How to Make Fried Green Tomatoes 2 Ways (+ Recipe)

Fried green tomatoes are a popular dish. Some people use them as a side. Some use them as a main event. Fried green tomatoes can also be used in other ways, such as a topping.

Fried green tomatoes are easy to make, and they’re versatile. With a few kitchen staples, you can be enjoying the abundance of your tomato garden earlier -- and in new and delicious ways!

Jump to:

• More and Earlier Uses for Tomatoes from Your Tomato Garden (And later uses, too!)
• Traditional Fried Green Tomato Recipe
• Uses and Serving Suggestions for Fried Green Tomatoes
• Many Uses for Your Garden’s Early (Or Late) Abundance

More and Earlier Uses for Tomatoes from Your Tomato Garden (And later uses, too!)

We all love fresh, red, ripe garden tomatoes. But if that’s all you use your garden tomatoes for, you’re overlooking a whole other harvest.

By using *green tomatoes, you can start using your garden produce earlier. And, you’ll have more expanded ways to use those tomatoes you worked so hard to grow.

Green tomato recipes, like fried green tomatoes, give you something to do with the earlier fruits. Keep in mind, though, that late-season green tomatoes are useful, too. When it seems like frost and cold temperatures may be ending your tomato harvest, pick off the green tomatoes and put them to good use.

*Green unripe or green ripe?

Traditionally, fried green tomatoes are made with unripe tomatoes that are still in their green stage. These are different from tomato varieties that are green when ripe.

Either type of tomato can be used for making fried green tomatoes. Unripe green tomatoes may work a little better, though, because they are firmer than ripe tomatoes. For fried green tomatoes, you want a firm tomato that is not too juicy and that will hold together well for dipping, coating, and turning.

Traditional Fried Green Tomato Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 to 4 lbs. Green tomatoes (about 4 to 5 tomatoes)
• 2 cups bread crumbs (panko bread crumbs, regular, or seasoned bread crumbs)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup plain or Greek yogurt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
• ¾ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups (+/-) oil for frying (olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, or your choice)
• Optional: herbs or spices to taste, garlic powder to taste

Instructions:

1. Slice the tomatoes into slices about ¼ to ½ inch thick.

2. Lay the slices out on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels while you prep the rest of the ingredients. Turn once to pat both sides dry.
3. Mix the yogurt and buttermilk together in one dish. Whisk to combine.
4. Mix the flour, salt, and pepper together in a shallow dish, like a pie plate. Combine with a fork to mix the ingredients through.
5. Put the bread crumbs in another shallow dish. If you are adding garlic powder or other seasonings or herbs, mix them into the bread crumbs using a fork. Mix until evenly combined.

6. For each tomato slice, dip it first in the flour mixture, then in the buttermilk and yogurt mixture, and last, in the bread crumbs.
7. Coat both sides and repeat until all the slices are coated.
8. Lay the coated slices on a greased baking sheet and allow the coating to absorb while you heat the oil for frying.

9. In a deep pan or Dutch oven, heat the two cups of frying oil to 350℉ (67℃) (Add more oil as you go if needed, but heat back up to temperature before starting a new batch.)
10. Carefully place the slices in the hot oil, frying only a single layer at a time.
11. Fry for two to three minutes, turning once halfway through.
12. Fry until the slices are a nice, golden brown.
13. Remove the slices from the frying oil using a slotted spoon or spatula.
14. Lay the fried tomatoes on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
15. Serve warm and enjoy!

Tip: You can put fried tomato slices on a baking sheet in a low, warm oven to stay warm while you fry the other slices, and until you are ready to serve.

To make Baked Fried Green Tomatoes

If you want to reduce your oil intake, or fried foods are not a part of your diet plan, you can also bake the coated tomato slices or fry them on an oiled flat top grill.

• Coat the baking pan with oil before laying out the slices
• Spray the top with cooking spray or mist lightly with oil
• Bake in a preheated oven at 350℉ (67℃)
• Bake for 7 minutes on one side, then turn with a spatula and bake for 7 minutes more on the other side
• To cook fried green tomatoes on a flat top grill, do the same as you would for baking, but on the heated grill top

Uses and Serving Suggestions for Fried Green Tomatoes

There are many delicious ways to serve fried green tomatoes. These don’t just have to be used as a Southern-inspired side dish!

• Serve as a side dish with salt
• Serve with dipping sauces or dressing, such as ranch dressing or chipotle dipping sauce
• Serve with your favorite aioli as a dip or condiment
• Use as a topping for burgers or sandwiches
• Use as a vegetarian burger
• Serve in a breakfast biscuit with a fried egg or in eggs Benedict
• Top with your favorite cheese
• Use in BLTs
• Serve in a garden green salad
• Use as a healthier side in place of French fries or onion rings to accompany chicken tenders, nuggets, fish fillets, and more

Many Uses for Your Garden’s Early (Or Late) Abundance

Fried green tomatoes are probably one of the more well-known and more popular green tomato recipes, but there are many other green tomato recipes you should explore, too.

From relishes to green salsas, there’s a lot you can do with green tomatoes to get more for your gardening efforts.