Chef John's Fried Green Tomatoes

63 Ratings
  • 5 Rating Star 50
  • 4 Rating Star 9
  • 3 Rating Star 3
  • 2 Rating Star 1
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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.

By Chef John
+ 8
+ 7
prep:
15 mins
cook:
10 mins
total:
50 mins
stand:
25 mins
Servings:
4
Max Servings:
4
Nutrition Info
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Ingredients

Directions

  • 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.

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  • 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.

Tips

Want a spiced-up version of remoulade sauce? Get the recipe for Chef John's Remoulade 2.0.

Tip

Aluminum foil helps keep food moist, ensures it cooks evenly, keeps leftovers fresh, and makes clean-up easy.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:
514.11 calories; 11.85 g protein; 64.57 g carbohydrates; 3.4 g dietary-fiber; 6.22 g sugars; 23.19 g fat; 5.48 g saturated-fat; 103.86 mg cholesterol; 673.05 IU vitamin-a-iu; 7.01 mg niacin-equivalents; 0.21 mg vitamin-b6; 11.28 mg vitamin-c; 150.96 mcg folate; 73.35 mg calcium; 4.39 mg iron; 33.69 mg magnesium; 250.24 mg potassium; 1248.23 mg sodium; 0.63 mg thiamin; 208.75 calories-from-fat; 50 percent-of-calories-from-carbs; 40 percent-of-calories-from-fat; 9 percent-of-calories-from-protein; 9 percent-of-calories-from-sat-fat

Reviews (55)

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Most helpful positive review

Kris Swiggum
03/17/2014
Did this recipe twice. First time to me was 4-star. To make it 5-star for my family and I I ditched the cornmeal subbed buttermilk for the regular milk and doubled it and used a LOT more cayenne (bringing it closer to the recipe I've always used). Follow the actual process of preparing the tomatoes and cooking them. These steps are very important and Chef John has laid them out very well. When finished I used my own remoulade recipe (relish mayo lemon juice hot sauce cayenne paprika s&p blended smooth) and stacked my tomatoes with crab cakes with the remoulade (mixed with tiny salad shrimp) over all. DELISH!!!!
Helpful
(23)

Most helpful critical review

Anonymous
12/07/2016
Always wanted to try since the movie. Maybe just because it's not my thing but these didn't taste good to me.
Helpful
(1)
63 Ratings
  • 5 Rating Star 50
  • 4 Rating Star 9
  • 3 Rating Star 3
  • 2 Rating Star 1
Kris Swiggum
03/17/2014
Did this recipe twice. First time to me was 4-star. To make it 5-star for my family and I I ditched the cornmeal subbed buttermilk for the regular milk and doubled it and used a LOT more cayenne (bringing it closer to the recipe I've always used). Follow the actual process of preparing the tomatoes and cooking them. These steps are very important and Chef John has laid them out very well. When finished I used my own remoulade recipe (relish mayo lemon juice hot sauce cayenne paprika s&p blended smooth) and stacked my tomatoes with crab cakes with the remoulade (mixed with tiny salad shrimp) over all. DELISH!!!!
Helpful
(23)
Mignon Haggans
02/23/2014
These were the BEST fried green tomatoes that I've ever had! My family loved them. I paired it with Chef Johns crockpot pot roast (made mine in the oven and tweek'd it a bit with beer) with mashed potatoes mushrooms onions and carrots. It was delicious!!!!
Helpful
(17)
Steve Ezinga
08/12/2013
I have always wanted to try fried greens since the movie came out and finally with the help of Chef John hilarious video I took the leap. I was not expecting much just a novelty food and I was pleasantly surprised--these things are pretty good. Will have to work on my southern drawl next. Another home run--thanks Chef John
Helpful
(14)
lynnbicki
10/09/2013
This recipe is excellent! I usually shy away from any vegetable but so very happy I tried these. This is the third time in a month!!! It is a wonderful way to use up those end of the season green tomatoes in the garden. Did not change anything in the recipe. Just make and enjoy! Thanks Chef John.
Helpful
(8)
spaminator67
08/11/2014
These were so easy and delicious even for a novice like me! I would not change a thing! I followed the directions EXACTLY setting out the tomatoes to drain keeping them in the flour for a while pushing in the cornmeal and this is the first time the coating didn't come off something I was trying to fry! I made these to accompany Chef John's Crab Cakes which were also wonderful!
Helpful
(6)
jsmetcalf
07/08/2014
Best fried green tomatoes!!! Really enjoyed the sauce as well. Thanks!
Helpful
(3)
Jeannine Marie Thomas
09/14/2014
Do not look any further for another Fried Green Tomato recipe; you will not beat this one. The most novice cook will look like a 5 star chef serving these. Follow Chef John's advice and you will be a Southerner in no time. I used Italian panko bread crumbs and added one additional egg white to the two whole eggs and milk station. Please make sure you let them set for 10 to 15 minutes once breaded as I believe it makes all the difference. Also make sure to follow the step regarding drawing out the water from the tomato slices. The remoulade sauce puts this dish over the top. Liked the movie loved the dish.
Helpful
(3)
Anonymous
10/26/2013
This is the first time I've tried fried green tomatoes. Absolutely a new favorite!
Helpful
(2)
Eloise Morales
10/06/2014
I have wanted to try fried green tomatoes since the movie came out and Jessica Tandy had that heavenly smile when she them. Well Chef John I was not disappointed! These are awesome!!! Followed recipe to a "T". Now my only problem is "How will I ever be able to eat a vine ripened tomatoe again"? LOL Just delicious! The sauce is a hoot loved it too and can spice it hot!truly a keeper. 10 stars wouldn t be enough!
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(2)
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