Using Green Tomatoes

What to do when you can’t let them ripen on the vine

Green tomatoes in my garden — Shefali O’Hara

Farmers who grow tomatoes sometimes have to harvest them before they are fully ripe. This is due to adverse weather. If there is a threat of an early frost, best harvest no matter what state the tomatoes are in.

Thanks to unseasonably cold weather where I live, I may have to harvest my tomatoes while they are still green.

If the tomatoes have started to turn red, I can let them ripen on the counter or in a paper bag. If they are mostly ripened, they will taste as yummy as if they were fully ripened when I picked them.

If the tomatoes are totally green, though, it’s better to just use them that way and to enjoy the tart flavor.

The first time I tried really delicious fried green tomatoes was when my ex-husband’s cousins came to stay with us in Colorado for a few days. They made us a batch as a special treat.

There are Southern families that have passed down their recipes for fried green tomatoes for several generations. Another Southern option for using green tomatoes is chow chow. Frankly, this is probably a healthier option as it isn’t battered and deep fried.

To make chow chow, you basically pickle the green tomatoes. Usually onions are added along with pickling…