Best-Ever Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe: Our Test Kitchen’s Method for Crunchy and Tender Tomato Slices

The reality that tomato season doesn't last forever makes me appreciate this sweet and juicy gem even more. One way I’m savoring this season’s best picks is preparing fried green tomatoes. This dish consists of sliced green tomatoes that are breaded and deep-fried until golden brown. The end result is a batch of tart and crunchy tomato slices worth enjoying as a snack or a side for dinner. Read on to find out how to make fried green tomatoes, including an air fryer version that's less greasy.

Are green tomatoes just unripe tomatoes?

First thing's first: green tomatoes are in fact the unripe version of red tomatoes . Since these tomatoes are at the early stages of the ripening process, they boost a sharper flavor than their full ripe counterparts. This makes them ideal for breading and frying so they become tender and slightly sweeter.

The basics of fried green tomatoes

Fried green tomatoes are traditionally made by coating the tomato slices in flour, beaten egg and breadcrumbs before frying them. The golden brown tomatoes are drained on paper towels and served with a dipping sauce or on their own. While this dish is widely hailed as a southern delicacy, its reported origins point toward northern regions.

Robert F. Moss, author of The Fried Green Tomato Swindle and Other Southern Culinary Adventures , found 11 recipes for this dish appearing in newspapers from northern and midwestern cities during the early 1900s. Many credit the 1991 movie Fried Green Tomatoes with giving this dish a southern appeal as the story takes place in the south. Regardless, these fried tomatoes are easy to prepare and irresistible when cooked to perfection.

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Our test kitchen’s favorite fried green tomatoes recipe

The Woman's World test kitchen loves fried green tomatoes, so they share an easy recipe that comes together in 40 minutes. This recipe, which is full of tart and pungent flavors, will make you want to stock up on green tomatoes during your next farmer's market visit!

Fried Green Tomatoes

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. green tomatoes, cut into ½-inch-thick slices
• ½ tsp. garlic powder
• ½ cup stone ground cornmeal
• ½ cup plain dry breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs, beaten
• ¼ cup oil

Directions:

• Active: 30 mins
• Total time: 40 mins
• Yield: 6 servings

1. Sprinkle tomatoes with garlic, ½ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper.
2. In shallow bowl, blend cornmeal and breadcrumbs. Place eggs in separate bowl. Dip 1 to 2 tomato slices in egg, letting excess drip off. Coat with cornmeal mixture, pressing to adhere. Repeat.
3. In skillet, heat oil over medium-low heat. In batches, cook tomatoes, flipping once, until golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
4. Easy variation: Make Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes. Place coated tomato slices in a single layer on the air fryer basket. Light coat tomato slices with olive or avocado oil spray. Air fry at 400°F for 5 to 6 minutes. Flip tomatoes and cook for an additional 5 to 6 minutes. Once crispy and brown, remove the tomatoes from the machine and cool on a wire rack. Repeat with any remaining tomatoes.

What do you eat with fried green tomatoes?

There are plenty of ways to dress up your fried green tomatoes before enjoying them. Serve them with a dipping sauce like this spicy and tangy Bang Bang Sauce for a crowd-pleasing appetizer. Eat them as a side to hearty mains like crab cakes, seafood boil or pork chops. Or, place them on a burger or BLT for a fried twist on the classic sandwich.

Continue reading for more crispy homemade foods!

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