What to Do with Green Tomatoes: 10 Southern Recipes That Slap
Frost coming? Got a pile of unripe tomatoes? Don’t panic—Southern cooking turns green tomatoes into something spectacular. From frying to pickling to baking, here's your game plan for turning garden overflow into flavor gold.
Ingredients
- 4–6 medium green tomatoes firm and underripe
- 1 cup buttermilk or milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Slice tomatoes into ¼-inch rounds. Make sure they’re firm and tart—not mushy.
- Dredge in buttermilk, then in a seasoned mix of flour, cornmeal, salt, and pepper.
- Heat oil to 375°F. Fry tomatoes 2–3 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt while hot. Serve immediately with remoulade or hot sauce.
Notes
More Southern-style green tomato recipes to try:
1. Green Tomato Pickles – pack sliced tomatoes in jars, pour hot vinegar brine over, refrigerate 48 hours.
2. Green Tomato Pie – sweet + spiced, like apple pie’s cousin.
3. Green Tomato Salsa – blend roasted tomatoes, onions, jalapeño, lime.
4. Relish – chopped tomatoes, onion, vinegar, sugar.
5. Gratin – bake sliced tomatoes layered with cheese and breadcrumbs.
6. Air-Fried Slices – 400°F, 10–12 min.
7. Oven-Fried – panko + cornmeal, bake at 425°F.
8. Sandwiches – stack slices on grilled sourdough with bacon.
9. Chutney – simmer tomatoes with vinegar, raisins, and brown sugar.
10. Quick Pickle – vinegar + sugar brine, chill 1 hour.
1. Green Tomato Pickles – pack sliced tomatoes in jars, pour hot vinegar brine over, refrigerate 48 hours.
2. Green Tomato Pie – sweet + spiced, like apple pie’s cousin.
3. Green Tomato Salsa – blend roasted tomatoes, onions, jalapeño, lime.
4. Relish – chopped tomatoes, onion, vinegar, sugar.
5. Gratin – bake sliced tomatoes layered with cheese and breadcrumbs.
6. Air-Fried Slices – 400°F, 10–12 min.
7. Oven-Fried – panko + cornmeal, bake at 425°F.
8. Sandwiches – stack slices on grilled sourdough with bacon.
9. Chutney – simmer tomatoes with vinegar, raisins, and brown sugar.
10. Quick Pickle – vinegar + sugar brine, chill 1 hour.
Nutrition
Calories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 4gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 370mgPotassium: 330mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 400IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 1.8mg
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