Every August, the quiet town of Buñol in Valencia erupts into one of Spain’s most famous fiestas – La Tomatina. On the last Wednesday of the month, tens of thousands gather to hurl more than 100 tonnes of ripe tomatoes at one another, transforming the streets into a river of red.
The tradition began in 1945, when a scuffle during a local parade ended with people raiding a nearby vegetable stall and throwing tomatoes. What started as a bit of mischief quickly caught on, with locals returning the following year to repeat the fun – this time armed with their own tomatoes.
Authorities tried to ban the event several times in the following decade, but the people of Buñol refused to give it up. In 1957, they staged a mock “tomato funeral” to protest the ban, complete with mourners and music. The playful rebellion won, and the town officially recognised La Tomatina soon after.
Today, La Tomatina is celebrated worldwide as the ultimate food fight, but at its heart it remains true to its origins – a joyful expression of Spanish fiesta spirit, where food, community, and a little chaos come together in one gloriously messy tradition.
Enjoy last week of summer holidays, Steve and the Spice Team
Patatas Bravas (Madrid’s spicy street food) and Romesco Sauce (Catalonia’s tomato celebration dip) recipes below
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Cook the fiesta at home: bring the tomato celebration to the table with a classic romesco sauce – roasted peppers, almonds, garlic, and a generous spoon of Spanish paprika blended into a rich dip for grilled meats and vegetables. Or try patatas bravas, crisp potatoes topped with a spicy tomato sauce lifted by smoked paprika and a touch of cayenne. Easy to share, full of colour, and guaranteed to bring that festival spirit to your kitchen.
Romesco Sauce Catalonia’s tomato celebration dip
You’ll need:
2 roasted red peppers (from jar or home-roasted) 2 medium ripe tomatoes, roasted or pan-charred 2 cloves garlic, roasted until soft 50g almonds (toasted) 25g bread (toasted, crusty) 1 tbsp sherry vinegar
1 tsp smoked paprika
Olive oil, salt, pepper
Method:
Blitz peppers, tomatoes, garlic, almonds, and bread in a blender.
Add vinegar and smoked paprika, then drizzle in olive oil until smooth but thick.
Season to taste. Serve with grilled meats, roasted veg, or crusty bread.
Patatas Bravas (Madrid’s spicy street food)
You’ll need (for 4):
600g potatoes, peeled & cut into chunks Olive oil for frying or roasting 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 400g tin chopped tomatoes 1 tsp sweet paprika ½ tsp smoked paprika Pinch of cayenne or hot chilli powder 1 tsp sugar, salt, pepper
Method:
Fry or roast potatoes until golden and crisp.
For the sauce: sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until soft.
Add tomatoes, paprikas, cayenne, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer 15 mins until thick.
Pour sauce over the potatoes. Optional: drizzle with garlicky aioli.