Fried green tomatoes are the perfect Southern dish, but it can be intimidating to make them if you’ve never done it before.
Here’s an easy recipe for beginner cooks:
Rinse the tomatoes and pat them dry.
Rinse the tomatoes and pat them dry.
- The best way to do this is with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels, but you can also use a salad spinner if you have one. If not, just make sure that the tomatoes are completely dry before frying them.
- If they’re too wet, they’ll burn in the pan because of water evaporation (and possibly oil splatter). If they’re too dry and hard-looking–like they’ve been sitting in the fridge overnight–you may want to let them sit at room temperature for 15 minutes or so before frying so that their texture softens up again.
Slice the tomatoes in half, remove their cores and then slice them into 1/4-inch thick slices.
You can slice the tomatoes in half, remove their cores and then slice them into 1/4-inch thick slices.
Pour oil into a large skillet and heat it until hot but not smoking.
- In a large skillet, heat oil until hot but not smoking. To test the temperature of the oil, use a candy thermometer (if you have one) or simply drop in a few breadcrumbs and wait for them to sizzle before adding your tomatoes.
- If you’re using a deep fryer, follow its instructions for heating up the oil and monitoring its temperature throughout cooking time.
Fry the tomatoes, turning them once or twice so that all sides are evenly cooked, until golden brown and crispy on both sides, about 3 minutes per side.
Frying the tomatoes is not difficult, but it does require a little attention to detail. First, make sure that your oil is hot before putting in the tomatoes. The trick here is to use a slotted spoon and remove them from the oil when they are golden brown and crispy on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Let them drain on paper towels before seasoning with salt to taste
Remove fried green tomatoes from pan with a slotted spoon and place them onto paper towels to drain. Season with salt to taste. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Once you’ve fried the tomatoes, it’s time to enjoy them! Remove them from the pan with a slotted spoon and place them onto paper towels to drain. Season with salt to taste (if desired). Serve hot or at room temperature.
If you like fried green tomatoes this is an easy recipe to try
If you like fried green tomatoes this is an easy recipe to try. It’s great for summer, and it makes an excellent side dish or main course. It’s also delicious with a side of cornbread or biscuits!
If you’re looking for a vegetarian main dish that’s easy-to-make (and even easier on the wallet), then this is your answer. For something different, try topping these with some ranch dressing instead of ketchup–it tastes just as good!
Conclusion
If you like fried green tomatoes this is an easy recipe to try. The hardest part is finding good-quality tomatoes, but if you have access to a farmers’ market or grow your own then they should be easy enough. Just remember not to slice them too thick as they will take longer to cook (and may even burn).
