use a tin of peeled chopped tomatoes. We think that’s fine but if you want, you can also use fresh tomato. The plum variety is the best. But what you have to bear in mind is that you’ll need more time to make this recipe if you do.
So, what do you think? It’s a really simple recipe and it brings back great memories from childhood.
Another thing: In most houses in our area, it’s quite normal for children to have a piece of ‘coca’ either for breakfast or as an afternoon snack.
Why don’t you make this recipe and send us your comments.