Our tomato garden this year was a miserable disappointment due to the extremely hot weather. My plants had plenty of blossoms but produced only a handful of tomatoes all summer long. The weather cooled off and all the sudden our tomato plants were flourishing with tiny green fruit. A couple of days ago I picked the last of our crop luckily because we had our first hard freeze last night. I decided to make fried green tomatoes and share them on Instructables! Fried green tomatoes are a delightful dish served from early summer to late fall in the south. I have never met anyone who did not like them. They have a great flavor but very different than that of a regular ripe tomato. I wish I could have them all year round.

Step 1: Ingredients

This is what you will need:

1 cup stone-ground cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon garlic powder
Pinch cayenne (I used paprika because I did not have cayenne)
1 1/2 cups buttermilk (I used a substitute because I did not have Butter milk) listed below
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 large unripe tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices, ends removed
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter (I omitted butter did not see where it was needed)
Hot pepper sauce, for serving (I used creme cheese, parsley, and bacon)
Lemon wedges, for serving
I added chopped parsley to 1/2 of the flour

To make a buttermilk substitute measure 1 1/2 cups whole milk and 1 1/2 Tablespoons of white vinegar and mix. Wait 5 minutes and then use when needed.

Here is where I found a recipe that I wanted to try:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/fried-green-tomatoes-recipe/index.html .

Step 2: Utinsils

What you need:

Bowls, spoons, frying pan, cookie sheet, liquid measuring cups, dry measuring cups, measuring spoons, spatula or thongs, platter, and paper towels.

Step 3: Preparations

Preparing the ingredients:

Fry, crumble the bacon and put it into a small dish.
Wash the tomatoes and parsley.
Slice the tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices cutting off the ends.
Chop the parsley.
Set aside.

Step 4: Measure

Measuring and combining the ingredients:

In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, garlic powder, and cayenne together.
Pour the buttermilk into a separate bowl and season with salt and pepper.

Step 5: Assembly Line

Create an assembly line for dipping the tomatoes:

Place paper towels on cookie sheet to absorb the excess oil.
Line up the bowls of tomatoes, buttermilk, and flour mixture.
I added parsley to 1/2 of the flour mixture for a different flavor.
Dip the tomatoes in the butter milk mixture.
Dip them into the flour mixture.
Place them on the cookie sheet.

Step 6: Fry

Prepare the frying pan and oil:

Place a large cast iron skillet or frying pan over medium heat and coat with the oil. When the oil is hot, pan-fry the tomatoes (in batches if necessary) until golden brown and crispy on both sides, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
Carefully remove the tomatoes and drain on paper towels.

Step 7: Garnish

Top with garnish:

Serve with hot pepper sauce and lemon, or:
Top with parsley, bacon and creme cheese.

Step 8: Experiment and Research

I did a little research on frying green tomatoes for the chemical reaction contest. I was raised in the south and southerners eat a lot of fried foods. When I got married and moved away, I learned how to cook without frying so much. My research showed me that the decision to limit frying foods was beneficial to my families health. I was surprised to learn that in 2002 a University in Sweden discovered that cooking foods at a high heat such as frying, roasting or baking forms acrylamide, as the result of a reaction known as the Maillard reaction, which is a chemical reaction between an amino acid (the building block of protein) and a sugar such as glucose, fructose or lactose. The Maillard reaction can cause certain health risks. I found this information here:http:// http:// http://www.eufic.org/article/en/diet-related-diseases/cancer/artid/What-happens-when-we-cook-food-understanding-acrylamide-formation/ .

Another thing I learned is: studies have shown that cooked, or canned tomatoes contain lycopene, a substance that has been proven in studies to be effective in preventing certain types of cancers.

Step 9: Sunshiine's Final Thoughts

I don't feel guilty by eating fried green tomatoes. I believe if we eat unhealthy foods in moderation it won't kill us.
Here is an interesting link with more recipes and information about tomatoes: https://www.instructables.com/id/EPQ4E4DGUI104WB/ .

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful brisk fall!
Sunshiine

Introduction: Fried Green Tomatoes Sunshiine Style