Every September I always have at least a few green tomatoes dangling in the garden. This is always a good thing because while ripe juicy red tomatoes are wonderful, green tomatoes are much more of a delicacy for me and hard to come by any other time of year. This was the perfect time for me to make this Fried Green Tomato recipe by Cookin’ Cowgirl.
Here are some of the candidates from the garden in various sizes. Strange looking but tasty in their own right. And if you don’t have any in the garden, I bet a neighbor, a farm stand or a farmers market has plenty of them right now. And you know what? I have even done this with ripe tomatoes and they’re wonderful too.
And here is what you’ll need to bread them well: eggs, milk, flour, cornmeal and bacon!
First, render the bacon slowly over low heat in order to release the fat. The fat is what you want to save in order to fry the tomatoes. It gives it that extra special je ne sai quois that only bacon can give. But if you don’t have bacon or want to save time, you could use grape seed or vegetable oil just as easily.
The bacon will look like this when it has fully rendered. Remove it from the fat with a fork and set it aside on some paper towels. Then eat it at your leisure! Turn off the heat and let the fat sit in the pan while you prep the tomatoes.
Slice the tomatoes horizontally in 1/4 –inch thick slices…
Drop the tomato slices one at a time, first in the milk …
Then in the flour …
Then in the beaten eggs, then in the cornmeal.
Over medium heat, fry the tomatoes in the bacon fat until brown on one side…
Then flip and brown on the other side. You may need to do it in batches, removing them from the pan and laying them on paper towels and giving them a good sprinkle of salt and pepper to help keep them crisp.
And there you have it! It’s just that simple and easy. This is a beautiful and tasty way to end the summer. Thanks so much to Stephanie for sharing this recipe and inspiration! And be sure to check out her website, Cookin’ Cowgirl, for other great recipes.
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Description
A Southern classic, done the right way.
Ingredients
- 2 whole Medium, Firm Green Tomatoes
- 1 pound Turkey Bacon
- 1 cup Vegetable Oil, Optional
- ½ cups Milk
- ½ cups Whole Wheat Flour
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoons Pepper
- ½ teaspoons Optional Seasoning
- 3 whole Eggs, Beaten
- ½ cups Cornmeal
Preparation Instructions
Use a mandoline to slice each tomato into eight 1/4-inch thick slices. Cook bacon in a cast iron skillet. Remove bacon and leave grease in the pan. Add additional oil if necessary and heat to medium.
Meanwhile, set up breading station using 4 shallow dishes. Put milk in the first; flour, salt, pepper and seasoning in the second; eggs in the third; cornmeal in the fourth. Dip a tomato slice in the milk, then the flour mixture, then the egg, then the cornmeal. Fry tomato slices for 2 minutes on each side. If they are browning too quickly, turn the heat down. They will need about 4 minutes total for the tomato to become slightly softened on the inside. Repeat with all tomato slices. Remove tomatoes and drain on a paper towel-covered plate. Serve warm.
Makes 16 slices.
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There’s so much to say about Georgia, we don’t know where to start. Leaving Wall Street for the French Culinary Institute, followed by a stint at the Gramercy Tavern and La Chassagnette in France, her passion for food and food traditions are evident and inspiring. Visit her site at Georgia Pellegrini, where you’ll find more recipes, photos, learn all about her wonderful book Food Heroes, and enjoy her latest adventures.
36 Comments
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ellen on 9.29.2011
These look wonderful! I used the recipe and they were very delicious! Thank you for sharing
Kimberly on 9.24.2011
As a born and raised Southerner, fried green tomatoes were a staple at my grandmother’s house all through the summer. She served them as a side with pork chops or chicken and country vegetables. Now that I’m an adult, I still love them served as a side, but they are simply marvelous when topped with a small crab cake (or boiled shrimp) and remoulade sauce. This is a perfect recipe – you really can’t leave out an ingredient – it affects the taste!
DanaKitt on 9.20.2011
All we do with our Fried Green Tomatoes is add salt & pepper to some flour. Coat the slices with the flour. Fry in the skillet with some parmasen(spell) cheese sprinkled on them. Nice and simple, not alot of steps.
BethK on 9.20.2011
I have loved those tart treasures since first experiencing them in a small Georgia town cafe. I use spiced buttermilk as a soak and a mixture of corn flour and corn meal for the dredge. The bacon fat is a “must” to get the flavor just right, even if you pair it with a canola or vegetable oil.
I usually crumble the bacon on top at serving and drizzle with a basalmic reduction.
Mrs C on 9.20.2011
Oh I love fried green tomatoes so much but have never tried making them!! These look so beyond delicious. Plus one of my favorite movies
I recently made a lemon-rosemary chicken…delicious!
Loraine CD on 9.20.2011
I’ve made fried green tomatoes several times this summer. We usually have them with Comeback Sauce, which is like a spicy Thousand Island dressing without the pickle relish. We also had them with Shrimp Remoulade on top and that was fabulous.
Trista on 9.20.2011
I’ve always wanted to try friend green tomatoes…they look delicious!
http://www.hipposandhearts.com/
Victoria Leddy on 9.20.2011
Put that bacon you made on a BLT with those fried green tomatoes and go straight to HEAVEN!!!
Amber in Texas on 9.20.2011
A good fried green tomatoe is the absolute BEST thing there is. That and fried pickles. Seriously, SOOOOO stinkin good. Thanks for sharing… everyone does fgt a little different depending on where you live. I know some people will put a little Tony’s on their’s. YUM!!! Wish I still had my garden, and that the drought didn’t consume it.
Mary on 9.20.2011
These look wonderful and your
photo tutorial makes it possible for anyone to duplicate your results. This is my first visit to your blog, so I’ve taken sometime to browse through your earlier entries. I’m so glad I did that. You have shared some wonderful recipes with your readers and I really enjoyed the time I spent here. I ‘ll definitely be back. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
Livin' Louisiana! on 9.19.2011
YES MAM! Now you’re talkin!
Katrina on 9.19.2011
Neat! I’ve actually never even had a fried tomato. Weird.
Grace O'Malley on 9.19.2011
Oh man I could eat a plateful of that right now! Yum!
Allison R. on 9.19.2011
Thank you so much for posting this! Ever since I saw the movie when I was young, I have wanted to have a fried green tomato. This is definitely a recipe I will try in the near future!
Thanks again!!
A Cozy Kitchen on 9.19.2011
I LOVE fried green tomatoes. And that bacon is perfect for a fried green tomato BLT. I’ve had plenty in my day and I still love them just the same.
Connie Brown on 9.19.2011
Goodness, with all this milk, flour, eggs and breading – one would not think you would be able to taste the green tomato. I have never had them, but I may try a few just to see. Although I would not use the bacon grease, cooking oil instead.
Jennifer Hill on 9.19.2011
Then you take that bacon, slap the bacon and fried tomato on really good fresh bread. Slather it in remoulade sauce and enjoy every single bite! Even my kiddos love fried green tomato BLT’s!
Caroline on 9.19.2011
YUM! I am transplanted to Georgia – and a local restaurant makes a BLTonP. I was very suspicious, being a BLT purist and believing it to be the world’s most perfect sandwich. HOWEVER, they make the sandwich with a fried green tomato, homemade pimento cheese, and lettuce on a pita. It’s the next best thing to a true BLT! I suggest saving the bacon for a sandwich with a fried green! Sourdough is great – and pimento cheese optional (but if you think you don’t like it, try some homemade by someone who knows how – you might fall in love!)
Peggy on 9.19.2011
I am in the minorty. I have never liked fried green tomatoes.My mother always sliced them thin. I did like fried apples.
Big Steve on 9.19.2011
Never fried them in bacon grease, but they look delicious. I love some Fried Green Tomatoes. Remember…”the secret is in the sauce.” They look awesome Georgia P. Be Blessed!!!
Ginny on 9.19.2011
Love fried green tomatoes! I have a good supply of green tomatoes out in the garden that may not make it to vine ripe depending on this central Oregon weather. We’ve already had one morning where the temp was down to freezing and had to cover the plants with frost blankets.
Celeste on 9.19.2011
We used to have a restaurant that served these year-round. They served it with this awesome sauce of mayo, horseradish, and chunky brown mustard. It was perfect and we ordered it every time.
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions on 9.19.2011
Being from the south Fried Green Tomatoes are a staple. In fact there is this cute little cafe near my home town that makes THE best fried green tomatoes. I don’t know how they make theirs but this one fried in bacon grease must be a secret trick to perfection!
MamaNorma on 9.19.2011
Looks wonderful! If you want to take this to the next level, try dipping them in a good ranch dressing. Unbelievable!
KateG on 9.19.2011
Fried green tomatoes were always a special treat in our house growing up. Anyone who had never tried or heard of them before, tried them at our house
Now I am super hungry for them!
TiffH on 9.19.2011
I have never tried Fried Green Tomatoes, but I love the movie!
Tracee on 9.19.2011
We love Fried Green Tomatoes, the movie AND the real thing! And luckily the garden has many in it. On the menu tonight ! I do have a question though for any of you, do you have any type of garnish, sauce that you might drizzle over them. I have tried a few different things, reduced balsamic, a bit of special sauce made up to dip in. Of course plain is wonderful. Just wondering.
Rebecca on 9.19.2011
I actually made Fried Green Tomatoes 2 weeks ago. It worked best with the ones that werent completely green and hard, but had *just* a little bit of juicyness about them. They still look green on the surface, but they have started to ripen a tiny bit. I also seasoned the flour (salt, pepper, assorted powders) pretty aggressively.
Pauline on 9.19.2011
Many years ago a Virginia lady, friend of my parents, used to make fried green tomatoes, fried apples, fried eggs and cornbread for breakfast. The first time my son made this on his own he used the course cornmeal, like they use under the pizzas and bread. He said he didn’t like that. Get the finer type. This winter we are going to try growing some tomatoes under lights. My family loves tomatoes, and once you have tasted the homegrown heirlooms – you’re a gonner! LOVE THAT MOVIE!!
Laurie - Simply Scratch on 9.19.2011
I’ve always wanted to make these! They look sooo crispy and delicious!
Mary Ellen Blandford on 9.19.2011
We love fried green tomatoes, and will be having some soon!
The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh on 9.19.2011
I’ve never had them. (I know!) Might have to give it a go sometime, these look great!
kat @ Pretty in Pink and Green on 9.19.2011
I love fried green tomatoes!!! These pictures are so pretty with the bright green tomatoes. I want some, like right now!!!
jenn10 on 9.19.2011
IT LOOKS DELICIOUS I SHOULD TRY IT SOON MY TOMATO POTAGE -BIN DID REALLY GOOD THIS YEAR ,I WILL PRINT IT OUT ,THANX .JENN10
Heather (Heather's Dish) on 9.19.2011
those tomatoes are SO beautiful! and i just finished watching the movie last night…perfect timing
Tabitha (From Single to Married) on 9.19.2011
mmmm…. reminds me of home!
they look great!