Tomato Sandwiches Become Twice As Southern With This One Swap

A classic tomato sandwich begins the same way every time: soft bread, a spread of mayonnaise, some salt, and most importantly, ripe, summery-fresh tomatoes. Unexpected as it may sound, swapping out the tomatoes might just get you something even better, laced with the decadent comfort of Southern cuisine. All you need is just one beloved Southern staple, and that is fried green tomatoes.

Fried green tomatoes are exactly what the name suggests. Green tomatoes, harvested before they fully ripen into those bright-red fruits you've grown familiar with, are breaded and deep fried. In Southern cuisine, it can appear with a side of remoulade, slathered with pimento cheese, or on top of grits or countless other Southern side dishes you need to try at least once. This makes it an undeniable shortcut to giving any dish a true Southern twist.

In your sandwich, fried green tomatoes can simply be used in place of the fresh tomatoes, right between mayo-spread slices, and perhaps accompanied by a few other fresh veggies. Rather than that familiar, flavor-bursting juiciness, you will get a crisp bite with this substitute, giving way to the softness within. Green tomatoes are also a bit more tart than ripe ones, and when deep-fried, they take on a savory warmth that give your tomato sandwich a brand new flavor edge.

Don't feel like you have to ditch ripe tomatoes just because you've already got fried green ones. Fresh tomatoes and fried green tomatoes can, in fact, go together in a sandwich. Maybe even add bacon and lettuce for a leap into BLT territory. Other veggies that frequently appear in Southern cuisine can also make for phenomenal additions, such as collard greens and fried okra. Proteins can also join in should you ever want to make a more substantial meal out of your sandwich. Fried shrimp coated in remoulade sauce, buttermilk fried chicken, fried catfish, and more — just take your pick for the most satisfying on-the-go lunch.

Intensifying the taste profile, there's another Southern staple that does the job spectacularly: pimento cheese. Layer it with the mayonnaise as you spread them both onto the bread slices, and enjoy the extra touch of spicy, tangy richness. Alternatively, instead of plain mayo, whip up a Southern-inspired aioli sauce laced with Cajun seasoning, Creole mustard, or smoked paprika.

In terms of seasoning, you might find a curried fried green tomato sandwich to be quite the delight. Curry powder mixed straight into the breading gives the tomatoes a subtly spicy, aromatic coat of flavor that instantly takes the sandwich to the next level. Other times, when all you want is a waft of smokiness in the undertone, mixing smoked paprika into the batter is the way to go.