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My Fried Green Tomatoes are juicy, crispy, and loaded with flavor. They're perfect as an appetizer, snack, on top of salads, a side dish, or a sandwich.
Here are a few ways and dipping sauces you can serve with these yummy tomatoes: Fried Chicken Sandwich, Remoulade Sauce, Cajun Ranch, White Wine Chicken Pasta, or Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
I have a special place in my heart for green tomatoes because, as a kid, it was the only type of tomato I would eat. It probably had everything to do with the crispy texture because I did not eat red tomatoes.
Seeing the seeds on my food would ruin my appetite, but that was not the case with fried green tomatoes.
This is why once I learned how to cook, it was one of the Southern dishes I made sure to understand.
Near Memorial Day, I begin looking for them at grocery stores and farmer's markets for a mouthwatering snack. I usually like to fry up 2 tomatoes and eat the tomato slices like potato chips.
Like everyone else, I started using a cornmeal mix with an egg mixture with buttermilk. But I'm going to teach you a different technique to season them properly and how to bread the tomato slices correctly so it doesn't fall off, and how to impress your family and friends and maybe even yourself with this delicious treat.
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Key Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you'll need for some bomb-fried green tomatoes.
Frying Oil
My preferred frying oil is peanut oil because it stays "fresher" longer during frying, and it also creates a beautiful golden brown exterior.
Green Tomatoes
Make sure they have a bright green color and firm texture.
Seasonings
I always love to use Cajun seasoning, but I wanted to keep it simple, so you'll need salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder.
All-Purpose Flour
Feel free to use what you have on hand, but I love using unbleached all-purpose flour.
Panko Bread Crumbs
In most recipes, you'll need a cornmeal mixture or fine bread crumbs for a crunchy texture, but I'm telling you, the larger panko crumbs are a game changer to the final crispy texture.
Large Eggs
A couple of eggs is all you need, and we won't need any milk.
How To Make Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe
The key to making finger-licking Southern fried green tomatoes requires confidence and technique. That's how I'm going to teach you to make my recipe.
Prep Green Tomatoes
Fill a large cast iron skillet halfway with oil; heat to 350°F over medium heat. Sprinkle some flour into the oil to see if it's hot enough; if it sizzles, it's ready. Season tomato slices with salt and black pepper on both sides.
Breading Ingredients
Mix flour, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper in a medium bowl.
Fried Green Tomato Slices
In a small bowl, beat eggs with the remaining salt and pepper. Dip tomato slices into egg mixture, drain excess, then press both sides into the seasoned flour and panko mixture.
Fry in a single layer for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown; remove with a slotted spoon or spatula and drain on a paper towel lined plate or baking sheet.
Serve hot tomatoes with remoulade sauce and chopped green onions or add a few shakes of hot sauce; enjoy!
Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks
Here are a few notes I had from making this incredible Southern staple.
- Regular all-purpose flour instead of unbleached flour.
- You can use gluten-free flour and panko bread crumbs to make gluten-free fried green tomatoes.
- Feel free to substitute the flour with cornmeal or cornflour.
- You can use canola oil or vegetable oil if you have a peanut allergy.
- If your green tomatoes have started to turn yellow or orange, use them immediately because they'll be red tomatoes in a few days.
- Be mindful of the thickness of your sliced green tomatoes. If they are cut too thin, they may fall apart while cooking. On the other hand, if sliced too thick, it may take longer to cook, and the coating may burn.
- Did you know you can fry green tomatoes in the air fryer? Here's the recipe.
- The key to ensuring that your batter sticks to the tomato slices is to press each slice firmly into the batter when you add it. Then, toss to cover evenly.
- Properly seasoned fried tomatoes do not need to be sprinkled with flakey salt or extra seasonings.
FAQ
Here are readers' top questions about making the best fried green tomatoes.
Although fried green tomatoes are heavily associated with the South, their origins are debatable. Robert F. Moss, a food historian and author, suggests they were introduced to the culinary scene in the Midwest and Northeast "probably thanks to Jewish immigrants." And were made famous in the South because of "the many schools of home economics developed in the United States in the first half of the 20th century."
To prepare green tomatoes for frying, lay each tomato horizontally and slice it carefully into ¼-½ inch slices using a sharp knife.
Seasoning your green tomatoes with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne will tame any bitterness remaining in the tomatoes.
Fried green tomatoes are firm unripened tomatoes, so any variety from Beefsteak, early girl, or heirloom will work great for fried green tomatoes. If you notice them starting to ripen, don't be alarmed. Just get ready to cook them.
Alabama is famous for fried tomatoes, thanks to the 1991 cult classic movie "Fried Green Tomatoes," set in the fictional town of Whistle Stop, Alabama (the real one where it was filmed is in Juliette, GA). But they're famous throughout the South and Midwest.
Ripe red tomatoes are not suitable for frying in hot oil as they would disintegrate, whereas unripe tomatoes have a firmer texture, making them perfect for battering and frying.
Green tomatoes are hard because they're unripe and haven't developed their full tomato flavor. Ripen tomatoes turn from green to red and become softer and juicer.
Green tomatoes are ready for frying when they are bright green in color and firm to the touch.
Fried green tomatoes have a natural tangy flavor that can be complemented with the appropriate amount of seasoning. The acidic flavor mellows out during frying and helps soften the texture, but not to the point of it turning to mush.
Green tomatoes can be intentionally picked before they ripen but are more commonly just tomatoes that did not ripen before the end of the growing season. This is why you can find green tomatoes in abundance in late summer and early autumn.
Storage
Store fried green tomatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Reheat in a 375°F or air fryer for 5-8 minutes or until hot.
Freeze fried green tomatoes in a freezer storage bag for 1 month.
More Southern Recipes
Here are some of my favorite Southern recipes.
Before You Begin
Here are my steps for getting organized before I start anything.
Step 1: Get all the tools and ingredients for the green tomatoes and your dipping sauce on the counter.
Step 2: Measure everything out.
Step 3: Make sure you have a sharp knife.
Step 4: Start following the recipe and get ready for the best fried green tomatoes ever!
Making fried green tomatoes is a delicious and delightful way to enjoy this classic Southern dish.
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📖 Recipe
Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
Ingredients
- oil for frying
- 4 green tomatoes sliced ¼-½ inch
- 3 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- 3 teaspoon black pepper divided
- 1 cup unbleached flour
- ¾ cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Fill a large heavy bottom skillet half way to 350°F in a heavy bottom skillet. Season tomato slices with 2 teaspoons of salt and 2 teaspoons of black pepper on both sides. In a bowl add flour, panko, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, garlic powder and cayenne.
- In another bowl beat eggs with remaining salt and pepper. Dredge tomatoes slices in egg, then flour and panko mixture. Fry for 2-3 minutes and drain on paper towels. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- Regular all-purpose flour instead of unbleached flour.
- You can use gluten-free flour and panko bread crumbs to make gluten-free fried green tomatoes.
- Feel free to substitute the flour with cornmeal or cornflour.
- You can use canola oil or vegetable oil if you have a peanut allergy.
- If your green tomatoes have started to turn yellow or orange, use them immediately because they'll be red tomatoes in a few days.
- Be mindful of the thickness of your sliced green tomatoes. If they are cut too thin, they may fall apart while cooking. On the other hand, if sliced too thick, it may take longer to cook, and the coating may burn.
- Did you know you can fry green tomatoes in the air fryer? Here's the recipe.
- The key to ensuring that your batter sticks to the tomato slices is to press each slice firmly into the batter when you add it. Then, toss to cover evenly.
- Properly seasoned fried tomatoes do not need to be sprinkled with flakey salt or extra seasonings.
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