A firmer, much tarter version of their ripe counterparts, green tomatoes are the ones left on the vine when summer draws to a close. These unripe fruits (not vegetables!) have a robust texture and are quite acidic in taste. Don't let them go to waste when frost takes over!
A popular method of cooking these unripe green tomatoes is to coat them in breadcrumbs and fry them, a popular Southern delicacy. But, that isn't the only way to enjoy these neon-colored beauties. Here are 31 green tomato recipes to turn your fruit into jam, salsa, pickles, and wholesome meals.
Bring out the full bright flavors of your green tomatoes through this summery salsa verde. Like any good salsa, you will be using onion, cilantro, and lime juice for a nice tang. But you will also be broiling the tomatoes to get some sweetness and a charred flavor. Perfect for taco nights!
Use up the last of your garden's harvest by making these spicy green tomato pickles. Poke your green tomatoes with a toothpick to allow them to absorb the pickling liquid made with water, white vinegar, garlic, peppercorn, sugar, red pepper, and dill. Refrigerate and serve the next day!
A classic, these fried breaded green tomatoes will make the best snacks ever for the whole family. Wash your tomatoes with egg before coating them in breadcrumbs, cornmeal, salt, and black pepper. Top it off with the vinaigrette featuring red peppers, balsamic vinegar, garlic, olive oil, honey, and dried Italian herbs, and serve with crumbled goat cheese!
Another fried green tomato recipe, this one is a very simple take on the classic dish. Coat the slices of green tomato with flour, beaten eggs, and cornmeal. And fry them in bacon grease until golden. You'll love the thick crust surrounding the juicy, soft interior.
Bring Indian flavors home with this savory green tomato chutney. Healthy and flavorful, this recipe is also vegan, low in carbs, and keto-friendly. Make sure not to skip the peanuts as they enhance the taste and provide a pleasant body to the chutney.
Switch things up with a brighter and more acidic version of the popular red tomato soup. To achieve caramelization and deeper flavors, slow-roast the tomatoes to bring out their natural sweetness. After that, blend your soup ingredients until creamy, sweet, and luscious. Top it all off with a lemony, detoxifying parsley sauce.
Great as a snack or even a full dinner, this recipe involves grilling green tomatoes to reign in their bitterness. You'll also need olive oil, salt, pepper, arugula, burrata, and fresh spinach pesto. This dish is a lot lighter than the fried alternative, and sitting on a bed of greens, it's definitely on the healthier side, too.
This incredibly tasty traditional Indian green tomato curry is easy enough that you can serve it up in just about 20 minutes. The recipe promises a perfect blend of tartness, spiciness, and a touch of sweetness in one heaping bowl of curry. You'll find all the ingredients in your local Asian store. Serve with rice or chapati (Indian flatbread).
This Southern favorite, also known as piccalilli, is a combination of chopped green tomatoes, cabbage, onions, and bell peppers. The veggies are infused in a mix of brown sugar, vinegar, and seasonings for a tart, sweet, and spicy flavor. Often served with pinto beans and ham, it also goes great with sausages, hot dogs, and burgers.
Here's a tangy twist on classic beef chili that might just become your family's new favorite. Instead of ripe, red tomatoes, you'll use the green variety and combine them with ground beef, pinto beans, and poblano peppers. The result is a hearty dish served with garnishing like grated cheese, sliced scallions, and avocado.
Nothing comes close to the taste of lightly fried golden-brown green tomatoes that offer just the right crunch. This recipe puts green tomatoes in the limelight and is perfect for any meal of the day. Top your dish off with mashed avocado and poached eggs for a healthy, wholesome combination no one will be able to resist.
This recipe involves slow-roasting your green tomatoes to take away some of the tartness and replace it with a smooth, mellow flavor. You then arrange layers of tomato slices and a bacon-onion mixture until your dish is full before sprinkling on salt, pepper, thyme, and a Parmigiano-breadcrumb mix. This is one gratin you'll make over and over again!
The Burmese have a simple, delicious fresh green tomato salad recipe that you simply must try. Yum makruatad keow calls for lemongrass vinegar that you need to prepare a day prior if you can't find it in the store. The crisp green tomatoes are further boosted by the crunch from roasted peanuts.
This summer, treat your family with this South Indian vegan recipe that's also free from soy, gluten, and nuts. Thakkali masiyal is a ridiculously simple lentil-based dish that you can prepare in minutes. If you cook Indian food regularly, you'll have most of the ingredients already. Serve with rice or flatbread for a filling meal.
Toss your green tomatoes with olive oil, onion, basil, and garlic before transferring to the oven. While it roasts, the flavors come together to form a delicious sauce. Meanwhile, cook your pasta. Once done, mix it with the sauce - et voilà! Serve with grated cheese or pine nuts.
A tomato-based dessert? Who'd have thought! But this delicious pie beautifully substitutes green tomatoes for the traditional apples. The filling includes green tomatoes cooked with lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and cinnamon before adding sugar, cornstarch, and butter. The juicy, sweet, and tart filling is cooked to perfection on a butter crust. This is a dessert that'll wow your guests.
You only need about 15 to 20 minutes to prepare a stew that's delicious, unique, and perfect for most dietary needs. Pair your tart unripe tomatoes with the delicious sweetness of coconut milk and the gentle heat from green chili peppers, and cook with curry leaves and mustard seeds. Serve with rice for a hearty meal.
If you have a handful of green tomatoes you aren't sure what to do with, jam is the answer. Unripe tomatoes have a natural acidity and vegetal quality that make them perfect as preserves. This sweet and tart jam will pair well with cheese and bread - a great feature on your next cheese board.
Your regular pizza is brought up a level with green tomatoes, buttery caramelized onions, and balsamic vinegar. Swap out the mozzarella and Parmesan and opt for a nice sharp cheddar. Cheddar will undercut the sweetness from the onions and pair well with the tangy tomatoes.
This cool and light summer soup is perfect as both a starter and main course. It's a great way to get your fill of vegetables. The gazpacho is nice and tart, thanks to the green tomatoes, and comes with a hint of spice from the serrano pepper. Serve hot with marinated and grilled shrimps.
This recipe will give you sweet and mild ketchup that's similar to apple sauce. When making your green tomato ketchup, make sure to use bottled lime juice rather than fresh because the latter won't be acidic enough and might contain bacteria. Enjoy your sauce with eggs, fish sticks, or even French fries!
Serving two Southern delicacies in one, the first step in making this cobbler is tossing tomatoes with basil, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Next, fry your bacon until crisp and use the drippings to cook the tomato mixture. You'll then prepare your biscuits and cover the green tomatoes and bacon mix. Pop it into the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
These delicious fried okra and green tomatoes are a match made in crispy fritter heaven! The fritters cook for about five minutes on each side and will look golden when they're done. For more flavor, sprinkle on some Cajun seasoning or prepare a simple comeback sauce for dipping.
While sandwiches are great as on-the-go meals, wraps provide a nice contrast in texture. This recipe gives you the perfect bite of soft tortilla, crunchy bacon, fresh lettuce, and fried green tomatoes made perfect with the blend of mayonnaise and hot sauce. Since this is a wrap, you won't suffer from messy spills; everything goes into your happy tummy.
Shakshuka is an easy one-pan breakfast staple popular in Northern Africa and Israel. This recipe involves spinach, herbs, feta, and green tomatoes or tomatillos topped with eggs. Once cooked, garnish your dish with harissa and serve with toasted whole-grain bread.
There are a few key ingredients that go into this tart, one of which is firm green tomatoes that lend a beautiful color to the dish and the other is Gruyère cheese for the perfect nutty flavor. Use aged balsamic vinegar to overcome the tartness of the unripe fruit. Arrange all ingredients on puffed pastry dough, bake, and serve!
Get a little adventurous with your desserts by throwing green tomatoes into the mix. In this recipe, you simply combine your dry and wet ingredients together, fold in the chopped tomatoes, and then let your oven work its magic. And the cream cheese icing adds decadence when a simple powdered sugar topping just won't do.
This quick bread recipe is great for breakfast or even dessert, toasted or as is. It makes use of the entire tomato, seeds and skin included, along with walnuts and raisins for a delicious flavor combination. Enjoy it with a generous slather of butter, green tomato relish, or cream cheese frosting for a fantastic dessert.
Prep a delicious brunch by baking a tart filled with green tomatoes, garlic, basil, and smoky cheese. Use a simple seasoning of salt, pepper, and hot pepper and let the favors of the fresh veggies shine. As for the crust, one made with corn and masa is simply perfect. Serve your baked tart with marinara sauce for dipping.
This aromatic dish made with tart green tomatoes and earthy mushrooms makes for a great side or a light meal. The sesame oil adds a fragrant flavor to the dish, along with cumin seeds, red pepper flakes, and hot serrano chili. Top your simple stir-fry with a garnish of fresh parsley, cilantro, or thyme before serving.
This versatile recipe is one for the books - serve it hot, at room temperature, or even chilled without compromising its flavors. The green tomatoes are roasted with olive oil, cumin, and salt, followed by a drizzle of honey for an unbelievable combination! Serve your grilled salmon with the tomatoes and orange juice mix with fresh basil!
