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An oval white platter filled with fried green tomatoes with a small bowl of ranch dressing sitting next to them.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: how to cook fried green tomatoes, how to make fried green tomatoes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 19 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 304kcal
Fried Green Tomatoes are a celebration of all that's delicious in summer. Find green tomatoes at markets, vegetable stands, or even your own garden, before tomatoes are ripe and red. If you can't find them, ask someone at your local vegetable market to get some for you.
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • Large, sturdy skillet (ie, cast-iron)

Ingredients

  • 3 medium green tomatoes sliced about 1/4" to 1/2", usually 3 slices each
  • vegetable oil for frying
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • ½ cup cornmeal finely ground, heaping
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs heaping
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • Ranch dressing for dipping

Instructions

  • Add enough of the oil to a large sturdy skillet (ie, cast-iron) to fill it to about 1/2-inch to 1-inch in depth. Heat over medium-high heat to 350F.
  • Meanwhile, set up a dredging station with three small to medium-sized baking pans or bowls. Place the flour in the first pan, buttermilk in the second, and mix in the third pan the cornmeal, breadcrumbs, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
  • Place the sliced tomatoes first in the flour, flipping to coat and cover. Shake off excess and then lower into the buttermilk. Shake off excess and then add into the cornmeal/breadcrumb mixture. Use your fingers to help the breading adhere to the tomato. It's okay if the tomato is not 100% coated with the breading.
  • Working in batches, carefully add the tomatoes to the hot oil. Cook them for about 2 minutes, and then use a fork and metal spatula or tongs to carefully flip the tomatoes over. Fry for another couple of minutes, or until they are golden brown. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat with remaining tomatoes.
  • Serve at once with homemade ranch dressing (or your favorite dipping sauce).

Video

Notes

Be sure to select green tomatoes that are un-ripened vine tomatoes.  Don't use naturally green tomatoes, such as heirloom. 
You'll typically get about 3 slices per tomato yielding 9 fried tomatoes. The recipe can easily be doubled if serving a group. 
See instructions in the blog post for baking or air-frying the tomatoes.
The tomatoes reheat perfectly in an air-fryer for just a couple of minutes at 400 F.  Though they won't be nearly as crunchy, they're still delicious at room temperature. 
The homemade ranch can be made several days in advance and we think is the perfect accompaniment for the tomatoes. 

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 757mg | Potassium: 407mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 920IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 3mg