One of the things that you'll enjoy about dining at a local authentic barbecue restaurant is that the side dishes are never an afterthought. While it's true that the main courses — a variety of beef, pork, and chicken dishes — get the spotlight, the kitchen staff also provide tasty side dishes. Authentic barbecue eateries often have such side dishes as mashed potatoes and cornbread, but there are a number of other choices that are fried. If you're the type of person who holds the belief that everything tastes better when it's fried, here are some veggies (and one fruit, technically) to order as side dishes.

Fried Okra

Served plain, okra has a fairly gentle flavor that may not do much to excite you. Frying, however, can immediately boost the flavor profile of this vegetable. You'll often find fried okra as a side dish at Southern barbecue restaurants. While different eateries may prepare the batter in different ways, it often features buttermilk and a variety of spices. Some southern barbecue restaurants will even use cornmeal in the batter, which can give the fried okra a noticeable crunch when you bite into it. Fried okra typically comes with a mayonnaise- or mustard-based dip.

Fried Pickles

While you've probably eaten a lot of pickles in your life, it's possible that you've yet to experience fried pickles. This is another fried veggie side dish that you'll often encounter at authentic barbecue restaurants. Fried pickles are almost always of the dill variety, and may either be cut in long wedges or in coins. You can typically expect a crisp batter with peppery notes, and fried pickles are almost always served with a dipping sauce. Often, it will be buttermilk based, and it can sometimes be very spicy to add some zip to each bite.

Fried Green Tomatoes

While it's technically true that tomatoes are a fruit, a lot of people group them in with vegetables because they lack the sweet flavor that most fruits possess. This is another fried side dish that you'll often find at many local barbecue eateries. Typically, the tomatoes are sliced, breaded, and fried. Many restaurants will use a blend of white flour and cornmeal, which provides a texture that has a lot of crunch. If you've never had fried green tomatoes, you'll likely be impressed with how this cooking method completely transforms the taste and overall eating experience of this common type of produce.