Air Fryer Fried Red Tomatoes
Air fryer fried red tomatoes are a delicious twist on the classic Southern comfort food fried green tomatoes. Crispy and crunchy on the outside just like classic but with a juicy ripe tomato slice on the inside!
There’s nothing like a fresh garden tomato!
I always grow so many and want to enjoy them in all the ways possible.
This means thinking beyond adding them to sandwiches and salads but making them into the star of their own delicious dishes.
Like these fried red tomatoes in the air fryer!
Sure, everyone knows about fried green tomatoes.
They are a Southern classic and the name of an iconic movie for that matter, but you have not lived until you have tried fried red tomatoes!
It’s an entirely new dish thanks to the extra sweetness of the ripe tomatoes but equally as comforting and delicious as the dish you know.
Ingredients
To make these you’ll need:
- Tomatoes– Large, ripe, red tomatoes.
- Cornmeal– Self rising yellow cornmeal
- Flour– All purpose
- Breadcrumbs– Panko provides the perfect texture
- Buttermilk– Don’t have any? You can make your own by adding a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a cup of milk.
- Coarse salt
How to Make Fried Red Tomatoes in the Air Fryer
Air fryer fried red tomatoes are fairly easy to make!
Just slice the tomatoes in 1/4 inch thick slices.
Lay the slices flat on a layer of paper towels and pat them dry to remove the extra moisture.
Then set up a battering station.
To do this, add the buttermilk to a shallow bowl, whisk the cornmeal and panko together in a second bowl, and add the flour to a plate.
Then dip one tomato slice into the flour to coat it evenly, followed by the buttermilk, and then the panko mixture.
Make sure to shake the excess flour off before dipping it in the buttermilk and press the breading into tomato if needed to help it stick.
Put the battered tomato slice on a tray lined with parchment paper.
Repeat this until all the tomato slices are breaded.
Liberally spray nonstick spray on the basket of your air fryer.
Put 4 to 5 breaded tomato slices in the basket and spray the tops with nonstick spray.
Air fry the red tomatoes at 390 for 5 to 7 minutes.
Carefully flip the slices over with tongs and air fry them for an additional 5 minutes.
Transfer them to a waiting plate and sprinkle them with salt.
Repeat this until you have air fried all the tomatoes.
Serve and enjoy!
What to Serve with Fried Red Tomatoes
These are delicious as an appetizer with ranch dressing to dip into them!
You could also use them in a BLT or any other sandwich instead of plain tomato slices.
Storing Leftovers
These are best the day you make them but you can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
I highly recommend reheating them in the oven or air fryer and not in the microwave so they crisp back up.
Tips and Tricks
- You want a hearty, meaty variety of tomato for this recipe. I use beefsteak or heirloom, something that yields a thick, fleshy steak like cut.
- Make sure you are slicing the tomatoes nice and thick! You want them to be at least 1/4 inch thick and no thinner. The thickness helps the tomatoes hold up.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer.
Other Air Fryer Recipes
Air fryer fried red tomatoes are a delicious spin on the classic dish.
Make them and enjoy!
Looking for other air fryer recipes?
Try these:
If you’ve tried these AIR FRYER FRIED RED TOMATOES, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Air Fryer Fried Red Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 3 large ripe red tomatoes
- 1 cup self rising yellow cornmeal
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 3 tbsp course salt
Instructions
- Slice the tomatoes into 1/4" slices laying the slices flat on a layer of paper towels. Gently pat dry.3 large ripe red tomatoes
- Add the buttermilk to a shallow bowl, and set aside. Add both the cornmeal and panko to another shallow bowl, whisking together until evenly combined, and set aside. Add the flour to a plate, and set aside.1 cup self rising yellow cornmeal, 1 cup panko bread crumbs, 1 cup buttermilk, 1 cup flour
- Working with one tomato slice at a time dip it in the flour to evenly coat on both sides. Shake off excess then dip it in the buttermilk, turning to coat evenly. Transfer to the panko mixture, turning to coat evenly and pressing the breading in- if needed to ensure it sticks evenly.
- Transfer the breaded tomato slice to a parchment paper lined baking tray, and repeat until all slices have been evenly coated and are also on the prepared baking sheet.
- Liberally spray the basket of your air fryer with non stick cooking spray. Cook in batches of 4-5 so you don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Spritz the tops with non stick cooking spray.
- Cook at 390° for 5-7 minutes. Using tongs gently flip each slice over, then continue cooking another 5 minutes.
- Transfer the fried red tomatoes to a waiting plate using tongs, then sprinkle with salt.3 tbsp course salt
- Continue cooking until all the tomatoes have been air fried, then serve immediately.
Notes
- You want a hearty, meaty variety of tomato for this recipe. I use beefsteak or heirloom, something that yields a thick, fleshy steak like cut.
- Make sure you are slicing the tomatoes nice and thick! You want them to be at least 1/4 inch thick and no thinner. The thickness helps the tomatoes hold up.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer.
Nutrition
