Fried Green Tomato Sandwiches
Oh my goodness. This picture doesn’t even do it justice. My mouth is just watering wanting another one. This is the culmination of several steps, several quintessential ingredients, and multiple sources of inspiration. BUT – none of it is too complicated nor requires fancy equipment. This combines both my No-Mayo Pimento Cheese and Crispy, Crunchy, Veggie Bacon recipes, both of which are so simple that anyone should be able to make this!
This is definitely a comfort food for me for several reasons. When I was a senior in college, I was able to take on the job of a server/cocktail waitress. I became friends with one of the line cooks, and after hours he would always whip me up his mamma’s fried green tomatoes. I had never had them before that, as my family is West-Coast centric with food, so I wasn’t raised with most foods that are associated with the South. But my favorite food in the world is a tomato – so it was an instant win in my book! Another reason that fried green tomatoes are close to my heart is because of an annual float trip me and my closest friends go on every year. We always drive down to the Texas hill country and stay at a log cabin and have 8-12 people each year go with us. Well at the end of each trip, we always brunch at the same restaurant called the Leaning Pear and they have some of the BEST fried green tomatoes I’ve ever had. I get them as our appetizer every year and it kind of just closes out the awesome weekend we just had in the most amazing of ways 🙂 This dish has just been imprinted in my memory for years on end!
Fried Green Tomato Sandwiches
Ingredients
For the sandwich
- your favorite sandwich bread I use Dave's Killer Bread
- 4-6 leaves romaine lettuce
- 1 batch of my crispy crunchy rice paper bacon
- 1 batch of my no-mayo pimento cheese
For the fried green tomatoes
- 2 medium to large green tomatoes sliced 1/2" thick
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 egg
- oil of choice for frying I used vegetable oil
Instructions
To prepare the fried green tomatoes:
- Slice the green tomatoes to 1/2" thick. Set on a wire rack or paper towels and salt, removing excess moisture. Let sit for 30 minutes, then blot dry.
- Standard Breading Procedure: create three dip stations – flour, egg, breadcrumbs. Dip into flour, shake off excess, then transfer to beaten egg, coat well, then dip into breadcrumbs.
- Fry the tomatoes in batches, about 2-3 minutes on each side until golden and crispy. Set aside on another wire rack or plate lined with paper towels. Be sure to salt them right after they come out of the oil.
To assemble the sandwich:
- Lay out two slices of your favorite bread (I like Dave's Killer Bread). Spread on one or both sides (your choice) the no-mayo pimento cheese from Nomming with Nicola (or your favorite pimento cheese spread). Place a leaf or two of romaine lettuce down, then lay a few slices of the freshly fried green tomatoes. Top with a couple slices of rice paper bacon (also found on Nomming with Nicola), and close up the sandwich with the other slice of bread! Best eaten fresh for ultimate texture and nomming-ness 🙂 Nom away!