Fried Green Tomato Sandwich

I never would have thought about making fried green tomatoes in January, but after seeing them at my local farmers market on Sunday they were just screaming to be eaten. So for lunch today I made fried green tomato sandwiches.

Open Faced Fried Green Tomato Sandwich with Roasted Garlic Aioli
2 large green tomatoes
1/2 c flour
1 tsp paprika
a pinch of salt
fresh cracked black pepper
1 egg
1 TB water
1 cup panko bread crumbs
2 TB butter
2 TB olive oil
1 clove garlic
1/4 c mayonnaise


Preheat oven to 375°.
Mix flour, paprika, salt and pepper together in shallow bowl.
Mix egg and water in shallow bowl.
Put bread crumbs in shallow bowl.

Slice tomatoes 1/2" thick. Dredge, one slice at a time, in flour, then egg, then bread crumbs. Set aside on a plate.

Heat frying pan, add 1 TB butter and 1 TB oil over moderate heat. Fry about 4 or 5 slices of tomatoes for 3 minutes on each side, they should be golden, not burnt. Transfer fried tomatoes to a plate with a paper towel on it to blot grease.

Then fry the other tomato slices in remaining butter and oil. Transfer to paper towel when finished.

Transfer all slices to a foil lined baking sheet and put in oven for 4 minutes.

Meanwhile slice, lightly butter or oil bread then grill. I just used the same pan as the tomatoes were fried in. Throw piece of garlic in the pan to roast it.

Mash roasted garlic and mix it with mayonnaise then spread it on grilled bread. Place tomatoes on top and enjoy!