Georgia BLT with Fried Green Tomatoes
Give the classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich a makeover with my Georgia BLT with Fried Green Tomatoes! You’ll love my southern twist on this old favorite.
I’ve been thinking about trying this recipe for a while now. It’s taking the classic BLT and putting a little southern twist on it. A little Georgia twist.
Fried Green Tomatoes are as classic a southern recipe as any I know. They are most famously served daily at Social Circle’s Blue Willow Inn, a Georgia institution of southern cooking.
Their fried green tomatoes put their restaurant on the map with the help of Lewis Grizzard, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution journalist who fell head over heels for them. Grizzard truly appreciated southern culture and cooking and spent his career singing its praises to the world. I adored Lewis Grizzard’s writing and wish he was still around to entertain us all.
🎬 Fried Green Tomatoes, The Movie
I can’t think of fried green tomatoes without thinking of my favorite scene from the movie of the same name. If you’ve never seen the movie “Fried Green Tomatoes” you’ve missed a treat.
For those of you who have, do you remember the scene where Evelyn, while sporting her “Towanda” alter ego, has a disagreement with the girls over a parking spot? It went like this…
Evelyn: Hey! I was waiting for that spot!
Girl #1: Face it, lady, we’re younger and faster!
[Evelyn rear-ends the other car six times]
Girl #2: What are you *doing*?
Girl #2: Are you *crazy*?
Evelyn: Face it, girls, I’m older and I have more insurance.
Haven’t you had at least one moment in your life when you’d like to be “Towanda” just for a little while? I know I have. :-)
The Georgia twist to this BLT, as you’ve no doubt figured out by now, is using fried green tomatoes. With bacon. And mayonnaise. Heaven help me but this is good!
🔪 How to Make a Georgia BLT with Fried Green Tomatoes
To start, you’ll need to cook up some bacon and make the fried green tomatoes.
Make the Fried Green Tomatoes
Heat your oil to the depth of approximately 1/4 inch in a large cast iron frying pan over medium-high heat.
I had two tomatoes, one very green and one just starting to ripen. Try to find ones that are really green. They hold together much better and are tastier. You can use one that has a slight pink blush, but all green is best.
While the oil is heating, slice the tomatoes into 1/4 inch slices. Sprinkle them generously with Jane’s Crazy Mixed-Up Salt, any other seasoning salt you prefer, or simply use salt and black pepper.
🥜 Peanut Oil is Great for Frying
I prefer peanut oil for frying most anything. It has a higher smoking point than other oils so you can cook faster and hotter without burning. You can tell that your oil is hot enough when the end of a wooden spoon stuck into the oil sizzles.
Dredge the tomato slices in cornmeal. Get each slice really well coated. Not just a light dusting, a really good coating of cornmeal is what you’re looking for.
Grocery stores throughout the deep South have lots of different cornmeal products on the shelves. But my absolute favorite is fine ground, white cornmeal.
Now, I have no association whatsoever with Arnett’s. They have absolutely no idea who I am. I just happen to like their cornmeal. A couple of other good brands are Adams’ and Hoover’s. It’s easy to find it in the rural areas, but here in North Georgia near Atlanta I can’t get it anywhere! That’s okay, I just stock up when I make a trip down to the southern part of the state.
Add the prepared tomatoes slices to hot oil and cook about 3 minutes per side. When cooked to a golden brown, remove from the pan and place on paper towels or brown paper to drain.
Assemble the Sandwich
Lightly toast 4 slices of sourdough or any other good, substantial bread. Spread two slices of bread with mayonnaise. Top with lettuce, two slices of bacon and 2 or 3 slices of fried green tomatoes. Repeat. Makes two sandwiches.
Enjoy!
🧾 More Recipes You’ll Like
- Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Ham on Rye Breakfast Sandwich
- Roasted Tomato Sandwich
- Grilled Chicken, Apple, and Gouda Sandwich
- Oven Fried Shrimp Po’ Boy
HAVE YOU TRIED THIS RECIPE?
I’d LOVE to know what you thought!
Leave a rating below in the comments and let me know how you liked it!
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📖 Recipe
Georgia BLT with Fried Green Tomatoes
Ingredients
For the fried green tomatoes:
- 2 large green tomatoes
- Jane’s Crazy Mixed-Up Salt
- 1 cup fine ground white cornmeal
- Peanut oil
For the sandwich:
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 4 slices bacon
- lettuce
- salt and pepper
Instructions
Make the fried green tomatoes:
- Heat oil to a depth of approximately 1/4 inch in a large cast iron frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Meanwhile, slice tomatoes into 1/4 inch slices. Sprinkle generously with Jane’s Crazy Mixed-Up Salt, any other seasoning salt you prefer, or simply use salt and black pepper.
- Dredge tomato slices in cornmeal.
- Add to hot oil and cook about 3 minutes per side.
Assemble the sandwiches:
- Use sourdough or any other good, substantial bread. Spread two slices of bread with mayonnaise. Top with lettuce, bacon and fried green tomatoes. Repeat. Makes two sandwiches.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your health care provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
I remember when I was a kid and saw Fried Green Tomatoes, my mom DIED laughing over that part of the dialogue. I didn’t get it when I was little, but as I got older, I started to understand :)
This looks awesome!!
That is defiantly classic southern food Lana. Fried green tomato sandwich with bacon nothing gets better than that.
ooooh, these are so good, surprise you have not done this before – love fried green tomatoes and use them in many dishes, even with a creole shrimp topping… and I like mine as you, with just cornmeal…
That sounds delicious, Drick! I’ll have to give that a try very soon.
These look great. Wish the tomatoe season here had not ended. Maybe we will have some Fall tomatoes and I can try this.
WOW that looks truly fabulous! Can I have a bite??
See! Always the simplest things! Why have I not thought to put fried green tomatoes on a BLT? Thank you for bringing this little tip to my attention. Delicious!
I haven’t seen that movie, but I’m heading over to Netflix right now to correct that! Those fried green tomatoes look so good, I just know it’s gotta be amazing in a BLT.
I never see large green tomatoes like that in our mkts. Wonder if I can getaway with using a regular ol’ beefsteak tomato?
Cristina – I’ve fried ripe tomatoes before and they were delicious! However, they tend to more or less disintegrate in the frying process. The green ones hold together really well. If you have a friend who grows tomatoes, maybe you could ask for a couple of green ones.
My great-grandmother used to swear by Arnett’s! I hadn’t thought of that in years. Thanks for bringing me a good memory this morning.
Love BLTs and I’m sure I’d love this! Great recipe and a great movie, too.
Been meaning to make fried green tomatoes one day and now you’ve given me the recipe to do it! Just wondering: I had the idea from somewhere that you were supposed to fry the tomatoes in bacon fat or lard… or am I just misremembering?
Hi Frank! Some people do use bacon fat or lard, I just prefer peanut oil. Your choice :-) Other people also dip the tomatoes in buttermilk or a mix of buttermilk and egg, then use a mixture of cornmeal and flour. There are lots of variations of the recipe. I prefer this simple method of sliced tomatoes directly into the cornmeal and then to the hot oil.
Oh I sure love Blue Willow Inn. If the readers are ever near Atlanta with a few spare hours and a hankering for southern cuisine, they need to make the detour to Social Circle to enjoy this southern establishment. If they leave hungry, it’s their own fault!!
Here’s a little history. The day Lewis Grizzard came to Blue Willow Inn was to be the last day of business for the restaurant. However, after he gave them a “four bowls of greens” rating, hungry crowds arrived, bringing their friends and voracious appetites with them. Blue Willow Inn has never had to worry about business again.
There is a lot more history and some literature ties that are incredible, but I’ll let the readers find out on their own! It’s all so very worth the trip.
Yes, the Blue Willow’s business and popularity got a huge boost from Lewis Grizzard. The full story is in the Blue Willow Inn cookbook – a fabulous volume!
I was just looking at all my green tomatoes thinking it was high time I tried fried green tomatoes. And there you were. Perfect timing and the sandwich sounds delicious!
P.S. The older I get the more my “Towanda” peeks her little devilish head out. I just don’t have time for nonsense, some days. :P
Oh, yeah. I wish I could channel Towanda lots of days. I think she’d make life easier – or at least more satisfying :-)
Marvelous sandwich. Wish I could get some green tomatoes in my area.
I’ve seen them in the grocery store on occasion. You might ask the produce manager if they can get some.
Always wanted to try fried green tomatoes. Is any green tomato ok? I’m thinking this will be the weekend I give em a try.
Yes, any green tomato. Just make sure they’re good and firm.
Oh, Lana, you beat me to the punch with this green tomato sandwich, which is far more interesting than what I had in mind. Although my FL garden tomato season will start up again in a few weeks, the NC farm tomatoes I just left, with night temperatures dropping down into the 40sF. were desperately in need of a green tomato recipe. I just love what you’ve done here: a perfect, deliciously Southern (waste-not-want-not) treat!
Thanks so much, Barbara. I love fried green tomatoes so it just seemed like a natural combination to me.
now this is my kind of sandwich – lawd have mercy! yes, I’ve had some Towanda moments (no, haven’t rammed anyone’s car) – and here’s hoping to more! Great job Lana!!
I think we all have a little bit of Towanda buried somewhere deep inside. Most of us just can’t let her out :-)
That’s so clever to make them into BLT’s. Thanks for sharing the fried green tomato recipe. I will have to try them with my tomatoes. -Tien
Yum! That’s a great idea! I have to admit I have never had fried green tomatoes. but I make regular fried tomatoes just about thew same way. They are yummy! I will have to try these :)
Now Lana why is it that just when I should be cutting back on the calories something this delicious shows up! Yummy-fun!
I’ve wanted to try fried green tomatoes before but not been brave enough. Maybe I’ll finally give this a go.
And I live for “Towanda” moments…it’s just that those moments, thus far, live in my head. ;-)
Frying tomatoes is really not difficult. It’s just about like frying potatoes or anything else. Do make sure you get good, firm green ones to make it as easy as possible.
Oh my goodness…this is making me drool!
This looks so yummy!! BLTs are my favorites…well anything with bacon is!