How about smoking these fried green tomatoes before dropping them in the fryer! Yeah, I did that, cause it's a new day!
These are slightly tender in the center with an amazing crunchy exterior. They are seasoned to perfection and make for a great appetizer at a party. People will be talking about it!
Fried green tomatoes are right there almost with collard greens as one of those soul food staples. Pretty much every Southern household has a recipe.
This is a simple tweak on a Southern classic that pays big dividends. The smoke flavor is subtle, but present and along with the light crunchy crust separates this fried green tomatoes recipe from others.
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Whenever I come across green tomatoes, I grab 'em, no hesitation! The love is real and intense.
Fried Green Tomatoes Ingredients
- Green Tomatoes
- Buttermilk
- Eggs
- All-purpose flour
- Corn Meal
- Paprika
- Cayenne
- Garlic Powder
- Dried Thyme
- Kosher Salt
- Pepper
- Onion Powder
How to Fry Green Tomatoes (Step by Step)
Step 1: Salt the tomatoes if they're somewhat ripe to draw out some of the moisture. Let sit 15-30 minutes. If unripe, fully green skip this step
Step 2: smoke tomatoes at 225 degrees for 10-15 minutes
Step 3: dredge the tomatoes in the flour mixed with â…“ of the seasoning mix
Step 4: dip in tomatoes in egg wash (beaten eggs + buttermilk) and then coat with cornmeal
Step 5: Place tomatoes in fryer at 350 degrees for 3-4 minutes. let rest and season
Serving Suggestions
I like to season these with the remaining spice mix then top them with a roasted red pepper sauce as an appetizer to go along with a few other Southern classics like pork neck bones and collard greens. Also, consider any of these popular soul food meat dishes.
If you're in full fry mode then add either this vegan fried chicken sandwich or this jerk fried chicken.
Add a salad like this cherry tomato and basil salad to round things out.
Expert Tips for frying tomatoes
- Choose firm, unripe tomatoes
- Tomatoes cut too thin will end up soggy, so cut them slightly thick (½ inch)
- If the tomatoes aren't unripe, fully green then salt them first to draw out some of the water
- Season at all levels (dredge, egg wash, and finished tomatoes)
- Soak the tomatoes in the egg wash until almost saturated for a good coating
- Fry a few at a time to avoid crowding
- Remove from the fryer/skillet when the coating starts to turn a golden brown.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are fried green tomatoes made with tomatillos?
Though that wouldn't be a bad idea, recipes for fried green tomatoes are typically unripe green tomatoes.
How long should I smoke the tomatoes for?
This is not a long smoke. You should need no more than 15 minutes, which is long enough for the tomatoes to absorb some of the smoke. You don't want to really "cook" them as the texture will start to break down.
Can You fry green tomatoes in an air fryer?
Sure you can, however the challenge will be getting the crust you want. Bread crumbs will be your best bet.
For similar appetizers you might dig, check out these:
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Equipment
- Smoker
Ingredients
- 3 medium green tomatoes sliced into ¼-1/2 inch slices
- 1 large egg beaten
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup cornmeal
- 1 ½ tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
Instructions
Prep Tomatoes
- Slice tomatoes into ½-inch thick rounds.
- Preheat smoker and smoke the tomatoes indirectly at no more than 225 degrees F for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove and let cool.
For the coating:
- Mix together all the spices and set aside
- Whisk egg and buttermilk together in a shallow bowl. Add about a third of the spice mix?Add flour into medium bowl or plate. Mix in another third of spice mix.
- In a separate bowl add the cornmeal
Bread the Tomatoes:
- One at a time dredge tomato slice in plain flour, shaking off any excess;
- Dip tomatoes in egg wash
- Dredge in cornmeal until evenly coated and transfer to wire rack lined tray. Repeat with remaining tomato slices.
Fry the Tomatoes:
- Heat fryer to oiled filled skillet to 350 degrees F
- Place tomatoes in fryer and cook 3-4 minutes until golden brown.
- Transfer back to wire rack lined baking tray/sheet
Video
Notes
- Choose firm, unripe tomatoes
- Tomatoes cut too thin will end up soggy, so cut them slightly thick (½ inch)
- If the tomatoes aren't unripe, fully green then salt them first to draw out some of the water
- Season at all levels (dredge, egg wash, and finished tomatoes)
- Soak the tomatoes in the egg wash until almost saturated for a good coating
- Fry a few at a time to avoid crowding
- Remove from the fryer/skillet when the coating starts to turn a golden brown.
jrenee314 says
yummmm
Gloria says
Well isn't this an interesting twist on the classic. I have yet to try green tomatoes...but I do love using our smoker. Looks like a great summer side dish.
Lauren Michael Harris says
Such a classic! Can't wait to make these fried tomatoes over and over again this summer!
Farrukh Aziz says
No better way to use green tomatoes than this recipe! This was perfectly smoked, and went great with BBQ chicken! Definitely saving this to make it again!
Sharon says
This recipe takes fried green tomatoes to the next level by smoking them before breading and frying them. So good!
Katie Crenshaw says
Can I just tell you... these are so good. I love the cornmeal breading. Smoking the tomatoes takes these to the next level.
Marie says
Smoking the tomatoes is so creative! What a delicious spin on this classic dish! The smoke, juice, and crunch combination of flavors and texture sounds absolutely addictive.
Heidy says
These smoked fried tomatoes made for a great side to our meal that everyone enjoyed. I loved the textures and flavors and will be making this again! Have a great day!
Loreto and Nicoletta says
I remember being introduced to fried green tomatoes and really falling in love. Great tips on doing these right!Love that you used corn meal and also the buttermilk is great. I have to make these again soon. I bet they are crispy and so juicy inside, total yum factor!
Kate says
What an amazing way to put green tomatoes to good use. Wonderful recipe, I can't wait to make these!
Enriqueta E Lemoine says
Best green fried tomatoes ever! The smoking thing makes a huge difference. Thanks for the inspiration!