Fried Red Tomatoes

Fried Red Tomatoes

Well, I’m usually used to using green tomatoes, but wow, these tasted even better.

Ingredients:

– 4 large ripe red tomatoes, cut into slices about 1/2 inch thick
– 1 cup all-purpose flour
– 2 large eggs, beaten
– 1 cup cornmeal
– 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
– 2 tsp Salt, more for seasoning
– 1 teaspoon black pepper, more for seasoning
– 1/4 teaspoon paprika (optional for a spicy touch)
– Vegetable oil, for frying

Instructions:

1. Add flour and beaten eggs and mix Place cornmeal and panko breadcrumbs in three separate shallow bowls. Add salt, pepper, and paprika to the cornmeal-breadcrumb mixture to season evenly.2. First, dip the tomato slices in the flour, making sure both sides are lightly coated. Shake off excess.

3. Dip the floured tomato into the beaten eggs and allow the excess to drip off.4. Finally, press each slice into the combination of cornmeal and breadcrumbs, coating both sides well to create a crispy exterior.
5. Fill a large skillet about 1 inch deep with vegetable oil and heat over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking.

6.Carefully place the tomato slices in the pan without crowding them and fry until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
7. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel-lined rack or plate to drain. While still hot, season with a little salt and pepper.

8.Serve immediately while they are at their crispiest!

Variations and Tips:

– For a gluten-free option, replace the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free flour blend and use gluten-free breadcrumbs.
– If you are watching your oil consumption, try “deep frying” in the deep fryer. Without all the oil, you still get that delicious crunch.

– Feel free to experiment with spices in the breadcrumb mixture.Adding herbs such as oregano, basil or thyme can give tomatoes a deliciously aromatic touch.

– If there are any leftovers, which I doubt, you can warm them up in the oven to make them a little crispier again.

– As always, the joy of cooking is in making it yourself. So feel free to adapt and add to this recipe to suit your family’s tastes. Teaching kids how to dip and baste tomato slices is a fun way to get them involved and teach them to navigate the kitchen!