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Fried Green Tomatoes

July 28, 2011 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 22 Comments

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Fried Green Tomatoes | 5DollarDinners.com

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.

Fried Green Tomatoes | 5DollarDinners.com

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.

Fried Green Tomatoes | 5DollarDinners.com

This is the same process I use for fried okra. Though standing and frying okra is a true act of love!

Fried Green Tomatoes | 5DollarDinners.com

(pictured above with a little bit of fried okra thrown in for good measure)

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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
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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?

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Filed Under: Budget Friendly Recipes, Fresh Veggies Recipes, Homemade Recipes, Side Dish Recipes Tagged With: Tricia

Comments

  1. Karen Hiebert says

    July 28, 2011 at 5:50 pm

    unable to save.

    Reply
  2. Alea says

    July 28, 2011 at 6:08 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Tricia says

      July 28, 2011 at 8:25 pm

      Alea – having permission to pick those juicy green tomatoes is a major benefit of this recipe! Besides the fact of the pure deliciosity factor 🙂

      Reply
  3. Mel @ Trailing After God says

    July 28, 2011 at 6:48 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says

      July 28, 2011 at 8:20 pm

      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! 😉

      Reply
      • Tricia H says

        July 28, 2011 at 8:27 pm

        And, when you serve them, add in a ‘here you go, y’all’ 🙂

        Reply
  4. Melissa in VA says

    July 28, 2011 at 7:08 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says

      July 28, 2011 at 8:20 pm

      She is definitely a southerner Melissa!!!

      Reply
    • Tricia H says

      July 28, 2011 at 8:38 pm

      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 🙂

      Reply
  5. LizAndrsn says

    July 28, 2011 at 7:17 pm

    No gravy????

    Reply
    • Tricia H says

      July 28, 2011 at 8:40 pm

      Well, now. That’s personal preference. I tend to throw gravy on my biscuits 🙂

      Reply
  6. Tegan says

    July 28, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    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! 🙂

    Reply
    • Tricia says

      July 29, 2011 at 7:42 am

      Well, now, meat always compliments fried green tomatoes 🙂

      Reply
  7. Jimmie says

    July 28, 2011 at 9:28 pm

    Yum! I recently fried up sliced squash & zucchini as well as fresh okra. Love, love, love those fried veggies.

    Reply
    • Tricia H says

      July 28, 2011 at 9:32 pm

      Mmmm. Squash and zucchini too? Sounds like a feast Jimmie!

      Reply
  8. Tee says

    July 29, 2011 at 6:51 am

    I like to use seasoning salt and fresh ground pepper before coating in white flour and then frying. They are yummy!!!

    Reply
    • Tricia says

      July 29, 2011 at 7:45 am

      I agree! This recipe is easily adapted to taste!

      Reply
  9. Lucia says

    July 29, 2011 at 10:34 am

    Why, of course mac & cheese is a vegetable! Fried green tomatoes are the necter of the gods!!

    Reply
  10. mary w says

    July 29, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    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.

    Reply
  11. Jessi @ Quirky Cookery says

    July 29, 2011 at 9:47 pm

    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.

    Reply
  12. Emily says

    October 6, 2012 at 10:54 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Tricia says

      October 7, 2012 at 5:59 pm

      Oh how perfect is that? I would never have thought of fried green tomatoes in the fall! Thanks for the comment – and enjoy!

      Reply

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