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Grilled Green Tomatoes

Food Wiki
During the summer season, grilled green tomatoes make for an ideal side dish. This rendition combines the slightly tangy flavor of underripe tomatoes with the smoky char from the grill, enhanced further by a delectable whipped goat cheese schmear. While green tomatoes are famously known in Southern cuisine for their role in dishes like fried green tomatoes, this lighter and healthier preparation showcases their deliciousness just as well. Pair them with other Southern-inspired recipes such as fried okra, Nashville hot chicken, and shoofly pie to experience the full taste of the American South.
Green tomatoes offer more than just their visually appealing pale color. With their firm texture and slightly tart flavor, they are perfectly suited for grilling. It's important to select green tomatoes that are not fully ripe yet, as opposed to varieties like Green Zebra tomatoes, which are green when fully ripe. The beauty of green tomatoes is their availability throughout many months of the year, ranging from May in the South to late fall in the North.
When preparing the whipped goat cheese schmear, opt for a soft, chèvre-style cheese. With just 2 tablespoons of heavy cream, this addition lightens the cheese while preserving its integrity as a complement to the tomatoes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine world cuisine
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 4 medium green tomatoes (about 2 lb. total), sliced ½" thick
  • 2 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
  • 3/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, divided
  • 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for grill and drizzling
  • 4 oz. goat cheese, softened
  • 2 tbsp. heavy cream
  • Zest of 1 lemon (about 2 tsp.)
  • 1/2 tsp. agave or honey
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes, plus more for garnish
  • 1/2 c. fresh basil leaves
  • Flaky sea salt, optional

Instructions
 

  • Season tomatoes on both sides with 1 tsp. kosher salt and ½ tsp. black pepper. Drizzle with 1 tbsp. oil. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, mix goat cheese, cream, lemon zest, agave, red pepper flakes, and remaining 1 tbsp. oil, 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, and 1/4 tsp. black pepper until well combined. Spread on a platter or plate.
  • Preheat a gas grill to high; clean and oil grates. Grill tomatoes until well-charred but not overly soft, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
  • Arrange tomatoes over goat cheese mixture. Drizzle with oil, then top with basil, sea salt, if using, and red pepper flakes. 
Keyword Grilled Green Tomatoes
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