Sliced, dipped, dredged and fried tomatoes equal a plateful of delights as the showcase of veggie night. It’s an annual treat. I make fried green tomatoes maybe twice a summer. Veggie plate night, of course being a frugal way to feed our hodgepodge. And fried green tomatoes, of course being a way to liven things up a bit.
I explained to the children that fried green tomatoes are served as high dollar appetizers in fine restaurants. So I’ve heard. The taste being similar to fried zucchini but a little more on the tart side.
This is the same process I use for fried okra. Though standing and frying okra is a true act of love!
(pictured above with a little bit of fried okra thrown in for good measure)
Fried Green Tomatoes
Yield – 8 servings
Preparation Time – 10 minutes
Cooking Time – 10-15 minutes
Ingredients
- 2-3 green tomatoes (unripened)
- buttermilk, enough for dipping (don’t have buttermilk, make substitute)
- cornmeal, enough for coating, maybe 1/2 cup
- enough oil to cover the bottom of your iron skillet
Directions
- Slice your tomatoes. Not too thin and not too thick.
- Fix a cereal bowl full of buttermilk and one full of cornmeal. No certain amounts.
- Pour your oil in your skillet and heat up on medium high.
- Dip individual tomato slices first in buttermilk.
- Next, dredge in cornmeal. (Turn over and coat both sides.)
- Drop carefully into the hot oil. Fry less than five minutes on each side.
- When nice and brown, remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. You might want to blot the oil with another paper towel a bit as well.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper if you like. We didn’t and they were mighty tasty.
Cost $ Pennies
Serve with cornbread, macaroni and cheese and your other favorite vegetables. We enjoy a veggie plate at least once a week – especially when vegetables are fresh and plentiful. Tasty and frugal! Sweet tea or iced coffee are a bonus for adults. You might also like Erin’s Grilled Green Tomatoes. Get every bite of summer you can!
How about you. How often do you enjoy a veggie plate?
Karen Hiebert says
unable to save.
Alea says
You must have read my mind! I was looking at all of the green tomatoes in my garden and thinking I couldn’t wait one day longer to pick one. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this very timely recipe.
Tricia says
Alea – having permission to pick those juicy green tomatoes is a major benefit of this recipe! Besides the fact of the pure deliciosity factor 🙂
Mel @ Trailing After God says
Great idea especially since I don’t think summer’s going to arrive where we are in Oregon this year. I have lots of green tomatoes 🙂
Blessings,
Mel
Please feel free to stop by: Trailing After God
Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says
Oh no Mel. Perhaps you’ll just have to pretend that it’s 110 degrees outside and you’re enjoying these at the Whistlestop Cafe! 😉
Tricia H says
And, when you serve them, add in a ‘here you go, y’all’ 🙂
Melissa in VA says
Tricia —
You are a TRUE southerner when you categorize macaroni and cheese as a vegetable! ;o) These look great, I’ll definitely be trying them out!
Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says
She is definitely a southerner Melissa!!!
Tricia H says
Yes m’am! I take that as a compliment. That IS funny Melissa. The mac and cheese is always a compliment to the veggie plate, rounding it out 🙂
LizAndrsn says
No gravy????
Tricia H says
Well, now. That’s personal preference. I tend to throw gravy on my biscuits 🙂
Tegan says
Those look delicious! I love fried green tomatoes, but I’ve never made them because I lacked a recipe. So thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
And I would love to do a veggie night, but my hubby is a “must have MEAT” with every meal kind of a guy, so a veggie night wouldn’t go over too well. . . . maybe when he’s TDY! 🙂
Tricia says
Well, now, meat always compliments fried green tomatoes 🙂
Jimmie says
Yum! I recently fried up sliced squash & zucchini as well as fresh okra. Love, love, love those fried veggies.
Tricia H says
Mmmm. Squash and zucchini too? Sounds like a feast Jimmie!
Tee says
I like to use seasoning salt and fresh ground pepper before coating in white flour and then frying. They are yummy!!!
Tricia says
I agree! This recipe is easily adapted to taste!
Lucia says
Why, of course mac & cheese is a vegetable! Fried green tomatoes are the necter of the gods!!
mary w says
One of my tomato plants this year is getting blossom end rot. I pick ’em green as soon as a spot the rot. Cut off the bad spot and perfect for fried green tomatoes.
Jessi @ Quirky Cookery says
Oh so jealous! I love fried green tomatoes but for the first year ever, not only do I not have a garden, but I don’t even know anyone who has a garden. Boo for moving in the midst of fresh produce season.
Emily says
Saw this recipe on Pinterest. We jst had our first hard frost of the fall and I still ave oodles of green tomatoes. I have always composted or thrown away my green tomatoes..UNTIL now! Thank you fir this super easy and yummy recipe. I am no longer afraid of eating green tomatoes! Thank you!
Tricia says
Oh how perfect is that? I would never have thought of fried green tomatoes in the fall! Thanks for the comment – and enjoy!