Fried tomatoes, gently cooked in extra virgin olive oil and flavored with garlic, chili pepper bits, and a sprinkle of fresh mint. This vegan and gluten free tomato recipe is great as mezze or side with your favorite bread to sop up the delicious juices!

Today’s recipe is from The Arabesque Table: Contemporary Recipes from the Arab World by Reem Kassis.

Living in Atlanta, I know and love the iconic fried green tomatoes of the South–firm, slightly tangy, and covered in a crispy bread crumb topping. They are a delicious time-honored southern treat, and definitely worth a try!

But today, I’m sharing about a different fried tomato recipe that is closer to home for me: fried red tomatoes! Here, tomato halves gently cooked in olive oil and flavored with loads of garlic, chili pepper bits, and a sprinkle of fresh mint.

This recipe is from Reem Kassis’ latest book The Arabesque Table. I’ve had a copy of this book, featuring contemporary recipes from the Arab world, since early April and I have not been able to put it down! Not only is it a collection of delicious and approachable recipes anyone can make, but it encompasses the cuisine of the entire Arabic diaspora, from the first recorded recipe to the present. And through meticulous research and authentic storytelling, Reem has connected the dots across continents, cultures, and generations.

Fried tomatoes in frying pan

Fried red tomatoes

This is one of the simplest tomato recipes you’ll come across, but it boasts some bold flavors! There is no dredging or breading at all, making this recipe gluten free and vegan…and easy (less dishes to clean is always a plus).

To make this recipe, large fleshy red tomatoes are sliced in half through the equator, then gently pan fried in good extra virgin olive oi until tender.

And as the tomatoes cook, they will soften, oozing out some delicious juices that are infused with flavor from three simple ingredients: Garlic (lots of it), hot chilies (Reem recommends green chilies, but I had red so that is what I used).

Ingredients for fried tomatoes

What kind of tomatoes are best for frying?

Most people use large green tomatoes for frying. In this recipe, readily available large red tomatoes will work better. Large heirloom tomatoes of different colors are also great for frying using this same recipe, they will give you the most impressive presentation!

How to select tomatoes?

Whatever large tomatoes you decide to use, look for:

  • Smooth skin without blemishes
  • Tomatoes that are heavier for their size, this means they are on the juicy side
  • Firm enough but have some give when squeezed gently. But don’t worry, if you have some tomatoes that are a little more on the ripe side they will still work in this particular recipe
Tomatoes fried in frying pan

To Serve

For the perfect appetizer, serve these fried tomatoes with your favorite bread (I used pita). If you like, make these tomatoes the center of a Middle Eastern mezze table with other small plates like hummus, batata harra (spicy potatoes), kibbeh, or even za’atar manakish.

You can also serve them as a vegetarian side dish next to your favorite fish, grilled chicken, or lamb chops.

To store leftover fried tomatoes

I’ve made this recipe a few times now, and we never have leftovers. But if you do, you can lightly mash the cooked tomatoes with a fork or blitz in the blender and use in recipes that call for tomato sauce. Frozen leftovers will last for 2 months.

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4.88 from 78 votes

Garlic Fried Tomatoes

Suzy Karadsheh of The Mediterranean Dish. In the kitchenSuzy Karadsheh
Fried tomatoes topped with mint and minced garlic
Simple olive oil fried tomatoes with fresh garlic and mint. Serve these warm or at room temperature with your favorite bread (or pita) to mop up the delicious juices.
Prep – 5 minutes
Cook – 20 minutes
Cuisine:
Mediterranean, Middle Easter
Serves – 4 people
Course:
Appetizer, Side

Ingredients
  

  • 4 to 6 large vine ripe tomatoes, about 2 1/2 lb
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 10 garlic cloves, finely chopped (not crushed). See note*
  • 2 to 3 fresh green chilies, finely chopped (I used red chilies as that is what I had on hand)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Small bunch of fresh mint leaves, finely chopped, or 2 teaspoons dried mint

Instructions
 

  • Using a sharp knife, slice each tomato horizontally in half (through the equator).
  • Arrange the tomato halves cut-side down in a frying pan large enough to fit the pieces snugly. Pour the olive oil over the tomatoes and set the pan over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
  • Flip the tomatoes over and scatter half the garlic and chilies on the tomatoes and the other half in the oil (in the pan). Sprinkle with the salt, cover the pan, reduce the heat, and cook until the tomatoes have started to soften but still retain their shape, about 15 minutes. Check on the tomatoes several times while cooking and, tilting the pan, spoon some of the oil mixture over the tomatoes, cover the pan and cook for another minute or two.
  • When almost done, sprinkle the mint over the tomatoes, cover the, and cook for another minute or two.
  • Remove from the heat and serve immediately with fresh bread to mop up the delicious juices.

Notes

  • Serve these fried tomatoes with a loaf of your favorite bread or homemade pita
  • If 10 garlic cloves seems too much for your taste, you can start with half the amount. 
  • Leftovers: leftovers can be lightly mashed with a fork or blitzed in a blender and used as a tomato sauce base for any recipe calling for it. Frozen leftovers will keep for 2 months. 
  • Visit Our Shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including olive oils and spices. 
  • This recipe is from The Arabesque Table by Reem Kassis with permission from the author and publisher. 

Nutrition

Calories: 152.7kcalCarbohydrates: 7.3gProtein: 1.6gFat: 13.8gSaturated Fat: 1.9gSodium: 298.4mgPotassium: 321.8mgFiber: 1.6gSugar: 3.3gVitamin A: 1025.3IUVitamin C: 19.2mgCalcium: 26.2mgIron: 0.5mg
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I’m Suzy; born and bred right on the shores of the Mediterranean. I’m all about easy, healthy recipes with big Mediterranean flavors. Three values guide my cooking: eat with the seasons; use whole foods; and above all, share! So happy you’re here…
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4.88 from 78 votes (31 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Rani says:

    These looks absolutely delicious &so easy to make. Definitely going to try it.

    1. Suzy says:

      Hope you enjoy the recipe, Rani.

  2. Jeannie says:

    How do you keep the garlic from burning?

    1. Suzy says:

      Hi, Jeannie. By frying over medium heat and keeping a close I on it. I also tilt and shuffle the pan a bit during cooking to make sure the oil stays well distributed. Hope that helps!

  3. Alice says:

    Am I missing something? When do you use the other half of the 10 garlic cloves?

    1. Suzy says:

      Hi, Alice. After flipping the tomatoes over, you sprinkle half of the garlic/chili mixture on the tomatoes and half in the oil in the pan (step 3).

  4. GP says:

    What type of green chilies or red chilies do you use? We have different varieties so I was curious. Looking forward to making this. Thanks

  5. Ruth says:

    I love fried green tomatoes.I will definitely be trying /marking these for DH as soon as our tomatoes start coming in. Looks yummy!

  6. Becca says:

    I can’t wait for my home grown tomatoes to try this recipe.

    1. Suzy says:

      Hope you love it, Becca!

  7. Kristi says:

    Looks delicious!

  8. Julia says:

    5 stars
    Now this is my kind of an appetizer! Love how simple yet delicious it is!

  9. Biana says:

    5 stars
    Looks like a delicious summer side dish. Both simple and full of flavor.

  10. Jacqueline and says:

    5 stars
    Oh my ues! I could eat that whole plateful without sharing. Yum!

  11. Claudia Lamascolo says:

    5 stars
    Oh wow I eat tomatoes everyday and never heard of this method, this is going to be made today for lunch thanks so much!

    1. Suzy says:

      Hope you enjoyed it, Claudia!

  12. Beth says:

    5 stars
    We absolutely loved this recipe! So delicious and quick to. I can’t wait to get a few more ripe tomatoes to make this again! They have such great flavor!

  13. Carol Henry says:

    Yummy !!!

  14. Jeff in Houston says:

    5 stars
    Wow! Another great recipe…full of flavoe and easy to make. We had this last night with your Lebanese rice and vermicelli dish. We had these as sides to a roasted piece of beef skirt steak, chimichurri-style, and they all worked so well together.

    The tomatoes will now be a common side dish in our house! Thank you SO MUCH for this recipe share from your friend!

    Warmest respect!
    Jeff in Houston

    1. Suzy says:

      So glad you enjoyed it, Jeff!

  15. Karen says:

    I will try this once the summer tomatoes arrive. Beautiful!

    1. Suzy says:

      Enjoy!

  16. Isel says:

    This looks delicious! Will definitely be trying this recipe.

    1. Suzy says:

      Hope you enjoy it!