Green tomatoes offer a different taste profile than the red tomatoes you may be used to, but they are packed with nearly the same amount of nutritional benefits. While consuming unripe vegetables may seem odd, these firm, smooth-skinned, green tomatoes make a surprisingly great addition to many meals.
Health Benefits of Green Tomatoes
- Vitamin C – Green tomatoes contain the same amount of vitamin C as their ripe, red counterparts. Vitamin C helps strengthen immunity, which is essential in fighting off illnesses, protection against cardiovascular disease, and maintaining healthy teeth, gums, bones, and skin. Incorporating cooked green tomatoes into your diet is a great way to boost vitamin C intake. One cup of green tomatoes benefits the body as much as 42 milligrams of vitamin C, and one medium-sized green tomato has approximately 29 milligrams, which eliminates free-radicals that cause cell damage.
- Beta-Carotene – Eating one medium, green tomato can provide you with 790 international units of vitamin A in the form of antioxidant beta-carotene. Adding one cup of unripe tomatoes in your diet supplies about 623 milligrams of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene helps produce vitamin A, crucial for your eye health, production of white blood cells, and proper cell division.
- Vitamin K – Vitamin K is vital for bone strength and density, and normal blood clotting. About 12.5 milligrams of vitamin K can be found in one medium-sized, green tomato.
- Other Nutrients – One full cup of green tomato is packed with several additional nutrients, including 367 milligrams of potassium and 23 milligrams of calcium. Other nutrients include protein, phosphorus, and magnesium.
Delicious Green Tomato Recipes
If your garden is still brimming with unripe, green tomatoes, you may be wondering what to do with them before they get damaged by the colder weather. There are numerous delicious ways to incorporate green tomatoes into your daily cooking and take advantage of their amazing health benefits. Here are is a sample of some delicious recipes to help you get the most out of your green tomato harvest.
Green Tomato Rice – Green tomatoes can add vibrancy to a simple dish. Take advantage of those late-season, green tomatoes and incorporate them into this delicious rice dish. Serve it on the side with pork or beef roast, or add your favourite protein into the rice for a complete meal.
Ingredients:
- 4 medium-sized, green tomatoes, peeled and chopped
- 2 cups unsalted/low sodium chicken stock
- 1 cup long-grain rice
- 4 strips bacon, diced into one-inch each
- 8 bunch green onions, chopped
- 1 clove minced garlic, crushed
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Dash of dried thyme
- 1 minced jalapeño, seed removed (optional)
- Tabasco sauce (optional)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Steps:
- Fry bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels. Drain excess drippings from pan, leaving one tablespoon.
- Saute green onions for one minute.
- Add green tomatoes and sauté for another minute.
- Add jalapeño (if using) and garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
- Add rice, chicken stock, thyme, Tabasco sauce (if using), black pepper, and salt to taste. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low, stir the mixture well, cover, and let simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, or until rice is cooked.
- Sprinkle bacon and garnish with Parmesan (if desired) before serving.
Green Tomato Pie – Made with green tomato filling, sugar, and cinnamon, this deliciously sweet and spicy pie makes a perfect treat for your family and friends, no matter the occasion.
Ingredients:
- 6 to 8 medium-sized, green tomatoes, peeled and sliced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Pastry for a 9-inch, 2-crust pie
Steps:
- Combine tomatoes, lemon juice, lemon zest, cinnamon, and salt in a saucepan and stir frequently over low heat.
- Mix sugar and cornstarch in a separate bowl and pour into the spiced tomato mixture, stirring constantly until clear.
- Add butter and remove saucepan from heat. Set it aside until slightly cooled.
- Line a 9-inch pie plate with the bottom crust and pour in the cooled mixture. Top with the other pastry,, seal edges, and crimp edges with a fork. Make several tiny slits on the top crust to allow steam to escape.
- Bake pie at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 to 45 minutes, or until crust is nicely browned.
Fried Green Tomatoes – This easy-to-make recipe is named after a popular novel called Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe (later made into a movie). What makes this dish so addictive is that the tomatoes are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Enjoy it as an appetizer, use the tomatoes on sandwich, or serve as a party snack along with a delicious remoulade sauce or Sriracha mayonnaise.
Ingredients:
- 4 to 6 medium-sized, green tomatoes, sliced
- ½ cup cornmeal or breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Bacon grease or vegetable oil for frying
Steps:
- Place eggs, flour, and cornmeal in three separate bowls, large enough to fit the size of the sliced tomatoes.
- Add a dash of salt and pepper to tomato slices.
- Dust slices lightly with flour and bathe them in beaten eggs. Allow slices to drip off and coat them well in the breadcrumbs.
- Fry coated slices over medium heat, about three minutes on each side, or until browned.
- Drain on a paper towel-lined plate and cool.
Green Tomato Relish – Did you know that green tomatoes also make a delicious substitute for pickles? Use them to make relish, an excellent condiment for sandwiches, potatoes, and burgers. A jar of green tomato relish also makes an amazing gift for your friends and family.
Ingredients:
- 24 large, green tomatoes
- 3 large, red bell peppers, seeded and halved
- 3 large, green bell peppers, seeded and halved
- 12 large onions
- 2 cups cider vinegar
- 5 cups white sugar
- 3 tablespoons mustard seeds
- 3 tablespoons celery seeds
- 1 tablespoon salt
Steps:
- Place tomatoes, red and green bell peppers, and onions into a food processor or blender and pulse until mixture is coarse. Transfer to a large colander lined with cheesecloth and allow it to drain for one hour.
- Combine drained tomato mixture with the rest of the ingredients in a large, non-aluminum stockpot. Let it boil and simmer over low heat for five minutes, stirring constantly.
- Transfer relish into 12 one-pint or 6 one-quart sterilized jars. Fill jars all the way to the top and check that there are no air pockets. Secure lids tightly.
- Put a rack inside a large stockpot. Carefully place jars on the rack leaving two inches between each jar. Fill pot with water until it is about two inches above the jars. Bring water to a boil. Add more boiling water, as necessary, to keep the jars covered with liquid. Cover stockpot and allow it boil for 30 minutes.
- Remove jars and place them on a wooden surface, leaving space between each jar. Once cool, press your finger on top of the lid to check if the seal is tight.
Green Tomato and Bacon Soup – This dish is comforting on a cold day. Serve it with a nice loaf of crusty bread.
Ingredients:
- 5 cups green tomatoes, chopped
- 8 bacon strips, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 small-sized red onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- ½ teaspoon celery salt to taste
- 1 bay leaf
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Steps:
- Cook bacon in a pot over medium-low heat for five minutes or until crisp. Add onion and garlic and stir for about 10 minutes or until onion is tender. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 40 minutes, or until tomatoes are tender.
- Serve and enjoy.
- Cool any leftover soup, store in a container, and place it in the freezer. Reheat anytime.
Protecting tomatoes from the cold temperature is crucial in keeping your plants healthy during autumn. When the temperature starts to drop, you may be at risk of losing the green tomatoes left in the garden. Covering your plants does not always protect them from frost. Once you’ve dug up your tomato plants this fall, take time to care for your trees and shrubs before winter. Call a certified arborist for help.
Call Great Northern ReGreenery at (905) 775-7444 for professional and reliable tree service in Bradford. Fill out our information form to book a free inspection and assessment of your plants.