Fried Green Tomatoes
These super crunchy Fried Green Tomatoes are one of the South’s favorite summer appetizers or snacks! Made using unripe tomatoes coated with a spiced breading and fried until crispy and gloriously golden. They are surprisingly good and are perfect for snacking with your fave dips!
If you’ve never tried fried green tomatoes, now is the perfect time! Summertime means an abundance of these warm-season crops in your garden or in the market stalls. Most often than not, the green ones are overlooked as we focus on those juicy, plump red tomatoes. If you are not familiar with this recipe yet, you probably wouldn't even think about buying immature tomatoes, unless you plan on storing them until they ripen. However, I would encourage you to get some next time you see them and give this recipe a try! I promise you, you will be pleasantly surprised at how tasty these are! You can even customize it based on your liking. You can serve and enjoy it in a lot of different ways, but as for us, we like to serve them with a quick dipping sauce of Vegenaise, minced garlic & lemon juice.
Easy and budget-friendly Fried Green Tomatoes
Nothing beats a great dish that is super delicious and affordable too. You only need 8 plant-based ingredients to make these delightfully crunchy and savory treats. All-purpose flour, cornmeal, onion powder, salt and pepper for dredging, any type of dairy-free milk, large green tomatoes, and oil for frying. I bet you have most of them stocked in your pantry already! Once you have all the ingredients on hand, it will only take you 20 minutes to prep and cook it. Just make the batter, coat the sliced tomatoes with it and fry! An easy summertime treat for your whole family.
Why use green tomatoes?
If you have a lot of early-season green tomatoes, or end-of-season ones that did not ripen on vines because the weather is too cool, you can put them to good use by making this wholesome, southern-style recipe. Green tomatoes have firmer flesh and are less mushy compared to ripe tomatoes. This makes them perfect for coating and frying as they will not fall apart easily. Don't worry, the flesh will tenderize once cooked. They have a tangy, fresh taste that works so well with the onion-flavored crisp breading.
Are unripe tomatoes safe to eat?
Absolutely! As a matter of fact, just like their ripened counterpart, green tomatoes also offer nutritional benefits and contains a lot of vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. These can help reduce heart problems, lower cholesterol levels, and helps maintain a healthy diet. However, please refrain from eating them raw to prevent gastrointestinal issues.
Can I make it gluten-free?
If you are on a gluten-free diet, you can replace the all-purpose flour with gluten-free brand flour. Or you may also use other types of flour that are naturally gluten-free. Take note that using different flours may affect the texture and lightness of the breading. So make sure to check on the information on the package before using it.
Tips when making Vegan Fried Green Tomatoes
- Choose green tomatoes that have reached their mature green stage. These should be the same size as ripe ones. They should be firm when pressed but not hard.
- Any type of tomatoes can be used. However, do not confuse it with heirloom tomatoes that stay green even when ripe.
- If your green tomatoes happen to be juicier than normal, you can use a paper towel to gently blot the excess moisture out before dipping them into the milk and coating them with the batter.
- If you bought a bunch of green tomatoes for later use, store them in the fridge or cool place to slow down the ripening process.
- Fry in batches so you do not crowd your pan. Placing too many sliced breaded pieces at once will affect the oil temperature and will result in soggy food.
- You can add a pinch of salt or seasoning to add more flavors to these fried treats after frying them.
- Place them in a wire rack or a plate lined with paper towels after frying to make sure any excess oil is removed. This will ensure maximum crispiness!
Other Dipping Options
You can opt to use your favorite dips when making this fried green tomato recipe. Aside from the Veganaise with minced garlic and lemon we used, here are some ideas you might also like!
- Pinto Bean Dip- Using only a can of pinto beans, some salsa, fresh jalapeño, nutritional yeast, and cumin, you can whip up a super delicious pinto bean dip in no time.
- Classic Guacamole Dip- It’s so good and creamy; you’ll be making it time and time again.
- Cucumber Salsa- It’s fresh, juicy and it goes perfectly with so many dishes.
- Go classic with a Vegan Ranch or Vegan Nacho Cheese Dip.
- Or keep it simple with just tomato ketchup!
How to serve Fried Green Tomatoes
There are several ways to enjoy these crunchy goodies! You can munch on them as they are. The perfectly seasoned crispy coating and fresh green tomatoes are delicious on their own. Other ways you can enjoy them are:
- Served with dips for snacking on game days or movie nights.
- Stacked to your sandwiches for a crispier texture and a tangy flavor add-on.
- Served with your favorite grilled food as a side dish for lunch or dinner.
Photos by Alfonso Revilla
Fried Green Tomatoes
Ingredients
- ¾ cup of all-purpose flour
- ½ cup of cornmeal
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- Large pinch of black pepper
- ½ cup of unsweetened plant-based milk
- 3 large green tomatoes
- ¼ cup of canola oil for frying
Instructions
- In a shallow, medium-size dish (pie pans work well), mix together the flour, cornmeal, onion powder, salt and pepper. In a separate dish, pour plant-based milk. Set both aside.
- Slice green tomatoes into ¼"-thick slices.
- On the stove-top, heat a large skillet over medium. Add two tablespoons of oil.
- Dip tomato slices into non-dairy milk, and then into the flour-cornmeal mixture, making sure to coat them well. Without crowding, place breaded tomato slices in the pan and cook until golden brown. Repeat until tomatoes have all been fried, adding more oil as necessary. If you'd like, sprinkle with a pinch more salt (or Slap Ya Mama seasoning!) while hot. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Choose green tomatoes that have reached their mature green stage. These should be the same size as ripe ones. They should be firm when pressed but not hard.
- Any type of tomatoes can be used. However, do not confuse it with heirloom tomatoes that stay green even when ripe.
- If your green tomatoes happen to be juicier than normal, you can use a paper towel to gently blot the excess moisture out before dipping them into the milk and coating them with the batter.
- If you bought a bunch of green tomatoes for later use, store them in the fridge or cool place to slow down the ripening process.
- Fry in batches so you do not crowd your pan. Placing too many sliced breaded pieces at once will affect the oil temperature and will result in soggy food.
- You can add a pinch of salt or seasoning to add more flavors to these fried treats after frying them.
- Place them in a wire rack or a plate lined with paper towels after frying to make sure any excess oil is removed. This will ensure maximum crispiness!
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About Toni
Welcome to Plant-Based on a Budget! Here you’ll find affordable and easy-to-make recipes, and an inclusive, supportive approach to plant-based eating.
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