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Saturday, August 20, 2011

Fried Green Tomatoes & Pulled Pork ...inspired by Fried Green Tomatoes for Food 'n Flix

Fried Green Tomatoes is one of those movies I pull out and watch about once every couple of years. Evelyn Couch is a woman who gets no respect- from others or herself.  By chance she meets Ninny Threadgood at a nursing home when she and her husband go to visit his grouchy old aunt.  Ninny regales Evelyn with tales of strong women, full-lived lives, great endeavors of love, and the mouthwatering food that went hand-in-hand.  Some parts make me laugh...some tug tears from my eyes...and some just plain make me hungry.  Ruth and Idgie run The Whistlestop Café with Big George on hog duty.  Most days the smell of barbecue drifts from the back, luring folks in this lazy Alabama town in to eat some lunch or some supper.  Evelyn learns confidence and strength from Ninny's tales...changing who she is (for the better) as a person.  "Face it girls.  I'm older and I've got more insurance."  ha ha ha...

Listening to old Ninny Threadgood's lively stories of Idgie and Ruth's adventures as she relates them to Evelyn never fails to make me want to go barefoot, charm bees, and eat some good Southern food.  Some days, I just need to yell.... TOWANDA!
"Funny what you miss when you're away from home.  I miss the smell of coffee...and bacon fryin'.  Oh, what I wouldn't give for a plate of fried green tomatoes like we used to have at the café."  ~Ninny Threadgood to Evelyn
Fried Green Tomatoes
adapted from/inspired by Bo's Bowl
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green tomatoes (unripe), sliced ~⅓" thick
flour
salt, pepper, seasonings (as you wish)
eggs
panko bread crumbs
oil, for frying
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I rarely measure ingredients out when using the standard breading procedure (flour, egg wash, bread crumbs)...so, please click on the link to Bo's Bowl for more precise instructions, if you like.

Basically, slice up as many green tomatoes as you need.  Season up some flour with salt and pepper...add other seasonings, if you wish (this is gonna add flavor to the finished dish...I always season my flour).  Put all of that in one wide, shallow dish.  Beat up some eggs and put those in another dish.  Add bread crumbs to a third dish.  Heat up about an inch of oil until it is shimmering.  Bread your tomatoes by dredging them in the seasoned flour and shaking off any excess, then dipping in egg, then into the bread crumbs to coat.  Carefully slide them into the hot oil until golden on both sides (flip, if needed).  Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate while you cook up the rest.

Serve as is or with a dipping sauce.  I used a Spicy Ranch like Bo suggested...although I didn't realize I was out of Sriracha until I was already making them.  So I just spiced it up with some Tabasco.  So tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.  I loves me some Fried Green Tomatoes!
Pulled Pork w/ Vinegar Barbecue Sauce
(Carolina-Style BBQ ...in the slow-cooker)
adapted from Patricia Wells
yield ~8 svgs

pork
~2 lbs. boneless pork butt, cut into large chunks
¼ c. cider vinegar
1 Tbs. brown sugar
½ Tbs. sea salt
couple big pinches crushed red chile flakes

vinegar-barbecue sauce
1½ c. cider vinegar
⅓ c. brown sugar
¼ c. ketchup
1 Tbs. hot sauce
½ tsp. sea salt
freshly ground pepper
½ tsp. worcestershire sauce
Combine all of the pork ingredients in a slow-cooker.  Cook on high for ~5 hours or low for ~10 hours.  Drain off most of liquid and pull the meat apart with two forks.

While pork is cooking, make sauce.  Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring until sugar is dissolved.  Let cool and refrigerate until ready to use.

Add sauce to pulled meat in slow cooker and continue to cook for another hour or two.  Pile on buns, rolls, or bread (drizzle with more of the sauce in the pot) and serve with Fried Green Tomatoes!

This dish clears your sinuses and packs a punch!  Plus, it freezes well.
Food‘nFlix
Fried Green Tomatoes was chosen by Glennis of Can't Believe We Ate, who is the Food 'n Flix host this month.  It's not too late to join in!  Click HERE for details

I am also sharing this post with:
weekend cooking seasonal saturday

Would you like to comment?

  1. I'm sitting here laughing because I just rewatched FGT the other night and had the same idea to make pulled pork with fried green tomatoes. After looking at this I know that's what I'm making. It's all making my mouth water! The pulled pork and the tomatoes look perfectly done.

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  2. Out of curiosity, are there any *special* tomatoes to use for fried green tomatoes? I ask since we haven't had enough sun for my tomatoes to ripen, so if I can fry 'em up then the season won't be a complete loss! :)

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  3. This whole meal looks awesome...and thanks for the shout out...I haven't seen the movie in years, but the Irondale Cafe(the cafe Fannie Flagg based the book on)is close by and is the best place to get fried green tomatoes in town.

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  4. I loved this movie, and have never eaten a fried green tomato :)
    I will use your recipe to rectify that.

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  5. Why didn't you invite me over. One of my favorite meals. YUMMMMMMM. I love the book, I love the movie. Now I just need to get me the cookbook.

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  6. Here's the link to the official Fried Green Tomatoes Cookbook:

    http://www.amazon.com/Fannie-Original-Whistle-Cookbook-ebook/dp/B00589B9A8/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

    I don't own it, but kinda wish I did

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  7. @Kim...you can NEVER have too much of a good thing ;)

    @Kate...that is EXACTLY what you want to use. Green tomatoes as in not yet ripe (not as in a ripe variety such as Green Zebra or a tomatillo). =) PLUS, I was looking up some recipes the other day for using green tomatoes in other ways (there are more!). You could find some here: http://tipnut.com/green-tomato-recipes/ or search recipes using green tomatoes - it actually yield alot of results! Good Luck :D

    @Bo...my pleasure- thank you!

    @BethF...I don't have it either, but thanks so much- another one for the wish list!! ;)

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  8. Fried Green Tomatoes is one of my favorite movies.

    Mmm... I LOVE Carolina pulled pork. Vinegar-based BBQ is oh so delicious!

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  9. I just made my first fried green tomato myself recently... where have these been hidden??? (well, in the chick flick section of blockbuster I guess ;)

    And you do know that the secret id in the sauce ;)

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  10. Great interpretation of a great book and movie. And, your pictures made my mouth water.

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  11. oh, the plate makes my knees weak..yum.

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  12. Love the use of panko! Great movie inspired food!

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  13. Esta receta siempre me recuerda a la famosa película, que ricos te han quedado.

    Saludos

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  14. I do love that movie. And especially Kathy Bates. I've tried the dish and just don't care for it so much. But still, I loved the post!

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  15. These looks delicious and I'm so craving for one now.Love those fried green tomatoes on the side! yum yum

    My blog turns 1 today and I'm hosting a giveaway on my blog as a way to say thank you for your supports in the past year. Please come over to check it out if you're interested. http://utry.it

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  16. I love this movie and your pulled pork and fried green tomatoes look awesome.

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  17. Love that vinegar barbecue sauce!

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  18. Towanda! This is one of my favourite movies Heather. I have it on the PVR and watch it often!

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  19. Can't get more classic Southern than fried green tomatoes and pulled pork! you definitely went all out for this food n flix!

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  20. Your sandwich looks delicious! I've never tried pulled pork sandwiches before (I've tried a pull lamb sandwich...?) but now I want to make one.

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  21. My fave lunch place has a rockin' fried green tomato sandwich, which I always order and seeing your tomatoes makes me want to make them at home. The pork looks awesome too.

    Lisa~~
    Cook Lisa Cook

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  22. One of my ALL TIME favourite films, I watch it several times a year and now I have a fried green tomato to recipe to try!
    Karen

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  23. God, I haven't thought about that movie in ages! It WAS a great film and you've done it justice with this classic 'Cracker' feast! Yummm!

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  24. Those fried green tomatoes are making me drool!

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  25. I love that movie....LOVED it. Need to rent it and watch it again. This whole plate of good looks wonderful Heather. Great photos.

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  26. That looks like a great meal. Love the movie and it's been too long since I've seen it!

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  27. A great review and pick for F'n F. I am struggling to fit it in this month and figure out what to make. ;-)

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  28. These look fabulous! I love pulled pork, but I've never had fried green tomatoes before, definitely something to try! Thanks!

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  29. That pulled pork looks really tender and moist.

    Great dinner combination.

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  30. I loved the movie, and I loved the book even more! I can't remember the last time I've had fried green tomatoes. Maybe it's time to try them again!

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  31. Wow - fantastic Southern meal! I'd love to come down one day for home-style Southern cooking. ☺

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  32. Fried Green Tomatoes is one of my favorite movies, and yet I've NEVER tried them to eat! I'm from the West Coast and we just don't really have them here, but I could always change that in my own house, so I think soon I will. :)

    ~Sara

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  33. Yum! This is the same recipe I use for fried zucchini.

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  34. I have been looking for a good fried tomato recipe. This is a great one.

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  35. Towanda!! Because I am older and have more car insurance!!

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  36. Also....the secrets in the sauce....muhahahaaa!

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  37. pssst....i don't think the Whistle Stop had panko.... ::winks::   :-)

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  38. ha! It's just inspired by... but ya never know! ;P

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  39. I looooove pulled pork sandwiches! They remind me of summertime as a little kid. I've never tried fried green tomatoes, but yours look so good I'm intrigued!

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