Fried Green Tomatoes with Pimento Cheese Fondue

We recently traveled to Greenville, SC and had a marvelous dinner in town. One of the stand-out appetizers was Fried Green Tomatoes with Pimento Cheese Fondue. It was so good, I wanted to try my hand at making a similar version. A real Southern treat.

Fried Green Tomatoes with Pimento Cheese Fondue

Servings 4

Ingredients

  • Pimento Cheese Fondue
  • 6 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
  • 4 oz. cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup diced pimento
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • Fried Green Tomatoes
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup flour, divided
  • 1/3 cup cornmeal
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 green tomatoes, cut into 1/3 inch slices
  • canola oil

Instructions

  1. For the Pimento Cheese Fondue – combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan, over medium heat, stir until all of the cheese has melted and the mixture is creamy. This will take 5 – 8 minutes.

    Fried Green Tomatoes – slice tomatoes into 1/3 inch slices. In three shallow bowls place the following

    1. 1/4 cup flour

    2. egg, slightly beaten mixed with the buttermilk

    3. remaining flour, cornmeal, salt and pepper

    Dredge the tomato slices in the flour, then the egg mixture, then the cornmeal mixture. Let dry slightly while the oil is heating on a wire rack. Heat approx. 1/4 – 1/2 inch of canola oil in a heavy saucepan, I used my cast iron skillet. Heat oil to 375 degrees. When the oil has come to temperature, fry tomato slices for 2 minutes on each side. Remove and drain on a paper towel lined cooling rack. Season with salt. ( Depending on the size of your green tomatoes – my 3 green tomatoes yielded 9 slices )

    Serve warm fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese fondue.