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Fried Green Tomatoes

How to make Fried Green Tomatoes! Sliced firm green tomatoes, dipped in egg and coated with flour, cornmeal and bread crumbs, fried and seasoned with salt and pepper.

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

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Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Fried Green Tomatoes in skillet
Elise Bauer

Fried Green Tomatoes?

Ever since that wonderful movie with Jessica Tandy I've wondered about fried green tomatoes. People really eat green tomatoes?

I recall being served fried tomatoes for breakfast once, but they weren't green.

Green Tomatoes for Fried Green Tomatoes
Elise Bauer

Yes, Fried Green Tomatoes.

Curious as usual, we found some big green tomatoes at the farmer's market last weekend and just had to try these fried green tomatoes. What follows is how to make fried green tomatoes that even first-timers can manage with great success.

The verdict at this house? Yum! What a great way to make use of end-of-the-season tomatoes.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Servings 4 servings
If you can find it, use fine white cornmeal, which is the primary cornmeal used in the South. Buttermilk adds flavor and tang, but is not strictly necessary.

Ingredients

  • 3 medium, firm green tomatoes
  • Salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tbsp Cajun seasoning (optional)
  • 1/2 cup milk or buttermilk
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup cornmeal
  • 1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup peanut oil or extra virgin olive oil

Method

  1. Slice and salt green tomatoes

    Cut unpeeled tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices. Sprinkle slices with salt. Let tomato slices stand for 5 minutes.

  2. Set out shallow bowls with coating ingredients

    While the salted green tomato slices are resting, place in separate shallow bowls: the flour and Cajun seasoning (if using), buttermilk and egg, and breadcrumbs and cornmeal.

  3. Dip green tomato slices in flour, egg, then breadcrumbs

    Heat the peanut oil in a skillet on medium heat. Beat the egg and the buttermilk together. Dip the green tomato slices in the flour-seasoning mix, then the buttermilk-egg mixture, then the cornmeal-breadcrumb mix.

    How to make fried green tomatoes in skillet
    Elise Bauer
    How to make fried green tomatoes perfectly browned
    Elise Bauer
  4. Fry the green tomatoes

    In the skillet, fry half of the coated tomato slices at a time, for 3-5 minutes on each side or until brown.

    Set the cooked tomatoes on paper towels to drain. These fried green tomatoes are fantastic with a little Tabasco sauce or remoulade.

Links:

Homemade remoulade sauce - recipe here on Simply Recipes

Fried Green Tomatoes with Buttermilk-Lime Dressing - from Ezra Pound Cake

Fried Green Tomatoes - from The Kitchn

Fried Green Tomatoes
Elise Bauer