Low Carb, Keto Fried Tomatoes with Mozzarella, Basil and Balsamic Reduction
These low carb, keto fried tomatoes with mozzarella, basil and balsamic reduction are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Farm-fresh tomatoes are breaded in a gluten-free, grain-free grated parmesan mixture, fried until crispy, topped with melted mozzarella and fresh basil and drizzled with a homemade balsamic vinegar reduction.
Slice tomatoes 1/2-inch thick and drain on a paper towel.
In a small saucepan, bring the balsamic vinegar to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened. It will be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon when you dip it. The time will vary greatly depending on the size of your pot and your exact temperature. The recipe only calls for half of what you're making. If you have a tiny pot that can successfully boil and simmer only a half cup without burning it, go for it. I don't. You will need to keep a close watch on it to keep it from overcooking. If it smells burnt, dump it out and redo it.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk the egg until mixed well.
Heat cooking oil in a deep fryer to 375°F. Follow your deep fryer manual for the minumum amount of oil required and usage instructions.
Preheat your oven's broiler.
While the oil is warming up, whisk the next six ingredients in a separate bowl.
You will need to fry in batches. Pat tomato slices dry. Depending on the size of your deep fryer, dip 2-3 tomato slices in the egg and shake until dripping stops. Coat with the breading mixture and drop into the oil, careful not to splatter or touch the other tomatoes.
Fry for about 2 minutes, turning halfway through just until each side is golden brown. Drain on a paper towel and then move to a baking sheet. Continue frying the tomato slices in batches until finished.
Drizzle fried tomato slices with HALF OF the balsamic reduction and sprinkle evenly with cheese. Place under the broiler just until the cheese is melted.
Allow tomato slices to cool for a couple of minutes while you chiffonade the basil. Top with basil and serve immediately. These will not keep well for leftovers.
Reserve the other half of the balsamic reduction in the fridge for another recipe.
Notes
Do not chiffonade the basil until you're ready to serve, or it will turn black.
These keto fried tomatoes will not keep well. Just make what you'll eat in one sitting, and make sure you eat them immediately after cooking.
Finally, these are not crispy, firm, eat-like-a-chip green tomatoes. These are moist, juicy, eat-with-a-fork and love-with-your-soul vine-ripend tomatoes.
For keto fried green tomatoes, hang tight for my next recipe, complete with homemade pimento cheese.
The nutrition facts are for 1/6 of the recipe, or about half of a medium tomato, fried. Please adjust accordingly for your own diet and nutritional needs. I am not qualified to make recommendations or give nutritional advice.
A Note on Nutrition FactsPlease note: The nutrition facts do not include the frying oil. To calculate the macros for the oil you use, please record how much you start with and subtract how much you end with (after it cools). This will give you the amount left in your food that you need to plug into My Fitness Pal or Carb Manager, and then you can divide by the number of servings. The amount of oil soaked up by your fried pickles may vary significantly from mine depending on what kind you use, the exact temperature of the oil and how long you cook yours. I am not a nutritional expert or medical professional.Nutritional information for my recipes are provided as a courtesy and are only an approximation. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of any nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site. Erythritol and monk fruit carbs are not included in the nutritional information as they have been shown to have a low impact on blood sugar. Those with Diabetes or other health-related issues may need to calculate net carbs differently. If you need help managing or calculating carbs, ask your doctor or dietician for guidance. Net carbs provided are the total carbs less fiber and sugar alcohols. For the most accurate nutritional information, please calculate with your own specific ingredients using a program like Carb Manager or My Fitness Pal.