Chef John's Fried Green Tomatoes

• servings: 4 servings
• active time: 15 minutes
• total time: 50 minutes

Ingredients

4 (1/2 inch) slices green tomato

1 teaspoon salt

¾ cup cornmeal

¾ cup bread crumbs

1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

freshly ground black pepper to taste

2 eggs

2 tablespoons milk

1 cup all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 teaspoons hot sauce, or to taste

Directions

Arrange tomato slices on a rack set over paper towels; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt. Set aside until excess moisture drawn out, about 15 minutes.

Combine cornmeal and bread crumbs in a shallow bowl; stir in remaining ½ teaspoon salt, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Beat eggs and milk together in a separate bowl; place flour in a third bowl.

Pat tomato slices dry with paper towels. Coat slices, one at a time, on both sides in flour, letting rest in flour for about 30 seconds. Dip in egg mixture, then dredge in cornmeal mixture, coating both sides, pressing into crevices with a fork. Place tomatoes on rack to let coating set, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine sweet pickle relish, mayonnaise, and hot sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.

Heat oil with butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until butter melts, bubbles, and sizzles. Add tomatoes carefully to hot butter-oil mixture; fry until slightly soft and golden brown, using a spatula and a fork to flip, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Transfer fried green tomatoes to a serving platter; serve with remoulade sauce.

Nutrition

• Calories: 514 kcal
• Total Fat: 23 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 104 mg
• Sodium: 1248 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 65 g
• Dietary Fiber: 3 g
• Total Sugars: 6 g
• Protein: 12 g