How to Make Tater Tots

Homemade tots may not look quite the same as this bunch.

If you prefer homemade fries to the frozen ones that come out of a bag, you may feel the same way about homemade tater tots. This version involves frying and baking the brown potato squares. They will be in a slightly different shape than commercial tater tots, but the taste should be about the same.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 8 to 10 potatoes
• ½ medium onion
• 4 tbsp. flour
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. pepper
• 1 to 2 cups canola or extra virgin olive oil
• Food processor
• Large mixing bowl
• Fork
• Pan
• Baking sheet

1. Peel the potatoes and boil them until them are tender but not mushy. You should be able to puncture the potatoes with a fork without the potatoes cracking or falling apart.

2. Shred the potatoes and onion in a food processor.

3. Scrape the potato mixture into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the minced garlic, salt and pepper with a fork until all of the ingredients are evenly distributed. Add the flour and mix everything again.

4. Heat the oil in a pan set on medium heat. Shape potato mixture into tater tot form, or just roll it into balls. Place the tots in the hot oil and cook them on each side until they are a dark, golden brown. The tater tots may stick to the bottom of the pan, so use a fork to carefully nudge the tots.

5. Drain the tots on paper towels. Transfer them to an ungreased baking sheet, and cook them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. If the tots appear to be getting too brown, cover them with foil for the rest of the baking time.

Tips & Warnings

• Though it's the onion and garlic that gives these tater tots their special flavor, they are optional ingredients and your tater tots will turn out just fine without them.

• Carefully flip the tots as they fry. They can easily fall apart. If a tater tot does fall apart, remove as much of the broken potato from the oil as possible. Otherwise, these free-floating potato pieces will overcook and stick to the other tater tots in the pan.

• Try a tot before baking the whole batch. If you like the tenderness in the middle after the frying process, serve them right away.

References

• Itsy Bitsy Foodies