The green tomatoes used in this recipe are unripe tomatoes. Unripe tomatoes are firmer and less juicy than their ripe counterparts. They are also tangier and milder in flavor, perfect for this batter-fried treatment Sliced Green Tomatoes (For Frying)

At the end of the gardening season, tomatoes don’t always have the warm weather needed to ripen. Recipes like this put them to good use, and are so beloved by some that they pick tomatoes early