Another fall treat is green tomatoes which make a brief appearance at the farmers market when the weather threatens to destroy the tomatoes before they ripen. Ever since I first discovered them I eagerly await them each fall and this weekend they made their first appearance. Inevitably the first thing that I do with them is to make some fried green tomatoes which is a Southern dish where slices of green, unripe, tomatoes are coated in cornmeal and fried until crispy. After an initial batch of fried green tomatoes I wanted to combine them with another Southern delicacy, pimento cheese , a combination of cheddar cheese, pimentos and mayonnaise, and make, you guessed it, a fried green tomato and pimento cheese sandwich!
Pimento cheese was practically made for use in grilled cheese sandwiches especially when all melted and good and combined with crunchy and tangy green tomatoes and salty bacon! Pimento cheese, where have you been my whole life?
Bacon and Fried Green Tomato Pimento Grilled Cheese
Crispy fried tart green tomatoes with bacon in a grilled cheese sandwich with plenty of melted sweet and spicy pimento cheese!
ingredients
- 1 medium sized green tomato, sliced 1/4 inch thick
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2-4 strips bacon
- 1/4 cup masa harina (corn flour) or flour
- 1/4 cup cornmeal
- creole seasoning or salt and pepper, to taste
- oil or bacon grease for frying
- 2 strips bacon, cooked
- 1/2 cup pimento cheese (see below)
- 2 slices bread
- 1 tablespoon butter
directions
- Soak the green tomato slices in the buttermilk for at least 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Cook the bacon and set it aside on paper towels to drain.
- Mix the masa harina, cornmeal and creole seasoning and place it in a wide and shallow dish.
- Pull the tomato slices out of the buttermilk and dredge them in the cornmeal mixture.
- Fry the tomato slices in oil over medium heat until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minute per side and set aside to drain on paper towels.
- Heat a pan over medium heat.
- Butter the outside side of each slice of bread, place one slice in a pan buttered side down, spread on half of the cheese, then top with the the fried green tomato slices and bacon followed by the remaining cheese and slice of bread, buttered side up.
- Cook until golden brown on both sides and the cheese is melted, about 2-4 minutes per side.
Pimento Cheese
A Southern classic with cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, sweet pimiento peppers and a touch of heat.
ingredients
- 1/2 pound cheddar, shredded
- 1 (4 ounce) jar diced pimientos, drained
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 ounces cream cheese, room temperature and creamed
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- salt, pepper and cayenne to taste
directions
- Mix everything.
Minnie@thelady8home says
October 4, 2012 at 11:52 pmThat sandwich looks fabulous. I want to eat my computer screen. I am not kidding. It's delicious!!!!
Anonymous says
October 5, 2012 at 1:01 amWhy have I never thought of this?! Looks amazing!
mj121 says
October 5, 2012 at 2:29 amAgain, another mouth-watering recipe! Looks so yummy.
Felicia says
October 5, 2012 at 2:32 amThis looks amazing, but you so do not have to wait for fall!!! My favorite part of the summer is picking green tomatoes for fried green tomatoes. My family is lucky if any of our tomatoes ever ripen!!! Thanks for sharing, I'll be fixing this tomorrow for lunch and I'm pinning your recipe right away!
Joan says
October 5, 2012 at 3:10 amPimiento Cheese – with cream cheese ?????
Here is a Southern Living recipe for Pimiento Cheese …. a lot more authentic Southern-style Pimiento Cheese.Basic Pimiento Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1 (4-oz.) jar diced pimiento, drained
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. finely grated onion
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper
1 (8-oz.) block extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, finely shredded
1 (8-oz.) block sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
Stir together first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; stir in cheese. Store in refrigerator up to 1 week.
Other than that, it sounded pretty good.
Rosa's Yummy Yums says
October 5, 2012 at 6:27 amSinful! This sandwich is just awesome.
Cheers,
Rosa
Minnie(@thelady8home) says
October 5, 2012 at 9:13 amAmazing!!!! The first photograph, its telling how yummy this would be. Too tempting.
BTW do join my weekend dinner extravaganza. lets make the party a big success.
Joanne says
October 5, 2012 at 10:36 amI never realized that green tomatoes were a fall thing! This grilled cheese sounds absolutely addictive.
NotesFromAbroad says
October 5, 2012 at 1:04 pmThis looks ridiculously tasty. Especially since I cannot find pimiento cheese here . besitos, C
Mal says
October 5, 2012 at 2:20 pmAll that gooey cheese is making me seriously hungry. This looks awesome.
Have a lovely weekend!
Mal @ The Chic Geek
Rocky Mountain Woman says
October 5, 2012 at 5:27 pmThis is soo my kind of sandwich, but I have an issue with fried green tomatoes. I have to eat them plain on a plate until I can't eat anymore and I do it all during the month of Sept.
Maybe if I can get my fill this year (since the garden is still chugging along), I'll give this a try, because it does look like the best…sandwich…ever….
Anonymous says
October 7, 2012 at 7:41 amWow, that looks fantastic!
James says
October 8, 2012 at 9:35 pmYou're the sandwich man! You tried this one? http://chewwonthis.wordpress.com/2011/02/01/my-lunch-open-faced-steak-and-egg-sandwich/
James says
October 8, 2012 at 9:37 pmOh and I meant to say – I think this one would be great for the diet! (who's counting the calories anyway?!) 😉
Alan Benson says
October 9, 2012 at 3:36 amgenius
Alan Benson says
October 9, 2012 at 3:36 amGenius.
Kevin says
October 9, 2012 at 1:05 pmJames: Steak and egg sandwiches are definitely good!
Anonymous says
October 26, 2012 at 12:02 amYour sandwiches are the best. Hands down. This is so creative.