Description
Southern charm meets culinary delight with these crispy fried green tomatoes. Cornmeal-crusted slices deliver a perfect balance of tangy interior and crunchy exterior, inviting you to savor classic Southern comfort on your plate.
Ingredients
Remoulade Sauce Ingredients:
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 ¼ cup (296 milliliters) mayonnaise
- 2 ½ tablespoons (37.5 milliliters) spicy brown mustard
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) prepared horseradish
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) pickle juice (dill or sweet)
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) hot sauce
Dry and Flavor Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) paprika (sweet or smoked)
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) Cajun seasoning (or Creole seasoning)
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- Grind of black pepper
Fried Green Tomato Ingredients:
Main Ingredients:
- 3 large firm (unripe) green tomatoes (about 1 ½ pounds or 680 grams total)
Coating Ingredients:
- ¾ cup (90 grams) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (50 grams) panko bread crumbs
- ⅓ cup (45 grams) fine white cornmeal
Dry Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 ½ teaspoons (9 grams) kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 grams) smoke
Instructions
- Craft the zesty remoulade sauce by whisking together all ingredients in a medium bowl. Taste and fine-tune seasonings. Chill sauce until serving time.
- Slice green tomatoes into uniform 3/8-inch thick rounds using a serrated knife. Season both sides with coarse salt and let rest for half an hour to extract excess moisture, which enhances breading adhesion.
- Prepare three distinct breading stations using shallow dishes:
First station: Blend flour with garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
Second station: Combine buttermilk, egg white, and hot sauce.
Third station: Mix breadcrumbs and cornmeal.
- Position a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Carefully coat each tomato slice by first dredging in seasoned flour, then dipping in buttermilk mixture, and finally rolling in breadcrumb-cornmeal blend. Press gently to ensure even coating.
- Arrange breaded tomato slices on the rack in a single layer, allowing coating to set while preparing the cooking surface.
- Heat cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until oil reaches 350 degrees fahrenheit, confirming readiness by testing with water droplets.
- Gently introduce 3-4 breaded tomato slices to the hot oil, avoiding overcrowding. Fry until achieving a rich golden-brown color, approximately 3-5 minutes per side. Adjust heat as needed to maintain consistent temperature.
- Transfer fried tomatoes to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Continue frying remaining slices, replenishing oil if necessary.
- Serve piping hot, accompanied by the chilled remoulade sauce for a delightful southern-inspired appetizer.
Notes
- Prep green tomatoes by salting and letting them sit for 30 minutes to remove excess moisture, ensuring a crispier breading that sticks perfectly.
- Create a three-step breading station with flour, buttermilk, and cornmeal mixtures to build layers of flavor and achieve a crunchy, golden exterior.
- Use a cast iron skillet and maintain oil temperature at 350°F for even, crispy frying without burning the delicate tomato slices.
- Pat tomatoes dry before breading to help the coating adhere and prevent soggy results.
- Work in small batches of 3-4 tomato slices to maintain oil temperature and prevent overcrowding, which can lead to greasy, less crispy fried tomatoes.
- Serve immediately with homemade remoulade sauce for the best taste and texture, enjoying the perfect balance of tangy tomato and crispy coating.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1150 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 32 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg