Exotic Fried Green Tomatoes

• 4 medium, firm green tomatoes
• 1/2 cup shelled pistachios
• 1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
• 2 tsps garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• Canola or olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsps chopped herbs (I used chives, parsley & mint)
• 1 cup low-moisture shredded mozzarella*

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
2. Trim the ends off of the tomatoes, and cut into 1/4 " slices. In the food processor, pulse pistachios, until they are almost a coarse meal. Add bread crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, black pepper, and salt and pulse until the mixture looks like a fine crumb. Pour breading mixture into a bowl or baking dish.
3. Pour buttermilk into a separate bowl. Dip tomato slices in the buttermilk and then dredge in the breading mixture. Pat the breading mixture on to create an even coat that sticks. Place on a rack on a baking sheet.
4. Heat a 1/2" of oil with butter over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven or cast iron skillet. Fry tomatoes in batches for 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Place back on the rack over the baking sheet.
5. In a bowl, combine chopped herbs and mozzarella. Sprinkle over fried tomato slices and bake in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve immediately.
6. *I used low-moisture, shredded mozzarella in place of slices of buffalo mozzarella here in order to keep the tomatoes crispy.

firm green tomatoes, shelled pistachios, bread crumbs, garlic, onion, cayenne, black pepper, salt, buttermilk, olive oil, butter, herbs, mozzarella

Taken from food52.com/recipes/6794-exotic-fried-green-tomatoes (may not work)