Today I went to the Farmers’ market and picked up a couple of handfuls of green tomatoes. I knew right then the mission was to make my Fried Green Tomatoes. 

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes (approx)
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yields: 2 servings
Equipment: 1 (12-inch) sauté pan, 3 medium-size bowls, chef’s knife, cutting board, rubber spatula

Ingredients:
4 cups (1 quart) of vegetable oil
2 large green tomatoes ( 6 slices), sliced 1/2-inch thick; ends discarded
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups of buttermilk
1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon of kosher salt
1 teaspoon of black pepper, freshly ground
3 cups of yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup of breadcrumbs, plain
2 tablespoons of smoked paprika
2 tablespoons of fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
Garnish:
Mixed greens

Instructions:
Slice the tomatoes into 1/2-inch thick slices. Sprinkle both sides with 1 tablespoon kosher salt and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Transfer to a large plate and let the tomatoes stand for 15 minutes. Pat both sides dry with paper towels.

Set up three bowls for the breading staging area. In the first bowl, add the all-purpose flour. In the second bowl, add the buttermilk and cayenne pepper, and whisk to combine. In the third and final bowl, add the cornmeal, breadcrumbs, smoked paprika, and freshly chopped Italian parsley, and whisk to combine.

Start by dredging the tomatoes in the flour, then into the buttermilk mixture, and finally into the breadcrumbs. Transfer to a large platter. Repeat this process until all the tomatoes are breaded.

In a large sauté pan, add vegetable oil (1/2 inch) and heat over medium heat. Place the tomatoes in the frying pan in batches of three ( 2 batches), depending on your pan size. Do not crowd the tomatoes; they should not touch. Fry for about 3 minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown. Gently turn the slices and fry the other side until browned. Transfer to a paper towel-lined large plate to drain. Immediately sprinkle with kosher salt.

To serve, arrange mixed greens on two serving plates. Arrange 3 Fried Green Tomatoes on each plate. Maybe a side of good ranch dressing for dipping.

There you have it, my Fried Green Tomatoes.

Note:
1) Linda Lou Hamel is not a nutritionist or dietitian, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and nutritional value matter to you, I recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and values can vary, depending on the brands you choose.

https://lindalouhamel.com/2019/07/10/summer-time-flowers-and-herbs/