Tuesday, August 25, 2009

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES


I so want to finish today's title with "at the whistle stop cafe" and if you haven't seen the movie or read the book, then I suggest find one or other and prepare to enjoy it.

Anyway, I digress. I have been amazed by my abundant harvest of tomatoes this year, especially the cherry and grape varieties. I have had so many I am giving them away. No bottling or chutney this year as soon I will be heading back across the Atlantic to resume my life in UK, and don't want to carry them all the way over there. My husband has already left, so way too many tomatoes to eat by myself, although I am getting through a fair amount of them. I love tomatoes, freshly picked and eaten while still warm from the sun is by far the best way, but cooked is also good.

Today I decided to try my hand at fried green tomatoes. This is a very Southern dish, and I once enjoyed them on a trip to Nashville some 9 years ago. I always remember them as being delicious, and I always said I would cook them but somehow never got around to it. However, today I picked a few green tomatoes and set to work to recreate the recipe. It wasn't going to be difficult.

I can't even call this a recipe as it is so simple. I sliced the tomatoes thickly, dipped them into seasoned flour, then into beaten egg and finally into breadcrumbs. I heated some olive oil and fried them until they were brown on one side then turned then and cooked the other side. Total cooking time was about 3-4 mins. The result was a delicious crispy outside and a soft, slightly tangy inside. All I did was sprinkle on some sea salt before settling down to enjoy.

Whilst eating them I was wondering if a dip or relish was would improve the dish, but decided it didn't need it as they stood up perfectly well on their own. Later I thought a basil mayo might be an nice, although not a necessary accompaniment to the tomatoes.

I do love these quick easy dishes. Perfect as an appetiser, for lunch or as a light supper. I'll definately cook these again. Perhaps the next time will be when I am cooking "American style" for my friends back home in UK.

2 comments:

Sallie said...

MMMMMMM - Jacqui - these make me really homesick for Atlanta! Thanks for sharing!

Coby said...

I've always wanted to try this, but as I am not growing my own, and I have never seen them for sale, have had no such luck. I just know I would love them though:)

I hope you'll still be blogging Jacqui, when you move back to the UK???????