I spent a fair amount of time living in the South but never developed a passion for this iconic Southern dish – fried green tomatoes. Not until I tried the at Dinosaur BBQ restaurant in Buffalo, NY. I like this dish so much that the first thing I did the following day is to buy green tomatoes at the local grocery store and fry them. I hope you like this recipe as much as I do.
These tomatoes are absolute best hot from the skillet served with Dinosaur BBQ’s signature Cayenne Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.
Dinosaur BBQ Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 green tomatoes
- Creole seasoning
- 2 eggs
- A pinch plus 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 4 cups panko crumbs Japanese-style dried bread crumbs
- 4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil plus more as needed
- Grated Pecorino Romano cheese for garnish
- Cayenne Buttermilk Ranch Dressing for dipping
Instructions
- Core the tomatoes and cut off the ends. Slice them into quarter-inch rounds, and dry between several layers of paper towels to get rid of the excess moisture. Sprinkle lightly with Creole seasoning on both sides.
- Whisk together the eggs and a pinch of black pepper in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl or plate, combine the panko crumbs, salt, cayenne pepper and the remaining 2 teaspoons black pepper. Mix well. Dip the tomato slices in the egg mixture and then in the panko crumbs, pressing to coat on both sides and around the edges. Lift the coated pieces onto a rack set over a baking sheet. Pop them into the fridge for half an hour to set the crumbs. (Note: Panko crumbs are a bit coarser than other breadcrumbs. They’re definitely better for this dish. You’ll find them in the Asian section of your supermarket or in Asian grocery stores.)
- Grab a heavy 12-inch skillet and heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot, slide in a few tomatoes without crowding the pan. They should sizzle and bubble around the edges. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until brown. Take them out of the pan, then add a bit more oil and get it hot before starting a second batch.
- After each batch becomes golden brown, drain the fried tomato slices on paper towels. Sprinkle with shaved Pecornio cheese, if desired.
- Arrange the tomatoes on your favorite roll, then top with a generous spoonful of buttermilk ranch dressing. Or, simply serve the tomatoes as is, and set a bowl of ranch in the middle for dipping.
Robert Duckman says
After living in NYC for 70 years of my life and MANY mealsat Dinosaur, I now live in Denver craving my Dinosaur memories. I am going to try, thanks to this recipe, to make the fried green tomatoes I used to have Everytime I ate at Dinosaur. Thanks!!!!