You know, I’m convinced that we Southerners are some pretty ingenious folks. Give us some corn meal and some hot grease and we can turn anything into a delicious bite. Take green tomatoes, for example.
Now I’m not sure how we first started frying green tomatoes, but the truth is that they’re pretty unpleasant before you fry them up. But oh, once you do … perfection.
Top them with a creamy comeback sauce or this remoulade, and you’ve got a match made in heaven.
You’re likely to find these in restaurants across the South, as appetizers in the fancier places and as sides at your favorite greasy spoon or meat-and-three joint.
Regardless of where they’re listed on the menu, chances are I’m ordering them. I just find all the fun and interesting variations irresistible.
And they’re pretty easy to make at home, too. The ingredient list might seem a little long at first, but they’re not difficult at all.
Here are a few of my tips:
When choosing green tomatoes, pick ones that are firm but not rock hard. You want them to give a little when squeezed gently. Even if they’re starting to turn a little yellow, they’ll be just fine. Sometimes I even prefer them to have a little yellowness for a milder flavor.
The other thing I like to do is salt my green tomato slices before I fry them. This works to pull out a little extra moisture, resulting in a crispier coating and one that doesn’t get as soggy as quickly once they’re out of the hot oil.
It’s also super important to have your oil at the right temperature. If it’s not hot enough, it’ll result in oily/greasy tomatoes. Oil that’s too hot will obviously burn and could taste bitter. Either way, a fry thermometer or even an infrared thermometer is your best friend here.
Classic Fried Green Tomatoes with Remoulade
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
For the remoulade:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Creole or spicy brown mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
- 1/2 teaspoon Creole seasoning
For the fried green tomatoes:
- 3 large green tomatoes
- salt
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 3/4 cup cornmeal
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions:
For the remoulade:
- In a small bowl combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, ketchup, mustard, lemon juice, garlic, horseradish and Creole seasoning. Stir well to combine. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
For the fried green tomatoes:
- Thinly slice the tomatoes and lightly salt each side. Place in a colander in the sink and allow the salt to draw some of the moisture out for about 10 minutes.
- In a medium bowl whisk the egg and buttermilk together. In another shallow bowl combine the cornmeal, flour, pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Pour about 1 inch of oil into the bottom of a deep skillet or Dutch oven. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until the oil reaches about 350°.
- Blot the tomatoes with paper towels to remove the excess moisture. Dip the tomatoes in the egg wash and then dredge them in the cornmeal mixture, pressing lightly to coat them. Fry in the hot oil for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve with the sauce.
This recipe originally appeared on SouthernBite.com. For more great recipes, visit the website or check out ”The Southern Bite Cookbook.”
