13 Delicious Ways to Eat Green Tomatoes

Not to be confused with heirloom varieties that are green when fully ripe, these recipes call for green tomatoes — or, those lovely unripe tomatoes that are left in your garden when the growing season ends. Although you're done growing tomatoes for the year (and it's too late for them to ripen on the vine) there are lots of delicious ways to use these culinary gems. Green tomatoes have a dense texture that allows them to stand up to a variety of cooking methods — and their tart flavor brings a welcome freshness to rich or spicy dishes. There are lots of ways to eat them (including everyone’s favorite, fried green tomatoes) but this salad is a good starting place for beginners; simply slice the tomatoes, cook them quickly to soften and then toss with a tangy homemade dressing.

You don’t need a fryer to make great green tomatoes! Dip tomato slices in flour, buttermilk and a panko mixture for tons of crunch and delicious flavor — no excess oil needed.

Bobby’s tasty sliders are everything you want in an appetizer for a crowd. He tops fried green tomatoes with a tangy goat cheese mayo and a salty-spicy relish, then sandwiches each slice between a soft potato roll.

Michael’s pickled tomatoes are a bit of a project, but they’re so worth the effort. He incorporates Fresno chiles into his pickle brine for a fiery kick!