Air-Fried Green Tomatoes
Crunchy on the outside and perfectly delicious, these Air-Fried Green Tomatoes make a terrific healthy appetizer or side dish. They are even great for sandwiches!
Sometime back, a follower messaged me to ask if I could come up with an oil-free, dairy-free version of fried green tomatoes, and I am so happy with the results! These air fryer green tomatoes are so good because they’re perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, offering a deliciously healthy twist on a Southern classic that’s both vegan and oil-free. Enjoy all the flavor with none of the guilt!
These can be baked in an oven, and I have included instructions. However, if you have an air fryer, that’s really the best cooking method to get the tomato slices nice and crunchy. Other crunchy oil-free side dishes are my air fried potato wedges, these oil-free french fries, and our air fryer baked potatoes.
Are fried green tomatoes just unripe tomatoes?
Mostly the answer is yes. However, there is a less common heirloom variety of tomatoes that is green even when ripe. Most of the time though, the fried green tomatoes you’ll run into are just unripe red tomatoes.
My understanding is that real green tomatoes–the heirloom type–have verticle stripes and different colorings mingled in. They are also softer and sweeter because they are fully ripe.
Personally, I think unripe tomatoes are better for this recipe because they are firmer and less sweet.
Reasons you will love this recipe
- Crispy and Delicious: These air-fried green tomatoes deliver a satisfyingly crispy texture on the outside with a tender, juicy interior, making them a mouthwatering snack or side dish.
- Healthier Alternative: Made in the air fryer, these tomatoes are a healthier alternative to traditional fried versions, offering all the flavor without the oil and calories.
- Vegan and Oil-Free: This recipe is both vegan and oil-free, making it an inclusive dish that everyone can enjoy, regardless of dietary preferences or restrictions. They can even easily be made gluten-free.
Ingredients needed
This recipe doesn’t require a lot of ingredients. Everything is wholesome, and you might even already have everything you’ll need.
- Green tomatoes- Use unripe red tomatoes or the true green heirloom variety.
- Flour- I use whole wheat flour, but other types can also be used, even gluten-free flour.
- Flax egg- These are simple to make with a little flax meal and water.
- Cornmeal- I use coarse yellow cornmeal.
- Bread crumbs- Panko or other varieties work well. There are even gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Seasoning- The spices that I like to use are garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, nutritional yeast, parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Lime juice- This is for spritzing during the cooking process. Water can also be used.
How to make fried green tomatoes
The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.
STEP #3: Place the flour in a shallow bowl or dish. This can even be done on a paper plate if you want to mess up fewer dishes. In another medium bowl, stir together the corn meal, bread crumbs, and spices. Line the three bowls up in the order that they will be used–flour, flax egg, and bread crumb/cornmeal mixture.
STEP #4: Coat each tomato slice in flour by rolling it around in the dish until completely covered. Next, dip it into the flax egg bowl to coat it well. Lastly, press it into the breadcrumb mixture firmly on each side. Place each tomato slice onto a plate or platter and continue the process until every piece has been battered.
STEP #5: Mist each side of the battered tomatoes with lime juice or water in a spray bottle. This is for flavor and to keep the batter from being too crumbly. Place the slices into your air fryer in a single layer and sprinkle a little more garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt on top if desired. Be sure not to overlap the slices or they won’t cook evenly. You will likely need to cook these in a couple of batches.
Set the air fryer temperature to 400°F and the time to 10 minutes. Check them after 5-8 minutes to make sure they are cooking evenly. If they are drying out too much, spritz them with a little more lime juice or water.
STEP #6: Once cooked, serve immediately while still warm.
I highly recommend whipping up a batch of my Chipotle Sauce to dip them into because it’s out of this world. I’m serious here, the sauce will take these fried tomatoes to a whole new level, just trust me!
Tips & Suggestions
- Oven cooking method- These can also be made in your oven. Preheat the temperature to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and lay the battered slices in a single layer. Bake for 10 minutes until golden on the top. Flip them over, spritz the other side with lime juice and cook for another 8-10 minutes until browned on top.
- Choosing tomatoes- Even though red tomatoes can be air-fried, green tomatoes work best. I did both and found that the green ones are much firmer and better suited for air frying. The red tomatoes were just too soft and sweet for my taste.
- Spritz- I highly recommend spritzing the tomato slices with lime juice to keep the batter from becoming too dried out. Water can be used, but lime (or lemon) juice gives a great added flavor.
Dipping Sauce Ideas
Please, try my chipotle sauce with this recipe. It’s not too spicy unless you want it to be. Here are some great dipping sauce options.
If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it by rating it and leaving a comment. We love to hear from you!
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from EatPlant-Based
Crispy Air Fried Green Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 2 medium green tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons flax meal
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1 heaping tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Begin by washing and then cutting the green tomatoes into 1/4″ to 1/2" slices.
- Make flax eggs by combining 2 tablespoons and 1/2 cup warm water in a bowl. Whisk together vigorously. Allow it to sit for about 5-minutes to gel up to the consistency of egg whites.
- Place the flour in a shallow bowl or dish. This can even be done on a paper plate if you want to mess up fewer dishes. In another medium bowl, stir together the cornmeal, bread crumbs, and spices.
- Line the three bowls up in the order that they will be used–flour, flax egg, and bread crumb/cornmeal mixture.
- First, coat each tomato slice in flour by rolling it around in the dish until completely covered. Next, dip it into the flax egg bowl to coat well. Lastly, press it into the bread crumb mixture firmly on each side.
- Place each tomato slice onto a plate or platter and continue the process until every piece has been battered.
- Mist each side of the battered tomatoes with lime juice or water in a spray bottle. This is for flavor and to keep the batter from being too crumbly.
- Place the slices into your air fryer in a single layer and sprinkle a little more garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt on top if desired. Be sure not to overlap the slices or they won’t cook evenly. You will likely need to cook these in a couple of batches.
- Set the air fryer temperature to 400°F and the time to 10 minutes. Check them after 5-8 minutes to make sure they are cooking evenly. If they are drying out too much, spritz them with a little more lime juice or water.
- Once cooked, serve immediately while still warm. I highly recommend whipping up a batch of my Chipotle Sauce (link below in NOTES) to dip them into because it’s out of this world. I’m serious here…the sauce will take these fried tomatoes to a whole new level, just trust me! I've also included more dipping sauce options below.
Video
Notes
- Oven cooking method- These can also be made in your oven. Preheat the temperature to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and lay the battered sliced in a single layer. Bake for 10 minutes until golden on the top. Flip them over, spritz the other side with lime juice, and cook for another 8-10 minutes until browned on top.
- Choosing tomatoes- Even though red tomatoes can be air-fried, green tomatoes work best. I did both and found that the green ones are much firmer and better suited for air frying. The red tomatoes were just too soft and sweet for my taste.
- Spritz- I highly recommend spritzing the tomato slices with lime juice to keep the batter from becoming too dried out. Water can be used, but lime (or lemon) juice gives a great added flavor.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
