Recipe and a Movie: Fried Green Tomatoes (2024)

Pop in this classic Southern movie and settle down with a plate of fried green tomatoes for a fun-filled movie night with the girls!

Classic Fried Green Tomatoes

Recipe and a Movie: Fried Green Tomatoes (1)

Ingredients
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup self-rising cornmeal mix
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 medium-size, firm green tomatoes, cut into 1/3-inch thick slices (about 1 1/4 lb.)
Vegetable oil

Preparation
Whisk together egg and buttermilk. Combine cornmeal mix, salt, pepper, and 1/4 cup flour in shallow dish. Dredge tomato slices in remaining 1/4 cup flour; dip in egg mixture, and dredge in cornmeal mixture.

Pour oil to a depth of 1/2 inch in a large cast-iron skillet; heat to 375° over medium-high heat. Drop tomatoes, in batches, into hot oil, and cook 2 minutes on each side or until golden. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle hot tomatoes with salt to taste.

Related: Our Favorite Ways with Fresh Tomatoes

Grilled Green Tomatoes Caprese

Ingredients
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
4 medium-size green tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices (about 2 lb.)
1 (16-oz.) package sliced fresh mozzarella cheese
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/3 cup thinly sliced basil

Preparation
Combine first 5 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic freezer bag; add tomatoes, seal, and shake gently to coat. Chill 1 hour.

Preheat grill to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Remove tomatoes from marinade, reserving marinade.
Grill tomatoes, covered with grill lid, 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until tender and grill marks appear.

Arrange alternating slices of warm grilled tomatoes and mozzarella cheese on a large, shallow platter. Drizzle with reserved marinade; season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with basil.

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Sweet Green Tomato Cornmeal Muffins

Recipe and a Movie: Fried Green Tomatoes (3)

Ingredients
2 cups seeded, diced green tomatoes (about 3/4 lb.)
1/2 cup sugar, divided
1/2 cup butter, melted and divided
2 cups self-rising white cornmeal mix
2 tsp. lemon zest
5 large eggs
1 (16-oz.) container sour cream
Vegetable cooking spray

Preparation
Preheat oven to 450°. Sauté tomatoes and 2 Tbsp. sugar in 2 Tbsp. melted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat 10 to 12 minutes or until tomatoes begin to caramelize and turn light brown.

Stir together cornmeal mix, lemon zest, and remaining 6 Tbsp. sugar in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Whisk together eggs, sour cream, and remaining 6 Tbsp. butter; add to cornmeal mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in tomatoes.

Generously coat small (1/4 cup) brioche molds or muffin pans with vegetable cooking spray; spoon batter into molds, filling two-thirds full. Bake at 450° for 15 to 17 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Related: 16 Best BBQ Sides

Fried Green Tomatoes with Shrimp Rémoulade

Recipe and a Movie: Fried Green Tomatoes (4)

Ingredients
Fried Green Tomatoes (recipe listed above) Rémoulade Sauce
Medium-size, peeled, cooked shrimp
Garnish: fresh pea shoots or arugula

Rémoulade Sauce
Stir together 1 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup sliced green onions, 2 Tbsp. Creole mustard, 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley, 1 Tbsp. minced fresh garlic, and 1 tsp. horseradish. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Preparation
Place 2 to 3 Fried Green Tomatoes on individual serving plates, and top each with 1 1/2 Tbsp. Rémoulade Sauce and 3 shrimp. Garnish with fresh pea shoots or arugula, if desired.

Related: 12 Crazy-Good Cobblers

Green Tomato Salsa

Recipe and a Movie: Fried Green Tomatoes (5)

Ingredients
2 large green tomatoes, diced
1 large fresh peach, diced
2 green onions, sliced
1/4 cup olive oil
1 Tbsp. minced fresh cilantro
1 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper

Preparation
Stir together tomatoes, peach, green onions, olive oil, cilantro, vinegar, honey, salt, and ground red pepper. Cover and chill 1 hour before serving.

Related: 44 Southern Ways with Shrimp

Fried Green Tomato Po'boys

Recipe and a Movie: Fried Green Tomatoes (6)

Ingredients
French bread baguettes
Rémoulade Sauce Shredded lettuce
Fried Green Tomatoes (recipe listed above)
Cooked bacon
Avocado slices

Rémoulade Sauce
Stir together 1 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup sliced green onions, 2 Tbsp. Creole mustard, 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley, 1 Tbsp. minced fresh garlic, and 1 tsp. horseradish. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Preparation
Cut baguettes into 6-inch lengths. Split each lengthwise, cutting to but not through the other side; spread with Rémoulade Sauce. Layer with lettuce, Fried Green Tomatoes, bacon, and avocado.

Recipe and a Movie: Fried Green Tomatoes (7)

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Recipe and a Movie: Fried Green Tomatoes (2024)

FAQs

Was Ninni Threadgoode really Idgie in Fried Green Tomatoes? ›

Although in the book Idgie and Ninny are two distinctly separate characters, at the end of the film it is largely hinted that they are one and the same.

Were Idgie and Ruth lovers? ›

While the central love story in the novel never labels Idgie and Ruth as lesbians, the pair are accepted by their community as life partners.

What are the secrets in the sauce Fried Green Tomatoes? ›

The secret's in the sauce - specifically the magical ingredients in the sauce! We've taken some lemon juice, a blend of spices, horseradishes, worstershire, onion and parsley to concoct the absolute best-ever dipping sauce.

Who did Idgie Threadgoode marry? ›

Also Ninny wears a wedding ring and told the story about having a mentally defective baby that she kept even though doctors told her to institutionalize him. She cared for him for 30 years. In the movie, Idgie did not marry, nor have any children.

Was Idgie the old lady in the movie? ›

Is Idgie the Older Woman in Fried Green Tomatoes? Yes and No. Depends on how you view the story in the movie. In the book it is clear that Ninny and Idgie are two different people.

Did they really eat Frank in Fried Green Tomatoes? ›

Bennett's body was never found. It is later revealed that Sipsey killed him when he attempted to kidnap his and Ruth's son. His remains were barbecued by Big George and fed to the detectives investigating Frank's disappearance at the time.

What is the relationship between Idgie and Ninny Threadgoode? ›

In the movie they are friends. Ninny and Idgie are the same person in the movie but not in the book. In the book Ninny is married to Idgie's brother.

What was the age difference between Ruth and Idgie? ›

Also when Ninny talks about having a special needs son, Idgie could very well have had a child after Ruth passed away, and if she was older when she had him that could have contributed to his disability. After all she was about 8-10 years younger than Ruth.

Who is the old lady at the end of Fried Green Tomatoes? ›

It said online that ninny, the old lady telling the story is NOT idgie, it's her sister in law...... I was shocked! In the movie they set the last scene where Evelyn sees Ruth's headstone with the fresh honey , flowers and card and looks at Nini and then he gives her a look like "Yupp I'm her!".

Is Mrs. Threadgoode Idgie? ›

Along the way, Bud tells stories of life in the old days and adventures with Aunt Idgie. Contrary to the ending of the movie, though, Idgie did not become Ninny Threadgoode, the Jessica Tandy character. Ninny married Idgie's older brother, Cleo.

What happened to Buddy Jr. in fried green tomatoes? ›

However, tragedy strikes when on the wedding day of Idgie's older sister Leona, Buddy goes chasing after Ruth's hat that has been blown away. He catches it but gets his foot stuck in the nearby railroad tracks, and is unable to get away before he is killed by a train coming down the tracks.

What is the ending of fried green tomatoes? ›

Ninny tells Evelyn her stories over several visits. During that time, Evelyn, who was depressed, is inspired by Ruth and Idgie to have more power in her life. In the end, Ninny goes to live with Evelyn and her husband. There is a hint that Ninny and Idgie might be the same person.

Were Idgie and ruth in love in Fried Green Tomatoes? ›

The film was restricted in terms of depicting Idgie and Ruth's relationship as explicitly romantic—it came out in the early 1990s—but it is there all the same. In fact, Fanny Flagg, the author of the book and screenplay, is a lesbian from Alabama.

What did Idgie do after Ruth died? ›

Realizing her friend was gone Idgie was moved to tears while Sipsie did what she could to comfort Idgie. Idgie kept Buddy Jr. company during his mother's funeral and it was implied she took care of him afterwards. Idgie was still alive in the early 90s, and left a message on Ruth's grave, "I will always Love You.

Who killed the husband in Fried Green Tomatoes? ›

In Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, Frank Bennett meets a grisly end. After being killed by Sipsey, he's cooked on a barbecue by Big George and inadvertently eaten by detectives investigating his disappearance. This ironic twist of fate ensures that the evidence of his demise is never discovered.

Is the old lady telling the story in Fried Green Tomatoes Idgie? ›

While it's possible that Older Ninny is an Unreliable Narrator who is repeating these sections to Evelyn as if she and Idgie are different people, there's no indication that the flashbacks are being related to anyone other than the reader (and many of them are scenes that Ninny could not have witnessed, such as the ...

Why does Idgie say towanda? ›

“Towanda” is a reference to the alter-ego of Idgie, a character in “Fried Green Tomatoes.” Idgie refers to Towanda as an “Amazon woman” and introduces herself at least once as “Towanda.” It is also a word you say when you want to be empowered, such as when Evelyn runs her car into the snobby ladies who take her parking ...

Who is Idgie Threadgoode brother? ›

She was exceptionally close to her older brother Buddy, who was killed in a train accident when she was just a small child. Idige was raised by Sipsey, the family's black housekeeper, alongside Sipsey's son Big George.

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