Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes
A traditional Southern side dish gets a healthy makeover with air fryer fried green tomatoes! With each bite, they get progressively better in texture and flavor.
INGREDIENTS:
- Four unripe, medium-green tomatoes
- Half a teaspoon of salt
Breading
- Half a cup of all-purpose flour
- two big, beaten eggs
- half a cup of buttermilk
- One cup of cornmeal
- 1 cup breadcrumbs from Panko
- one tsp powdered garlic
- One tsp of paprika
- One tsp salt
- half a teaspoon of black pepper, cracked
- spritz with olive oil
DIRECTIONS
- Dice the tomatoes into slices that are 1/4 inch thick. After using paper towels to pat them dry, sprinkle them with 1/2 teaspoon salt and set them aside.
- Assemble the breading station using three bowls. In one, place the flour; in the other, whisk the eggs and buttermilk. In the third, combine the breadcrumbs, cornmeal, paprika, garlic powder, and a teaspoon each of salt and pepper.
- Set the temperature of the air fryer to 400°F, or 200°C.
- Using paper towels, pat the tomato slices dry before dipping each one in the flour one at a time. Coat thoroughly on both sides, then dunk in the egg mixture, and lastly, the combination of cornmeal and breadcrumbs. Cover both sides thoroughly.
- Drizzle a little olive oil into the air fryer basket, place the tomatoes in a single layer, then drizzle some olive oil over the tops. Cook for 8 minutes, turning once during such time. To avoid packing the basket too full, work in batches.
- When all of the fried tomatoes are done, remove them from the basket and keep warm on a pan in a low oven. Enjoy with a dipping sauce (tartar or remoulade, for example).
NOTES:
- For a little kick of heat, add one or two tablespoons of hot sauce to the egg mixture. Replace the spices in the breading mixture with one or two tablespoons of seasoning that is Cajun or Creole
- For a delicious, cheesy finish, add grated Parmesan cheese to the breading mixture.