So why is it that you've never tried fried green tomatoes? Think about it...
Green tomatoes are actually a little rare.
Ever seen a green tomato at the store? Likely not. But take a stroll through someone's garden around in the summer and you'll discover they're plentiful. So plentiful in fact that many gardeners find themselves asking...
What to do with green tomatoes?
As a first-year gardener I now understand why fried green tomatoes are a thing.
If you have a garden or have ever gardened, then you know what I'm talking about. Nurture a few seeds into plants and before you know it, you get inundated with fresh veggies—particularly tomatoes— come harvest season.
An abundance of vegetables seems like a good thing but it can actually be somewhat overwhelming. Of course, you can give away some of your tomatoes and other veggies but sometimes people are already overloaded with tomatoes from their own garden or they've already been given vegetables from another gardener friend of theirs. And tomatoes don't last all that long. So... what's a gardener to do?
Start harvesting early.
Pick some of those tomatoes when they're still green! Tomatoes are absolutely edible when they're big and green even though they aren't fully ripe. Green tomatoes can be used instead of red tomatoes in almost all recipes. The difference to keep in mind is that their flavor is a little more tart and they are much more firm.
What makes green tomatoes good for frying?
The fact that they are firm is actually what makes them perfect for frying. This is most likely why, when you think of green tomatoes, the first recipe that comes to mind is the classic—fried green tomatoes. Their firm state holds up really well when fried and the heat softens them just enough so the end result is a crispy, melt-in-your-mouth fried tomato.
Could you fry a red tomato?
You can fry red tomatoes. However, the end result is going to be a lot more squishy and potentially watery so you might loose a bit of that crispy coating that makes them so good.
What sauces goes well with fried green tomatoes?
You may be wondering if there's a sauce that goes well with fried green tomatoes. Why yes, there is. 🙂 My favorite is marinara sauce.
You could also try ranch dressing. If you're looking to get some mileage out of these, you can turn your fried tomatoes into a full casserole. Start with cooked pasta, layer on marinara sauce, top with fried green tomatoes, layer on mozzarella cheese and then bake at 400˚ until the cheese is melted. Yum! A nice little vegetarian meal.
Some helpful tool for making fried green tomatoes:
Making fried green tomatoes is really easy but you will need a few tools.
- A frying pan - I use my cast iron skillet
- A spatula or tongs
- Mixing bowls - for coating your tomatoes in egg then bread crumbs
- Food processor - if you want to make your own breadcrumbs
- Paper towels
Want more idea for processing your garden tomatoes?
Try these recipes of mine:
- Homemade Salsa
- Roasted Zucchini Pie with Feta
- Herbed Cucumber and Tomato Salad
- Mediterranean Tomato and Cucumber Orzo Salad
This recipe for fried green tomatoes with marinara sauce was featured on South Your Mouth!
Fried Green Tomatoes with Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 large green tomatoes, sliced
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs seasoned or unseasoned
- ¼ cup cornmeal
- Salt to taste
- Marinara sauce or Ranch dressing for dipping
- Vegetable oil for frying
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Instructions
- Whisk eggs in a small bowl.
- In another small bowl, add flour.
- In a third small bowl, add breadcrumbs and cornmeal. Season with salt and, if desired, Italian spices. Toss with a fork until blended.
- Slice tomatoes about ¼" thick.
- Heat ¼" of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Oil is ready when a drop of water dripped into the pan sizzles.
- While the oil is heating up, dip and thoroughly coat tomato slices in flour, then egg, then breadcrumb mixture.
- Carefully place breaded tomato slices in the hot oil using tongs or a fork. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side or until golden brown on both sides.
- Remove tomato slices and place on a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb excess oil.
- Serve hot with a side of marinara and/or ranch dressing.
Notes
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