Flavors · Tossa de Mar

Cim i tomba

Fishermen’s stew layered with potato and fish, topped with allioli, born on the boats of Tossa de Mar. The name recalls the movement of the pan during cooking, and the town dedicates a gastronomic campaign to it every September.

Traditional dish from Tossa de Mar, Catalunha

Also known as: cim-i-tomba, cimitomba

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Spain
Spain
Cim i tomba — Tossa de Mar, Spain
Cim i tomba
Cim i tomba — Tossa de Mar, Spain
Cim i tomba
Cim i tomba — Tossa de Mar, Spain
Cim i tomba
Cim i tomba — Tossa de Mar, Spain
Cim i tomba

Cim i tomba — Tossa de Mar, Spain

Cim i tomba is the signature dish of Tossa de Mar on the Costa Brava. It originated on the village’s fishing boats, where fishermen prepared it on board using the day’s catch and potatoes in a single pan. The name refers to the movement of the pan during cooking, which mixes the ingredients without breaking up the fish.

The recipe combines potato and fish, such as monkfish, ray or cod, with olive oil, garlic and stock. In the version published by the municipal tourism office, the fish is lightly floured and fried, as are the potatoes, before being arranged in layers in the casserole, with fish stock made from onion and tomato. The allioli, a sauce of garlic and olive oil, is added at the end of cooking: the casserole is moved to incorporate it into the stock before removing from the heat.

The Traditional Tossense Cooking Association promotes the La Cuina del Cim i Tomba campaign in September, with village restaurants serving the dish, and promotes the Tossense traditional cuisine brand. The European Interreg Europe programme records Tossa’s traditional cooking as a good practice in gastronomic tourism.

The dish is served year-round in the village’s eateries, and the September campaign is when it takes center stage.

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Where it comes from

Tossa de Mar , Catalunha
Dish from the fishing tradition of Tossa de Mar, with a dedicated gastronomic campaign in September.

Ingredients

Fish (monkfish, ray or cod), potato, garlic, olive oil, onion, tomato, fish stock and salt; flour for dredging the fish in some versions; allioli of garlic and olive oil.

How it is eaten

Served hot in a deep plate, with potato, fish and the stock bound with allioli added at the end of cooking.

When it is eaten

Year‑round dish in Tossa de Mar, with a dedicated gastronomic campaign in September.

Your questions

Questions about Cim i tomba

What does cim i tomba mean?

The name recalls the action of moving and turning the pan’s contents during cooking, mixing the ingredients without breaking up the fish.

Does cim i tomba contain allioli?

Yes. The garlic-and-olive-oil sauce is added at the end of cooking and incorporated into the stock by moving the casserole.

When is the cim i tomba campaign in Tossa de Mar?

The campaign is traditionally promoted in September by the Traditional Tossense Cooking Association. Check the programme for the edition before you go.

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