Photo credit: Till Westermayer

Waiting for produce to ripen has never been a real strength. I’ve been known to cut into rock solid peaches “just in case” or green avocados because they were a little softer than the day before, only to be pleasantly disappointed with what I knew was my fate all along. So as the forest of tomato plants in our back yard bursts with giant, green tomatoes, I’m bursting with an impatience I can’t tame. Those red juicy tomatoes will be SO SOFT AND BUTTERY, but I simply can’t wait! Today, I picked a handful of green tomatoes, sliced them up and lightly fried them. But WOW. Impatience can be delectable! Here’s how I made them, and how the critics felt about the creation:

Photo Credit: Bitchin' Dietitian

Ripen Already! Fried Green Tomatoes
Makes 3-5 servings, depending on who’s at the table

3 slices high-fiber multigrain bread
6 fresh basil leaves
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp sea salt
3 green tomatoes, sliced into 1/4-inch thick slices

Blend bread, basil, spices, and salt together into a moist, smooth bread crumble. Pour mixture into a pie dish or other baking dish (something good for dipping tomato slices).

Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.

Sprinkle tomato slices with water, then dip/press bread crumb mixture onto both sides, and place in skillet. Cook 3-5 minutes on each side, covering pan to prevent oil from spattering, but to also speed up the cooking without a lot of oil. Serve hot.

Nutrition Info (1/4 of recipe): 161 calories, 11 g fat, 1.5 g sat fat, o mg cholesterol, 274 mg sodium, 16 g carbs, 6 g fiber, 1.5 g sugar, 3 g protein, 11% vitamin A, 30% vitamin C, 8% calcium, 7 % iron.

What the Critics Said:
Bitchin’ Dietitian: “Soft and buttery without the wait! A fairytale!”
Bitchin’ Husband: (skeptical…) “Wow, These are awesome. SO delicious.”
5-Year-Old: “Ew. Can I spit this out?”
3-Year-Old: “I don’t like this!! HELP!!!” (followed by a grand spit-out)
1-Year-Old: (if he could talk) “What’s wrong with brother and sister? These things are ridiculously delicious!!” (shoving all of his, sister’s, and brother’s in his mouth)

I also steamed a batch of sliced green tomatoes with fresh basil and salt, and they were surprisingly delightful. Other garden recipes that have worked or flopped this summer?