Fried Green Tomatoes (Whistle Stop Cafe)
My favorite movie from the 90s — and I have probably watched it 50 times with my mom and my sister — is Fried Green Tomatoes. I mean, amazing. We were so obsessed with that movie that my mom ran out and got the Whistle Stop Cafe recipe book, which is the restaurant from the movie.
She has had that book forever, and we have been making fried green tomatoes the “Whistle Stop Cafe” way for years. I’ll insert a picture of the recipe from the book, but basically this is how we make them, and let me just tell you, they are ridiculous. Off-the-chain delicious.
I went to Bedner’s Market in the Boynton / Delray Beach area in Florida, and I found these beautiful heirloom tomatoes. A few of them were green, so of course I grabbed them. This recipe has very few ingredients, so the ingredients really matter. You need good green tomatoes, good bacon grease, white cornmeal, salt, pepper, and that is pretty much it. I also made my Southern Italian Escarole and Beans with all of the produce I got from the farmers market. More recipes to come.
And listen, even if your tomatoes start turning a little red, don’t panic. Mine were already starting to turn because I bought them the day before and made them the next day, and they were still unbelievable. But the greener the tomato, the better, so once you find those green tomatoes, dadgum make them right away!!
Melissa’s Tips!
Melissa’s Tips: This is a long one, but stick with me guys, it’s important!!
Use good green tomatoes.
This recipe is so simple, so the tomatoes matter. You want firm, green tomatoes that will hold up when sliced and fried.
Make them right away.
Once you buy green tomatoes, don’t let them sit around. They will start turning red quicker than you think.
Use a cast iron skillet if you have one.
I use my cast iron skillet for this because honestly, there is no better pan. It heats evenly, fries beautifully, and gives the tomatoes that perfect golden crust. But you can use any skillet that works well for shallow frying.
Render the bacon low and slow.
Start with a whole package of regular bacon in the skillet over medium-low heat. Let it cook slowly so it renders as much bacon fat as possible. Do not rush this part because that bacon grease is what makes these tomatoes so delicious.
Save the bacon.
You do not need the cooked bacon for the fried green tomatoes, but don’t waste it. Crumble it up and use it for other recipes.
Use Crisco if you need extra fat.
After removing the bacon, keep all the bacon drippings in the pan. If you need a little more fat for frying, add a little Crisco shortening. You can use vegetable oil if you want, but Crisco is the bomb for this old-school style recipe.
Slice the tomatoes thick enough to hold up.
Slice the green tomatoes about ¼-inch thick. You want them thick enough so they don’t fall apart when you coat and fry them.
Season the tomatoes before coating.
Place the sliced tomatoes on a rack over a baking sheet. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper and let them sit while the bacon is cooking.
Pat the tomatoes dry.
Before dipping them in the cornmeal, pat them dry so the coating sticks nicely and they fry up crisp.
Really bury them in the cornmeal.
Use white cornmeal seasoned with salt and pepper. Press the tomatoes into the cornmeal, coat them well, shake off the excess, and then fry.
Don’t mess with them too much.
Once the tomatoes hit the pan, let them sizzle. Don’t keep moving them around. Let them get golden and crisp before carefully flipping.
Use the leftover cooked bacon for:
BLT Pasta Salad
Baked potatoes
Casserole toppings
Meatloaf Lasagna topping
Salads
Breakfast eggs
Loaded fries
Sandwiches or wraps
Mac and cheese topping
🤔 Common Questions
Yes. The greener the tomatoes, the better, but if they start turning a little red, they will still be delicious. Mine were starting to turn and they were still unbelievable.
Bacon grease gives these fried green tomatoes the best flavor. If you do not want to use bacon grease, you can use vegetable oil, but the bacon grease is what makes them extra special.
White cornmeal is what we use for this recipe and keeps it closest to the Whistle Stop Cafe-style version. Yellow cornmeal can work in a pinch, but white cornmeal is preferred.
No, but I love using cast iron because it heats evenly and fries beautifully. Any heavy skillet that works well for shallow frying will do.
Fried Green Tomatoes (Whistle Stop Cafe)
Ingredients
- Green tomatoes sliced about ¼-inch thick
- 1 package regular bacon
- White cornmeal about 1 cup
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Crisco shortening as needed
- Vegetable oil optional if not using Crisco
Instructions
Step 1: Cook the bacon.
- Add a whole package of bacon to a cast iron skillet or heavy skillet. Cook over medium-low heat until the bacon is crispy and has rendered as much fat as possible. Take your time here because the bacon grease is a huge part of the flavor.
Step 2: Prep the tomatoes while the bacon cooks.
- While the bacon is cooking, slice the green tomatoes about ¼-inch thick. Place them on a rack over a baking sheet and season both sides with salt and pepper. Let them sit while the bacon finishes cooking.
Step 3: Remove the bacon and save the drippings.
- Remove the bacon from the skillet and let as much grease drip back into the pan as possible. If you place the bacon in a bowl, tip any extra grease from the bowl back into the skillet. Save the cooked bacon for another recipe.
Step 4: Add extra frying fat if needed.
- Keep the bacon drippings in the skillet. If you need more fat for frying, add a little Crisco shortening. Vegetable oil can also be used, but Crisco gives that old-school flavor and texture.
Step 5: Make the cornmeal coating.
- Add white cornmeal to a shallow dish and season it with salt and pepper.
Step 6: Coat the tomatoes.
- Pat the tomato slices dry. Dip each slice into the seasoned white cornmeal, pressing it in so the tomato is fully coated. Shake off the excess.
Step 7: Fry the tomatoes.
- Heat the bacon grease and shortening over medium to medium-high heat. You want to hear a good sizzle when the tomatoes hit the pan. Add the coated tomatoes in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd the skillet.
Step 8: Flip carefully.
- Let the tomatoes fry for about 3 minutes, or until golden brown on the bottom. Carefully flip with tongs or a spatula and fry the other side until golden and crisp. Try not to move them around too much.
Step 9: Drain and serve.
- Transfer the fried green tomatoes to a rack so they stay crispy. Serve them hot, and that’s it, baby. You are not going to have anything better than Whistle Stop Cafe-style fried green tomatoes.
Nutrition
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👝 How to Store Leftovers
Fried green tomatoes are best served fresh and hot right out of the skillet. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat them in the oven or air fryer to help crisp them back up!
