Fried green tomatoes facts for kids
Fried green tomatoes are a tasty dish often found in the Southern United States. They are made from tomatoes that are not yet ripe, so they are still green! These green tomatoes are usually sliced, covered with cornmeal, and then fried until they are golden brown.
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How to Make Fried Green Tomatoes
To make traditional fried green tomatoes, you first slice the green tomatoes. Each slice is about 1/4-inch (0.6 cm) thick. Then, you sprinkle them with salt and pepper for flavor.
Next, the tomato slices are coated with a plain, coarse cornmeal. After that, they are shallow fried. This means they are cooked in a small amount of bacon fat or oil. They cook for a few minutes on each side until they turn a nice golden brown color.
Shallow frying is a good way to cook them because the tomatoes don't float in the oil. This helps the cornmeal stick well to the bottom of the tomato slices as they cook.
Other Ways to Prepare Them
Sometimes, people use breadcrumbs or flour instead of cornmeal to coat the tomatoes. They might also fry them in vegetable oil or another type of fat instead of bacon fat.
Before adding the cornmeal, the sliced tomatoes can be dipped in a liquid. This liquid is usually buttermilk or a beaten egg. Using egg makes the cooked tomato a bit firmer than using buttermilk.
Liquids are used because cornmeal does not easily stick to tomato slices on its own. Dipping them in liquid helps the cornmeal stay in place while cooking. It also makes the coating on the tomato thicker and less crunchy.
Pennsylvania Dutch Style
While fried green tomatoes are mostly known as a Southern dish, you can also find them in northern Pennsylvania Dutch homes. The northern version is often made with white flour instead of cornmeal.
Also, in the north, green tomatoes are usually prepared at the end of the growing season. This is when the last fruits are picked before the first frost arrives. In the south, green tomatoes are picked and used throughout the entire season.
Other Uses for Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade is a popular combination. This dish is often served in restaurants in New Orleans, Louisiana. It mixes Southern and Creole flavors.
Even though fried green tomatoes are traditionally a side dish, they are sometimes used in main meals too.
See also
In Spanish: Tomates verdes fritos (comida) para niños
