Chef John's Fried Green Tomatoes

Rating: 4.73 stars
67 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 54
  • 4 star values: 9
  • 3 star values: 3
  • 2 star values: 1
  • 1 star values: 0

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
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Ingredients

4
Original recipe yields 4 servings
The ingredient list now reflects the servings specified

Quick Remoulade Sauce:

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.

Partner Tip

Reynolds® Aluminum foil can be used to keep food moist, cook it evenly, and make clean-up easier.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:
514 calories; 23.2 g total fat; 104 mg cholesterol; 1248 mg sodium. 64.6 g carbohydrates; 11.8 g protein; Full Nutrition

Reviews (58)

Read More Reviews

Most helpful positive review

Kris Swiggum
Rating: 5 stars
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!!!! Read More
Helpful
(24)

Most helpful critical review

Tuxedoville
Rating: 2 stars
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. Read More
Helpful
(1)
67 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 54
  • 4 star values: 9
  • 3 star values: 3
  • 2 star values: 1
  • 1 star values: 0
Reviews:
Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest
Kris Swiggum
Rating: 5 stars
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!!!! Read More
Helpful
(24)
Kris Swiggum
Rating: 5 stars
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!!!! Read More
Helpful
(24)
Mignon Haggans
Rating: 5 stars
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!!!! Read More
Helpful
(17)
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Steve Ezinga
Rating: 5 stars
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 Read More
Helpful
(14)
lynnbicki
Rating: 5 stars
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. Read More
Helpful
(8)
spaminator67
Rating: 5 stars
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! Read More
Helpful
(6)
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Jeannine Marie Thomas
Rating: 5 stars
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. Read More
Helpful
(3)
jsmetcalf
Rating: 5 stars
07/08/2014
Best fried green tomatoes!!! Really enjoyed the sauce as well. Thanks! Read More
Helpful
(3)
Samuel Shupe
Rating: 5 stars
08/18/2014
First time making them. The video was very helpful Read More
Helpful
(2)
ImaPinT
Rating: 5 stars
10/26/2013
This is the first time I've tried fried green tomatoes. Absolutely a new favorite! Read More
Helpful
(2)
Tuxedoville
Rating: 2 stars
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. Read More
Helpful
(1)
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