Picture this: it's a late autumn afternoon and you're strolling through your garden. Suddenly, you come across a handful of green, unripe tomatoes that didn't quite make it to the perfect red stage. Before you toss them aside, consider this - these green tomatoes hold the potential for a delicious and unique treat: Green Tomato Bread.
Say what now?! Green tomatoes... in BREAD?!
Yes, it is similar in taste and texture to a zucchini bread and is a healthier alternative to Fried Green Tomatoes.
I had a tomato vine break from the weight of the fruit. Since I didn't have all of the ingredients for Green Tomato Chow Chow, I opted to make a healthier version of a recipe in The Beverly Lewis Amish Cookbook that calls for a half cup of oil and sugar per loaf of bread. Eek!
I reduced both the oil and sugar plus swapped in some whole wheat flour. It was moist and lightly sweet.
More sugar would have made it too sweet.
What kind of tomatoes to use for Green Tomato Bread?
The key to this recipe is to use unripe tomatoes. Not tomatillos or green zebras that are green when ripe. Well, you can use those, if they are not yet ripe.
As you can see from the photos, I used a few tomatoes that were beginning to turn color, but they were still very firm and had very little juices.
Ripe tomatoes will be too soft and will make the bread mushy.
You can use cherry, grape Roma, beefsteak, etc. any tomato you have as long as they are still hard.
Go pick a few of your un-ripened tomatoes, or save this recipe for use at the end of the season. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with this delightful bread.
Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup vegetable or canola oil
- ¼ cup low or non fat yogurt
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup sugar (or honey)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup green tomatoes (diced into small chunks)
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup whole wheat flour (or use all-purpose flour)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup nuts (chopped)
- ½ cup raisins (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8x4 inch loaf pan.
- In a large bowl combine oil, yogurt, eggs, sugar (or honey), vanilla and tomatoes.
- Add flour, baking powder and baking soda and mix until all ingredients are wet. Stir in nuts and raisins. Pour into prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for approximately 40-45 minutes until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool on a baking rack.
Until next time, happy eating.
~Audrey
Carlee @cookingwithcarlee
What an interesting idea! I have never heard of green tomato bread, but it is always nice to have a way to use the tomatoes that come off before they are ripe. I will have to give this a try!
Audrey
Thanks, Carlee.
Ashley
Yum! This looks really tasty! I've never had any tomato bread before! Thanks for sharing with us at the Merry Monday link party. Hope you'll link up with us again next week. Sharing your post on Twitter!
Audrey
The recipe was so unique when I saw it I had to try it
Staci
This is intriguing - I think I'm going to have to try it! Thanks for sharing your recipe at Talented Tuesday!
Audrey
Thanks for stopping by.
Erin
For future bakers of this bread: this is a small loaf so use an 8x4 pan if you want a single loaf. I LOVE that this quick bread has just a touch of sweetness. Thank you!! It's just enough that the recipe can be tweaked to make it savory, too! Due to celiac disease AND a dairy allergy, I used King Arthur Measure For Measure and Kite Hill plain yogurt to make this gluten- and dairy-free. I opted for a jumbo egg, walnuts, and dates in place of raisins. I almost can't wait to make it again!
Audrey
Thanks for the tip on the bread pan size. I will update my recipe to specify that. I'm happy to hear you were able to adapt this to your diet, and the dates and walnuts sound like a great substitution for the raisins.
Marie challender
Turned out wonderful! Loved the combination of ingredients, will make it again. Thank you…..Marie
Reene
What can I use instead of yogurt? I am making this today and don’t have any yogurt. It looks amazing. Excited!!!
Audrey
The original recipe used vegetable oil. You could also use applesauce.