Fried Green Tomatoes

 

One of the best movies ever, based on one of my best loved books. Of course I had to try this dish after reading it! Turns out I took to it like a fish to the water. This version is not the same as in the book (I have never tried that one, maybe I should?), as it's using Ritz cracker crumbs instead of corn meal and it uses some egg to get things to stick. 

I have no idea if it's authentic but I love the flavor. The biggest factor is to cook these things slowly, and let the tomato soften a little bit, without burning the outside. Project patience.... still working on that. Makes the most perfect summer lunch in early summer, when you're waiting and waiting for those tomatoes to turn red. I take this dish as a sign that God has mercy on those of us who are a little impatient...... This serves 2 people who are dainty eaters, or one of me who hasn't had fried green tomatoes in 10 months.

Ingredients:

2 large green beefsteak tomatoes

1 egg

1 sleeve Ritz crackers (if you subscribe to a clean/real foods diet, use a cup of cornmeal)

A little butter and some oil (I suppose bacon drippings wouldn't hurt, either, if you have some around)

Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Slice the tomato to 1/4in thickness. Toss the end caps (the coating won't stick to them anyway). Beat one egg in a little dish, wide enough to fit the tomato slices. Crumble the Ritz crackers, add some salt and pepper and put that mix into a wide, deep plate. 

Heat a mix of some oil and a little butter in your favorite frying pan on medium-low heat. 

Dip tomato slices in egg on both sides, then press down in the crumbs, flip, and press down again. Put in the hot pan, and press down again. Wait. Patiently. Sigh. 

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Flip. Press down. Wait. Again! Patiently! Judge by the softness of the tomatoes if they're done. Not soggy but not rock hard either... And then "you'll think you died and gone to heaven", indeed.