Bert Christensen's Weird & Different Recipes

Fried Green Tomato Hornworms

What does a tomato hornworm taste like? Well, what would you taste like if you'd been stuffing yourself solely with tomato leaves for the better part of a month? Hornworms are ridiculously chlorophyll-rich. They taste great with just about any summer vegetable, but my favorite recipe draws inspiration from the cuisine of the Whistle Stop Cafe, that fictitious Alabama diner made famous by novelist Fanny Flagg."You'll think you died and gone to heaven," boasts Flagg of her recipe. To which I add, "If you do go to heaven, ask the Powers That Be to keep the tomato hornworms out of my vegetable patch."3 tablespoons olive oil16 tomato hornworms4 medium green tomatoes, sliced into 1/4-inch roundsSalt and pepper to tasteWhite cornmealIn a large skillet or wok, heat the oil. Then lightly fry the hornworms, about 4 minutes, taking care not to rupture the cuticles of each insect under high heat. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.Season tomato rounds with salt and pepper, then coat with cornmeal on both sides.In a large skillet, fry tomatoes until lightly browned on both sidesTop each round with 2 fried tomato hornworms.Garnish the paired hornworms with a single basil leaf.Yield: 4 servingsFrom the Website of chef, lecturer and author David George GordonCollected by Bert Christensen.Toronto, Ontario