Ingredients

1/2 cup light mayonnaise

1/4 cup roasted red peppers, drained

1 large clove garlic, coarsely chopped

2 pounds firm green tomatoes

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 large eggs

2/3 cup yellow cornmeal

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Pinch cayenne pepper

7 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil, for frying

Preparation

Aioli

  1. Combine mayonnaise, red peppers and garlic in a mini chopper. Process until well combined and fairly smooth, scraping down sides of chopper halfway through. Transfer to a small bowl. Refrigerate until serving. Tomatoes.
  2. Core tomatoes and cut a thin slice from top and bottom of each. Cut each tomato into three or four 1/4-inch-thick slices and dry slightly on paper towels. Sprinkle with 1/8 tsp of the salt.
  3. Combine flour and 1/8 tsp of the salt in a shallow dish. Lightly beat eggs in a second shallow dish; whisk together cornmeal, Parmesan, remaining 1/4 tsp salt, the black pepper and cayenne in a third shallow dish.
  4. Coat 6 of the tomato slices in seasoned flour, followed by egg, then cornmeal mixture. Heat oven to 200 degrees .
  5. Heat 3 tbsp of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the 6 coated tomato slices and fry for 2 minutes. Carefully flip over slices and fry an additional 2 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack and keep warm in oven. Repeat, coating all tomato slices with seasoned flour, egg and cornmeal mixture.
  6. Add 2 tbsp of the oil to skillet before frying each consecutive batch (you should have 2 more batches to fry). Serve tomatoes warm with aioli on the side.