This vegan fried green tomatoes recipe with spicy aioli is crispy perfection! A southern classic, made without animal products, is the tastiest seasonal side dish.

What Are Fried Green Tomatoes

Folks, pull up a chair and sit down to a plate of vegan fried green tomatoes just like at the Whistle Stop Cafe! This classic Southern side dish is made from unripe tomatoes which are firm and green. The tomatoes are sliced, battered, and fried to golden crispy perfection. Then dipped in spicy aioli. OMG swoon!

I make them non-stop this time of year because they are very seasonal and *very* delicious. Biting into that golden brown outside with a soft and tangy inside is an experience I can only describe as humble love.

They’re also dead simple to make vegan. Swap out traditional mayonnaise and milk with vegan mayonnaise and non-diary milk and you’re good to go!

Vegan fried green tomatoes with spicy aioli.

Where To Find Green Tomatoes

Here on the wet and rainy Olympic Peninsula, green tomatoes are harvested in late October after it is too cool for them to ripen on the vine and before any danger of frost.

We get them for about 3 short weeks. Because of this, you can only source them from local farms, or at your local farmer’s market. I’ve never seen a green tomato at the grocery store which makes them even more special.

Depending on your location and the demand, you may be able to find them at specialty grocery stores or online produce suppliers. I ended up with a big basket of green tomatoes from my greenhouse this year. They are what I used to test this recipe!

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll find the complete ingredient list with measurements and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here’s and overview of what you’ll need and some substitutions too.

Green tomatoes- These are unripe tomatoes with a firmer texture typically harvested before the first frost.

Vegan mayonnaise- provides a creamy, slightly sticky base, that holds the breadcrumbs firmly in place. It also adds subtle tangy richness. My favorite brand is Follow Your Heart.

Plant-based milk- is whisked with the vegan mayonnaise to create a smooth even coating for the green tomato slices. Use unsweetened soy, almond, oat, or cashew milk.

All-purpose flour- is the first coating and key for building crip even breading. It absorbs moisture from the tomato slices which helps the next layer stick. Use 1-1 gluten-free flour to make this recipe gluten-free.

Panko breadcrumbs- these will fry up to golden crispy perfection. Trust me, panko is the way to go. Use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten-free.

Salt and spices- Garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and salt mixed into the panko breadcrumbs add just the right amount of savory flavor.

High heat oil- These oils have a high smoke point and can reach the required 375° F / 190° C without burning. Good options are avocado oil, peanut oil, light olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil. Oil can be expensive, and you need a lot to fill the bottom of the pan, so I typically reach for canola oil.

How to Make Vegan Fried Green Tomatoes (with photos)

When you’re ready to make this recipe, scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post. You’ll find the complete ingredient list with measurements there.

1. Prepare your tomatoes. Look for tomatoes that are green and firm with no visible red showing. Slice them horizontally through the belly into ¼” thick rounds.

2. Get 3 separate shallow bowls to set up a dredging station. In the first bowl add the flour.

vegan mayonnaise and milk whisked in a bowl

3. In the second bowl whisk the vegan mayonnaise and plant-based milk until smooth.

4. In the third bowl mix the panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and salt.

Dredging station for fried green tomatoes.

Frying green tomatoes in a cast iron skillet.

5. Working one at a time, dredge each green tomato slice on all sides starting with the flour. Then dip it into the milk mixture. Lastly cover the tomato slice with spiced panko breadcrumbs. Set them aside as you go.

6. In a large cast iron skillet or heavy bottomed pan over medium-high heat, pour your chosen oil to fill the pan ½ inch deep. Heat the oil until simmering, around 375° F / 190 ° C.

7. Place green tomato slices, well-spaced, in the hot oil. Fry for around 2-3 minutes on each side until they are browned and crisp.

8. Rest the fried green tomatoes on a paper towel-lined plate or transfer them to a cooling rack placed over a baking tray to drain the excess oil. Sprinkle with salt and serve while warm with spicy aioli. Enjoy!

How to Make Spicy Aioli

Ingredients / Makes 1 cup

1 cup (200 g) of vegan mayonnaise

15 rings (~ ¼ cup) of spicy jarred peppers (I used Mama Lil’s)

Place the vegan mayonnaise and peppers in a food processor, blender, or use and immersion blender to blitz until creamy.

How to Store and Reheat

Store cooled tomatoes in a single layer in an airtight container in the fridge. If you need to stack them, separate with paper towels. They will keep for 2-3 days.

Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 375° F / 190° C for 5-10 minutes to restore crispiness. Avoid the microwave which makes them soggy.

Helpful Tips

Use green tomatoes with a firmer texture and no visible red showing. Red tomatoes will turn mushy and fall apart during the frying process.
Heat your oil until hot but not smoking, around 375° F / 190° C. This helps the batter seal and crisp quickly preventing soggy, greasy tomatoes.
Tap off excess panko breadcrumbs before frying. Extra crumbs will shed into the oil and quickly burn, creating a bitter taste.

Serving Suggestions

Vegan fried green tomatoes are the yummiest side dish and can be served a lot of different ways. Here are some great options:

Serve with your favorite dips like ketchup, ranch dressing, hot sauce, or aioli.
Stack on a burger in place of your regular tomato slice.
Layer them slider-style on toasted buns over smashed avocado topped with sliced radishes and microgreens.
They make a great salad addition. Serve them on a bed of mixed greens or arugula with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Enjoy a fried green tomato BLT with tempeh bacon.
Use the batter to fry onion rings, eggplant, or zucchini rounds.

We’re down to our last bag of green tomatoes from our CSA share and I’m saving them for movie night. Fried Green Tomatoes will be on our plates and on the screen. Have you seen it yet? If you haven’t it’s the perfect opportunity to put this yummy recipe into action!

"Towanda!"

X,o,

Vegan Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe With Spicy Aioli

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