Textual Chef Textual Chef

Cajun Fried Green Tomatoes

Thick slices of firm, unripe green tomatoes dredged in a seasoned cornmeal-flour coating and pan-fried in a cast iron skillet until golden and crunchy outside, with a tangy, tender center. A Southern staple with a Cajun spice kick.

35 minEasyServes 4280 cal/serving

CajunAppetizerStovetopVegetarianHalal-friendlyLow-SodiumPork-FreeAlcohol-Free

Ingredients

  • 4 large firm green tomatoes, sliced 1/4-inch thick
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil (for frying)
  • as needed Louisiana-style hot sauce (for serving)

Instructions

  1. 1

    Season 4 sliced 1/4-inch thick large firm green tomatoes slices on both sides with 1 tsp kosher salt. Let sit on a rack or paper towels for 10 minutes to draw out moisture, then pat dry.

  2. 2

    In a shallow bowl, whisk together 1 cup buttermilk and 2 beaten large eggs. In a separate shallow dish, combine 1 cup yellow cornmeal, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 2 tsp Cajun seasoning, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper.

  3. 3

    Dip each tomato slice into the buttermilk-egg mixture, letting the excess drip off, then press firmly into the cornmeal coating on both sides.

  4. 4

    Heat 1/2 cup vegetable oil (for frying) in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering (about 350 degrees F / 175 degrees C). Working in batches, fry the coated tomato slices for 2 to 3 minutes per side until deep golden brown and crisp.

  5. 5

    Transfer to a wire rack set over a baking sheet to drain. Do not stack. Season lightly with extra salt immediately.

  6. 6

    Serve hot with Louisiana-style hot sauce (for serving) or a remoulade dipping sauce on the side.

Questions

Can I make Cajun Fried Green Tomatoes dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 1 cup buttermilk. Swap the buttermilk for plant milk soured with a teaspoon of vinegar per cup. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Cajun Fried Green Tomatoes gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 1/2 cup all-purpose flour. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Cajun Fried Green Tomatoes keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. Reheat uncovered in a 400 F oven (or an air fryer) for a few minutes to bring the crust back; the microwave softens it.

Can I halve or double Cajun Fried Green Tomatoes?

Yes. As written it serves 4. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. When doubling on the stovetop, use your widest pan or work in two batches so the food sears instead of steaming.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,512 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no ads, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.