How To Make Fried Green Tomatoes
Back to beloved southern foods! This is the prime time of year for fried green tomatoes. All of our grocery stores sell green ones alongside the red for this very purpose (green tomatoes are like rocks so I can’t imagine them being used for anything else). Another weird cultural thing, but I imagine it stemmed from the whole “dang yankees trying to starve us” issue back in the days of old.
Did you know why turnip greens and field peas (black eyed peas) are so revered in the south? During the civil war, yankee troops confiscated anything that could possibly be used to feed their men as they traveled through the south. However, greens and field peas were considered only fit for animal fodder, so they were left. Being the food lovers that we are, those foods became something of delicacies for us and are absolutely required at every family table on New Years Day in order to bring luck and wealth in the new year.
Dumplings and biscuits came into play because even with money low, most families had flour. Flour was purchased in twenty five pound sacks, five times the normal sized bag we all get today. Therefore, it was usually about the only thing available to make a meal stretch. You can take a scrawny chicken, shred it and cook in broth with a big batch of dumplings and easily stretch the meal to feed even a large family. Biscuits are quick and easy to make and also very filling. Each of these meals would require little or no meat and leave the family full until the next mealtime.
Alright, enough of my cultural foods lesson, lets get on to tomatoes 
.
What you’ll need: A little flour (self rising or plain, doesn’t matter), corn meal, season all, and green tomatoes.Also oil for frying and a little milk for dredging.
Slice your tomatoes kind of thick. (My mouth is starting to water..)
Then take a picture of them with your fancy new tomato slicing knife that your mama got you for Christymas. (I meant to put the Y in there – if you ask I will explain:).
I used about a cup and a half of corn meal. This isn’t one of those things that has to be precise but I’m estimating for those of you who really want measurements.
Add a little flour to it. This will act as sort of a “glue” to help hold it all together. I used a really large spoon although it looks normal sized in the pick. This was about four tablespoons of flour.
Add enough season all to color your mixture.I used about two tablespoons. I know it seems like a lot but ….well just do it. If you don’t have season all you can season your meal by adding salt and pepper.
Dip both sides of each slice into milk.
Then dip into your meal mixture. Press down and coat both sides well.
So it looks something like this
I used regular vegetable oil. You want it to come up about half way or so on the slices. Make sure you heat your oil well before you add the tomatoes. The key to having things that aren’t “greasy” is to heat the oil really well. That way, when you drop your food into it, the food is seared right off and then cooks from there. If your oil isn’t hot enough to do that, you basically end up soaking your breading in oil for a few minutes and it gets soggy and blah.
My oil is just colored by the cornmeal in it at this point. It was clear to begin with. Brown each side well. I cook these on medium to medium high heat. Try not to turn them but once or twice as the coating is somewhat delicate and you don’t want that to come off.
Drain your tomatoes on a paper towel lined plate. I even take another paper towel and blot the tops or turn them over onto it. Then you’re ready to go! These are delicious! They have a twang to them that ripened tomatoes don’t have.
If you try them, let me know what you think!
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Wow they look so good i could lick the computer screen. Not many people like Fried Green Tomatoes, not me I LOVE THEM. Great job.
Ahhh my dear you made my night when I looked up how to make these. The last time I had fried green tomatoes was when my mom made them ..No one made them the way she did . And this will be the first for me to try. She is no longer with us so I couldnt call and ask .. I will let you know if they are even close to moms. I was raised in the south so I know a good fried green tomatoe. Thanks for being kind and shareing how you make them .
Her Daughter
Thank you!! You know, I used to think the very idea of fried green tomatoes was rather…..well lets just say it put me off just thinking about it.
Then I tried one.
~faints~
I am so glad you posted this! I LOVE fried green tomatoes too! I saw the movie a couple years ago, and since then my mouth waters around this time of year when green tomatoes are in season – these babies are awesome!!
I’m adding you to my blogroll. I’ve looked at 2 pages on your blog, and I think I’ve drooled through every single recipe.
Thank you Stephanie! I’m going to add you as well! Your blog is fantastic! My kids would eat everything you put up!!
I’m glad you stopped by!
The best tomatoes to use for this recipe are when they are just starting to turn just a hint of pink. You want them to be firm though.
Thank you for your comment Anonymous!! I’ve always used completely green ones but I will definitely try them with a hint of pink now!
Mm, I love fried green tomatoes! I need to go dig around in my garden and see if any of my tomatoes are big enough to fry yet!
Oh Karly, ours are all red now. Can I come to your house?
~grins~
I can not WAIT to try this tomatoe recipe! My husband will absolutely FLIP! Thanks so much! I’m off to find green tomatoes!
LOL Anonymous! Now you have me wanting them today!!!!
Looks like we’re both going to be hunting green tomatoes……..
~Grins~
Good to meet you!
OH YEAH! I just finished cleaning the kitchen from dinner and I made the Fried Green Tomatoes! They were a hit with my husband! I am so pleased with myself right now! can’t wait to try another of your recipes…. that will be the crock pot chicken and dressing! YUM!
Thanks!
Terri
Oh Teri!!! Thank you so much for letting me know how they turned out! I’m thrilled he liked them! You umm…~looks around innocently~…don’t happen to have any left, do ya? The drawback of this website is when y’all make these things it makes me start wanting them all over again! LOL!
Let me know how the dressing turns out!! I swear I’m going to have to make that this week, y’all got me wanting it so bad!
~Christy
Just found your blog. I love it. Also love Fried green tomatoes. One of my favorites. Great pictures with the post!
Thank you so much, Joy! I love that you found it, too and hope I’ll keep churning out dishes that make you come back!!!
Christy
Those look great…I haven’t had fried green tomatoes in years since my mama made them for me. If I could ever find any out here I’ll probably try your recipe!
I’m in the process of eating these right now. They are sooo good!!!!! I LOVE fried green tomatoes!!!!
Hi Christy! I have been glued to your blog for days now, and singing it’s praises too! I was born and raised in Alabama, south of Bessemer. Sooo many wonderful childhood memories, as well as some from not so long ago, you have stirred up for me. A few tears of beautiful memories too
The chocolate gravy is just like I remember from a child. I had been talking with my Dad about how to make it just a few months before he passed away, and he and I were going to make some together, but we didn’t get a chance to so to find a recipe for it that is just as I remembered was special to me. Thank you. And the fried green tomatoes I made often for my mom and dad when they were alive. I miss them so much, and so many of your southern recipes bring back such wonderful memories. Thank you so much for a truly awesome site and for sharing fantastic recipes.
My next project is the Crock pot Apple Butter, can’t wait to try that.
Thank you again Christy.
We make the tomatoes when they are just starting to turn pink too. I like your knife-I have one just like it myself.
You can’t beat a Rada knife.
YUM!!!!!!!
Here’s a trick I learned…..These are REALLY FANTASTIC if you dip them into your favorite brand Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.
My hubby’s a Brit and he absolutely ADORES them like this.
Sigh…..
I couldn’t live anywhere but the south…but I’m sending your site addie across the big pond so the whole world (ie my In-Laws)can enjoy your Southern Recipes with me.
You’re a doll.
We don’t have green tomatoes in the markets here in Louisiana, but u can buy them already battered and frozen. They are still pretty good tho. I usually fry mine in bacon grease! YUMO!!! ^_^
Thanks for the recipe. I just finishing cooking them and their delicious.
Camille
Okay, you said to ask! Why did you put the “y” in Christmas?
OMG!!!! OMG!!!! that was like going home!!
I served mine with beans and ham that I had left on to slow cook overnight!!! made some cornbread mm mmm mm
My mamma has been gone for quite a few years now, but once i bit into those tomatoes.. followed up with with the beans and bread! I would of swore I was 14 again and telling her all about my broken heart!! Thank u for the chance to “go home” again and be comforted!
Hi from West Virginia,
I believe I could live on green friend tomatoes.
I have fixed them for years, they are even better with a bit of ketchup on them.
My Daughter bought me a set of knives from her Church and the one you are using here is my favorite, I use it to cut up anything then I bougth another like it at a Flea market but I’m saving it for hard times ha.
Mary,
A country cook from WV.
Thank you! I just made them for the first time and my hole family loved them. I didn’t have plain corn meal so I use yellow and there still amazing!They really do taste as good as they look!!!
I just tried these! They are great. My husband loved them! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
Just made these and they are AWESOME!! Whipped up a little homemade buttermilk dressing for dippin’ and ooh la la! Happy husband too! Thanks for the recipe!
[...] How To Make Fried Green Tomatoes: Back to beloved southern foods! This is the prime time of year for fried green tomatoes. All of our grocery stores sell green ones alongside the red for this very purpose (green tomatoes are like rocks so I can’t imagine them being used for anything else). Recipe from Southern Plate. [...]
Aug 13, 2009 Today I fried green tomatoes out of my own garden. I thought I knew what I was doin but after reading these recipes I was all wrong. I will definitely use these recipes from now on, sometimes pepole cant admit they were wrong but I was so wrong. But I dont think anyone likes eating fried green tomatos as much as I do. This recipe is great!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i have always had trouble making the right green tomatoes i seen your saite adn did what you said and wow…they tirned out great the best i have ever made thanks so much most websites just tell you how to make them you had step by step pic and instuctions thank you so much
Oh my gosh! I’m so glad someone mentioned this recipe on your apple butter page! I saw green tomatoes in our Walmart for the first time ever yesterday! My husband has commented a couple times how much he loves fried green tomatoes but I’ve never had them. This recipe will be the next one I try!
Hi Christy,
I’m a “dang Yankee” just lookin’ to try your recipe out, since the red tomatoes in my garden are done for the season & I’m left with quite a few green ones. Gotta run out for cornmeal, then I will proceed.
I’ll let you know how they turn out.
Regards,
Janet
I was looking for a good recipe for fried green tomatoes, and of all the ones I found on the internet, yours was the most inviting, and I felt like you and I were in the kitchen, and I really learned something today!
My garden is loaded with green tomatoes that I’m affraid will never ripen to red, since it is October, and Michigan weather is cooling way down. I am going to try this lovely looking recipe, which is sure to be a success.
Thank you!
Rose
Thanks for this recipe. It is much as I do it now, so I feel reassured.
I was wondering …. my grandmother (I am 74) made Tomatoes and Dumplings. The same dumplings as with chicken. The tomatoes were mildly sweet … not too sweet. It was wonderful, but I cannot find a recipe anywhere. Grandma was born in Indian Territory and raised in Southern Missouri and this is where she learned to cook.
Any help would be appreciated. Also on the dumplings. Grandma’s were smaller than a fist, light and fully puffed. Made by hand, but I don’t remember how.
Any help would be appreciated.
Byron