Best 5 Zesty Fried Green Tomatoes Recipes

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**Zesty Fried Green Tomatoes: A Southern Delight with a Twist**

In the realm of Southern cuisine, fried green tomatoes reign supreme as a delightful culinary creation. These unripened green tomatoes, coated in a crispy batter and fried to golden perfection, offer a tantalizing blend of tangy, savory, and slightly sweet flavors. This article presents a collection of zesty fried green tomato recipes that elevate this classic dish to new heights of culinary excellence.

From the traditional Southern-style fried green tomatoes, featuring a simple yet flavorful batter, to more adventurous variations infused with herbs, spices, and unique ingredients, this article offers a diverse range of recipes to suit every palate. Discover the secrets of achieving that perfect golden-brown crust, while maintaining the tender and juicy interior of the green tomatoes.

Whether you prefer a classic buttermilk batter or an innovative panko-crusted coating, these recipes provide step-by-step instructions and helpful tips to ensure success in your culinary endeavors. Explore the versatility of fried green tomatoes as an appetizer, a side dish, or even a main course, paired with a variety of dipping sauces and accompaniments.

Indulge in the zesty goodness of fried green tomatoes, a Southern staple transformed into a symphony of flavors. Embark on a culinary journey that celebrates the unique charm and irresistible taste of this iconic dish, leaving your taste buds craving for more.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES RECIPE (OVEN-FRIED!)



Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe (Oven-Fried!) image

Oven-Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe - Make ultra-crispy, tangy fried green tomatoes with less oil and less mess by baking in the oven! Our healthier oven baked fried green tomatoes recipe can even easily be made gluten free.

Provided by Sommer Collier

Categories     Appetizer     Snack

Number Of Ingredients 9

3-4 unripe green tomatoes
1 ½ cups Panko breadcrumbs
¾ cup buttermilk
¼ cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (creole seasoning)
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cumin
3 tablespoons oil (vegetable oil, olive oil)
Caesar Dressing for dipping

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Set out a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle the oil on the baking sheet and spread it around with a spoon or brush.
  • Slice the tomatoes into ¼ inch rounds. Set aside.
  • Set out 3 bowls. Pour the flour in one bowl, and the panko in the seconds bowl. In the third bowl combine the buttermilk, Cajun seasoning, salt, and cumin. Mix well.
  • One at a time, dip the slices of tomato in the flour. Shake off the excess flour and dip the tomato slice in the buttermilk. Shake off the excess buttermilk over the bowl, then dip the slice in breadcrumbs.
  • Lay each slice on the baking sheet, then flip it so it is coated in oil on both sides. Repeat with the remaining green tomato slices.
  • Bake for 12 minutes. Use a small spatula to flip the tomato slices over. Then bake again for 12 minutes, until golden brown.
  • Serve warm with a side of Caesar dressing for dipping.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 pc, Calories 64 kcal, Carbohydrate 7 g, Protein 1 g, Fat 4 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Cholesterol 1 mg, Sodium 212 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES WITH SPICY RANCH DRESSING



Fried Green Tomatoes with Spicy Ranch Dressing image

Provided by Kardea Brown

Categories     side-dish

Time 35m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon Miss Brown's House Seasoning, recipe follows
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons buttermilk
2 cups panko
Canola oil, for frying
3 green tomatoes, cut into 1/3-inch-thick slices
Kosher salt
Spicy Ranch Dressing, recipe follows
1/2 cup of your favorite ranch dressing
1 tablespoon sriracha
1 tablespoon sour cream
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Stir together the flour and 1 teaspoon of the House Seasoning in a shallow pie plate or baking dish. In a separate baking dish, whisk together the eggs and buttermilk. In a third baking dish, stir together the panko and remaining 2 teaspoons House Seasoning.
  • Pour enough oil to come 1 inch up the sides of a large cast-iron skillet and heat to 375 degrees F over medium-high heat.
  • Working with one tomato slice at a time, dredge the in the flour mixture, shaking to remove any excess. Dip in the egg wash, letting any excess drip off. Coat in the panko mixture and then place on a plate. Repeat with the remaining tomato slices. Working in batches, fry the tomatoes until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Drain on a wire rack set in a sheet tray and sprinkle with salt while still hot. Serve warm with Spicy Ranch Dressing.
  • Stir together the ranch dressing, sriracha, sour cream and paprika in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Stir together the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper in a small bowl.

BEST FRIED GREEN TOMATOES



Best Fried Green Tomatoes image

You can also fry up red tomatoes with this recipe but make sure they are not over ripe or they will be mushy. Serve these tomatoes outside with a glass of iced tea one summer night and enjoy the sunset with someone you love.

Provided by Diana Swenson-Siegel

Categories     Side Dish     Vegetables     Tomatoes     Fried Green Tomato Recipes

Time 20m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 large green tomatoes
2 eggs
½ cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup cornmeal
½ cup bread crumbs
2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 quart vegetable oil for frying

Steps:

  • Slice tomatoes 1/2 inch thick. Discard the ends.
  • Whisk eggs and milk together in a medium-size bowl. Scoop flour onto a plate. Mix cornmeal, bread crumbs and salt and pepper on another plate. Dip tomatoes into flour to coat. Then dip the tomatoes into milk and egg mixture. Dredge in breadcrumbs to completely coat.
  • In a large skillet, pour vegetable oil (enough so that there is 1/2 inch of oil in the pan) and heat over a medium heat. Place tomatoes into the frying pan in batches of 4 or 5, depending on the size of your skillet. Do not crowd the tomatoes, they should not touch each other. When the tomatoes are browned, flip and fry them on the other side. Drain them on paper towels.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 510 calories, Carbohydrate 56.3 g, Cholesterol 95.4 mg, Fat 27 g, Fiber 4.6 g, Protein 12.6 g, SaturatedFat 4.3 g, Sodium 1136 mg, Sugar 9.9 g

CONTEST-WINNING FRIED GREEN TOMATOES



Contest-Winning Fried Green Tomatoes image

A quick and easy homemade salsa makes a mouthwatering addition to these fried tomatoes. The golden coating is so crispy, no one suspects the slices are light. -Ingrid Parker, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Appetizers     Side Dishes

Time 55m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 19

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 egg
1 tablespoon fat-free milk
1 cup cornflake crumbs
4 medium green tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1/4 cup canola oil
FRESH TOMATO SALSA:
5 medium red tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
4-1/2 teaspoons lime juice
2 teaspoons sugar
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt and cayenne. In another shallow bowl, beat egg and milk. Place cornflake crumbs in a third bowl. Pat green tomato slices dry. Coat with flour mixture, dip into egg mixture, then coat with crumbs., In a large nonstick skillet, heat 4 teaspoons oil over medium heat. Fry tomato slices, four at a time, for 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown, adding more oil as needed. Drain on paper towels. , Place fried tomatoes on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375° for 4-5 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine salsa ingredients. Serve with the fried tomatoes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 207 calories, Fat 11g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 35mg cholesterol, Sodium 343mg sodium, Carbohydrate 25g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 5g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

CHEF JOHN'S FRIED GREEN TOMATOES



Chef John's Fried Green Tomatoes image

Fried green tomatoes are a southern American classic. Such an easy recipe! Serve with a little dollop of spicy remoulade sauce (which is Southern for tartar sauce). Oh yeah.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Side Dish     Vegetables     Tomatoes     Fried Green Tomato Recipes

Time 50m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 15

4 (1/2 inch) slices green tomato
1 teaspoon salt
¾ cup cornmeal
¾ cup bread crumbs
½ teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons hot sauce, or to taste

Steps:

  • Place tomato slices onto a rack over a paper towel. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and let slices stand for 15 minutes for the salt to draw out extra juices.
  • Mix cornmeal and bread crumbs together in a bowl; stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. Beat eggs with milk in a separate bowl. Place flour into a third bowl.
  • Pat tomato slices dry with paper towels. Lay slices, one at a time, into flour; flip to coat both sides and let slices rest in the flour for about 30 seconds. Remove each slice and dip in egg mixture, then into cornmeal mixture, coating both sides of each slice thoroughly. Spread crumbs onto all sides and into tomato crevices with a fork. Rest tomatoes on rack for 10 minutes to let coating set.
  • Combine sweet pickle relish, mayonnaise, and hot sauce in a small bowl to make the remoulade sauce.
  • Place a large nonstick skillet over medium heat; heat vegetable oil with butter until butter melts, bubbles, and makes a sizzling sound. Fry tomatoes in the hot butter-oil mixture until tomato slices are slightly soft and coating is golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Use a spatula and a fork to flip.
  • Transfer fried green tomatoes to a serving platter and serve with remoulade sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 514.1 calories, Carbohydrate 64.6 g, Cholesterol 103.9 mg, Fat 23.2 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 11.8 g, SaturatedFat 5.5 g, Sodium 1248.2 mg, Sugar 6.2 g

Tips:

  • Choose firm, unblemished green tomatoes: Look for tomatoes that are deep green in color and have no soft spots or bruises. Smaller tomatoes work best for frying.
  • Slice the tomatoes evenly: This will help them cook evenly. About 1/4-inch thick is a good size.
  • Coat the tomatoes in a seasoned flour mixture: This will help them get crispy and golden brown. You can use a simple mixture of flour, salt, and pepper, or add other seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika.
  • Fry the tomatoes in hot oil: This will help them cook quickly and prevent them from becoming greasy. Use a deep fryer or a large saucepan with at least 2 inches of oil.
  • Drain the tomatoes on paper towels: This will help remove any excess oil.
  • Serve the tomatoes hot with your favorite dipping sauce: Ranch dressing, ketchup, or tartar sauce are all good choices.

Conclusion:

Zesty Fried Green Tomatoes are a delicious and easy-to-make appetizer or side dish. They are perfect for summer gatherings and potlucks. With a few simple tips, you can make sure your fried green tomatoes are crispy, golden brown, and full of flavor. So next time you have a bunch of green tomatoes, don't let them go to waste! Give this recipe a try and enjoy this classic Southern dish.

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