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Southern Fried Green Tomato's

By
Home Inspector with Trace Inspections, LLC TN #17

A true southern summer delight that even Yankees end up loving!

1 large green tomato.  Sliced thin (1/4" slice is best)

1 cup Corn meal (not cornbread mix)

1 cup Buttermilk

Salt and Pepper.

Vegetable oil. You need enough to cover the bottom of a pan about 1/2".  We also use EVO instead of veggie oil. I think that it really gives them a better taste.

Slice the tomato into 1/4 slices.  Salt both sides of the slices.  Lay them on several paper towels with several paper towels on top.  Then place a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan on top of the paper towels.  Let them sit for about an hour or longer at room temp. This will soak up all of the excess moisture in the tomato's.  This is the most important step in the process! 

Heat the oil in a black iron skillet at med-high heat.  If it smokes you have it too hot!  If you are using EVO you must watch the heat, it will burn quicker than vegetable oil.

Mix about 1 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste in the cornmeal. 

Dip each slice into the buttermilk and then into the cornmeal.  Set the slice aside on a cookie sheet.  Once you have done this to all of the tomato slices, you will re-dip and coat the slices again.  Immediately drop the slices into the hot oil and cook until golden brown.  It will only about take 2 minutes per side.  You must be careful because they will burn if you are not careful!

Hint:  Do not use a tomato if it has started to turn red.  They do not cook well and they are mushy when you eat them.  Green very firm tomato's work best. They can have a tinge of yellow and still work OK.

1 large tomato will make about 8+ slices or enough for two.

Link for sauce  http://activerain.com/blogsview/147937/Comeback-Dressing-Sauce

Comments (9)

Sybil Holcomb
Ayres Realty - Douglasville, GA
Thanks for reminding me how much I love green fried tomatoes.  Any idea how to make the sauce that some restaurants serve with these?  Think I'll pick some off my vines today!
Jul 16, 2007 12:00 AM
Scott Patterson, ACI
Trace Inspections, LLC - Spring Hill, TN
Home Inspector, Middle TN
About the only sauce I can think of would be what we call Comeback Dressing.  I'll post the recipe
Jul 16, 2007 01:45 AM
David Helm
Helm Home Inspections - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham, Wa. Licensed Home Insp
I'm not so sure that fried green tomatoes is just a southern thing.  I grew up, eating fried green tomatoes, in Ohio.  Had no relatives at all in the south.  Just a way to use an edible that didn't get ripe.  I still have them, usually wait till fall when most of the green tomatoes won't have a chance to ripen.  Love em!
Jul 16, 2007 04:33 AM
MAUREEN STACCATO
Springfield, MA

Oh that sounds so good! I used to have frieed green tomatoes when I lived in the South!

Yummmy!

Jul 29, 2007 10:02 AM
Judi Morgan
RETIRED - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, TX Real Estate

Scott, ooooohhhh, I love fried green tomatoes -- we'd pick a few green tomatoes and fry them during the summer and of course, pick the green ones that were left on the tomato vine at the end of the summer and fry 'em. 

I'm going to find your recipie for the "comeback" sauce, now.

Aug 06, 2007 01:09 PM
Dale Baker
Baker Energy Audits and Commercial Properties Inspections - Claremont, NH
New Hampshire Relocation Real Estate Information

Howdy Scott

Ya right about true Southern folk liken fried green tomatoes. My mama would fix them up at less 2 times a week for us.  Your recipe looks fine.

Have a good one

Aug 08, 2007 11:08 AM
Candy Henthorne
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring Texas Real Estate
We had them in Missouri as well.  I guess we had southern dishes.  There is nothing better than fried green tomato.  I put in a dash of cayenne in my cornmeal mix.  I do use 1/2 flour and 1/2 cornmeal.  I am going to try yours though and am looking forward to your recipe for the sauce. 
Aug 17, 2007 03:02 AM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals
I eat these at our State Fair and now I can make my own.  Almost all my tomatoes are still green and it is Sept - not a good thing in MN.
Sep 01, 2007 03:49 AM
Debbie Malone
Londeree's Real Estate & Property Management - Lynchburg, VA
From Lynchburg To The Lake (434) 546-0369
Thanks for posting this recipe....I am a yankee living in the mid-atlantic and wanted to try my hand at making these.
Sep 10, 2007 03:13 PM