Description
This Cauliflower Tots recipe offers a healthy and delicious twist on traditional tater tots, using steamed cauliflower combined with cheese, breadcrumbs, and seasonings to create crispy, bite-sized snacks perfect for dipping. These tots are baked to golden perfection, making them a flavorful and nutritious appetizer or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Cauliflower Tots Ingredients
- Cooking spray or olive oil, for greasing
- 4 cups cauliflower florets (approximately one large cauliflower head)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup finely ground breadcrumbs
- Salt and ground fresh pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with cooking spray or olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Steam cauliflower: Fill a large pot or skillet with 1 to 2 cups of water and place a steamer basket inside. Bring the water to a boil, add the cauliflower florets to the basket, cover with a lid, and steam for about 5 minutes until tender.
- Process cauliflower: Drain the steamed cauliflower well. Transfer it to a food processor and pulse a few times until the florets reach a rice-like consistency, being careful not to over-process into a puree.
- Remove moisture: Place the pulsed cauliflower into a kitchen towel or cheesecloth and wring out as much moisture as possible. This step is crucial for crispy tots, as excess water will make them soggy.
- Combine ingredients: In a medium bowl, mix the drained cauliflower with the egg, diced onion, parmesan, cheddar, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper until thoroughly combined.
- Shape tots: Using 1 to 2 tablespoons of the mixture, form the mixture into tot shapes with your hands. Place each tot 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet to allow for even browning.
- Bake: Bake the tots for 20 minutes, then carefully flip each tot and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until they are golden brown and crispy on all sides.
- Serve: Remove the tots from the oven and serve warm with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Recipe slightly adapted from the Just a Taste recipe.
- To save time, use pre-cut cauliflower florets or buy cauliflower rice.
- Ensure you squeeze out as much moisture as possible from the cauliflower for optimal crispness.
- Make tots uniform in size for even cooking.
- Leave space between tots on the baking sheet to promote even browning and crisping.
- Experiment with adding different spices or herbs to the mixture for additional flavor.
- To store leftovers, cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes rather than microwaving to maintain crispiness.
- To freeze, spread cooled tots on a baking sheet and freeze individually before transferring to a freezer-safe bag; freeze up to 10 months.
