Fried Green Tomatoes (Southern Classic)
Fried Green Tomatoes are a classic Southern dish made with firm unripe tomatoes, coated in a seasoned cornmeal crust and fried until crispy outside and tender inside. They’re perfect as an appetizer, snack, or side dish.
Ingredients
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3–4 large green tomatoes
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1 cup all-purpose flour
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2 eggs
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½ cup milk or buttermilk
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1 cup cornmeal
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½ cup breadcrumbs (optional for extra crunch)
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1 tsp salt
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½ tsp black pepper
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½ tsp garlic powder
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½ tsp paprika
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Oil for frying (vegetable or canola)
Instructions
1. Slice the Tomatoes
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Wash tomatoes and cut into ½ inch thick slices.
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Lightly sprinkle with salt and let them sit 5 minutes to remove extra moisture.
2. Prepare Coating Stations
Set up three bowls:
1️⃣ Flour mixture
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Flour
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Salt
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Pepper
2️⃣ Egg mixture
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Eggs
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Milk or buttermilk
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Whisk well
3️⃣ Crunch coating
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Cornmeal
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Breadcrumbs
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Garlic powder
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Paprika
3. Coat the Tomatoes
For each slice:
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Dredge in flour
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Dip in egg mixture
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Coat with cornmeal mixture
Press lightly so coating sticks well.
4. Fry the Tomatoes
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Heat ½ inch oil in a skillet to about 175°C / 350°F.
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Fry tomato slices 2–3 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy.
5. Drain
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Place on paper towels to remove excess oil.
Serve With
Popular dipping sauces:
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ranch dressing
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garlic aioli
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spicy mayo
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remoulade sauce
💡 Chef Tips
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Use firm green tomatoes (not ripe) for best texture.
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Add parmesan to the cornmeal mixture for extra flavor.
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For extra crunch, double-dip in egg and cornmeal.
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Try air fryer version: 200°C (400°F) for 10–12 minutes.
✅ If you’d like, I can also show you:
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The famous Southern restaurant Fried Green Tomatoes recipe
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Fried Green Tomato BLT sandwich
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Crispy baked (no-fry) green tomatoes.