Fat To Skinny

Recipe Exchange => Sides and Snacks => Topic started by: shawn116 on March 05, 2013, 10:46:00 PM

Title: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: shawn116 on March 05, 2013, 10:46:00 PM
Hi everyone  :)  Here is a fun recipe for you  ;)  Very easy too

I had a head of cauliflower that I needed to use up.  I've been seeing posts about this and decided what the heck.....curiosity finally got to me  ;D  I have to say these are pretty good!!  Hubs even gave them a thumbs up.  I got my inspiration from here http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/nadia-g/crispy-baked-cauliflower-tater-tots.html (http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/nadia-g/crispy-baked-cauliflower-tater-tots.html) and just adjusted them to a low carb version.  This recipe made about 72 tots with a medium size head.  What I have in the freezer would fill one of the real tater tot bags that I used to buy in pre FTS days  :)

Low Carb Tater Tots

1 Medium Head  Cauliflower
2 Tbs Unsalted Butter, Melted
2 Tbs Heavy Cream
1/3 cup Sharp Cheddar, Grated
Sea Salt to taste
Ground Pepper to taste
1 Egg White
1 cup Parmesan Cheese

1. Preheat oven to 375

2. Make rice with your cauliflower by grating it with a cheese grater or food processor.  Place it dry in a microwave safe dish and cook for 5 minutes.   LET COOL BEFORE MIXING IN OTHER INGREDIENTS.  Tip: If your cauliflower is wet from washing, it will be mushy when you cook it.  Dry it as much as possible by placing it on paper towels before making rice with it.  You can also use frozen cauliflower, just steam/cook as normal.  Be sure to dry as much as posible before processing it into rice.

3. Mix in cheddar cheese, melted butter, heavy whipping cream and season with salt and pepper  to taste.  Keep in mind that the parmesan cheese will add some saltiness.  You can always add more to the finished product.

4. Whip your egg white until it has stiff peaks and fold it in evenly.

5. Scoop out spoonful’s and roll into about 1" balls.  You want them to be about the size of a regular tater tot.  Flatten two ends; shape and roll in the parmesan cheese putting them on a baking sheet using parchment paper for easy clean up.

6. If they aren’t holding together well place them in the freezer to firm up a bit before baking. (They don't need to be frozen solid and you could probably skip this step if in a hurry)  Tip:  If you don't plan on using the whole batch finish freezing the rest and store in freezer bags.  Just increase your baking time when you do use them from the frozen state.

7. Bake for 15 minutes, turning halfway through to brown evenly.

8. Enjoy plain or with reduced sugar or sugar free ketchup.  Better yet have them with low carb chili and cheese!!  Yummy!!

Yield: Makes approximately 70 - 80 Tots depending on the size you make them, at about 20 net carbs for the recipe.  

Update:  I used some of the frozen "tots" I had in the freezer tonight for my dinner with a hamburger patty.  Yummy by the way.  Anyway I needed to prepare the real thing as well for my non FTSer (mine were way better by the way  ;) )  I just baked them along side the others and they came out perfect.  I really enjoyed the ones that were very crispy.....wondering if they will hold together when fried?  Will try that next.  So if you are using them from frozen state.  Preheat oven to 425 and bake for 17-18 minutes.  Turning them half way through.  Enjoy  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: umpa on March 06, 2013, 09:16:50 AM
I AM SO EXCITED!!! TATOR TOTS!!!!! YEAH!!!! :o :o :o DOING THE TATOR TOT DANCE!!
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: mdanziger on March 06, 2013, 10:01:32 AM
These look awesome.  Thanks TooSweet.  And no artificial anything so I can feed them to the kiddies.  Yay.
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: shawn116 on March 06, 2013, 10:40:23 AM
Your kids should love these!!   ;D ;D  You can even add a little chunk of cheese in the center for a cheesy surprise  ;)  This is definitely kid finger food  :D



Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: jetfan on March 06, 2013, 11:56:35 AM
WOW o wow.
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: Kim P on March 06, 2013, 12:58:47 PM
Looks Super Yummy!!
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: mouseissue on March 08, 2013, 10:38:18 AM
Great recipe, Shawn! :) :) :) :)

Tony
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: Shercat051703 on March 13, 2013, 09:37:39 PM
Oh Yeah,I am all about me some taters!!!!
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: Doug Varrieur on March 14, 2013, 09:42:39 AM
The in laws are in town and my Mother in law has been enjoying fishing for snapper from the back dock. She's got enough filets for a nice family fish fry. I'll try deep frying this recipe this week  8)
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: umpa on March 14, 2013, 09:46:07 AM
Yeah!! :)
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: shawn116 on March 14, 2013, 10:27:02 AM
Cool...let us know how they turn out  :)  I'm curious if they fall apart or hold together.   Sounds like a yummy meal  ;D
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: mouseissue on March 14, 2013, 10:52:43 AM
The in laws are in town and my Mother in law has been enjoying fishing for snapper from the back dock. She's got enough filets for a nice family fish fry. I'll try deep frying this recipe this week  8)

Fresh snapper is so delish!!!  :) :) :) :) :)
So much better than the snapper in the stores!

Tony
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: Doug Varrieur on March 18, 2013, 08:38:56 AM
Well last night was the deep fried tater tot experiment.................Total Failure, ended up with what resembled hash browns  :o They fall apart when being deep fried.....stick to the oven  8)
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: umpa on March 18, 2013, 09:17:59 AM
very sad umpa day,no tator tots :-[
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: shawn116 on March 18, 2013, 02:47:04 PM
Well poo!!   :'( :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: umpa on March 19, 2013, 09:24:34 AM
Tasty though ;) I am gonna try to bake them.
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: shawn116 on March 19, 2013, 11:59:13 AM
Just thinking out loud but...did you fry them while freshly made or were they a bit frozen??  I was just wondering if they are frozen when put in the hot grease if they would hold together better?  I was thinking I might try mine that are in the freezer now.
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: Doug Varrieur on March 19, 2013, 12:47:24 PM
Mine were frozen for about an hour, they were hard when I dropped them in the grease.  :-\
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: shawn116 on March 19, 2013, 01:07:59 PM
Hmmm It probably won't work to well then  :-\  I'm thinking the lack of starchy glue is the problem.  What I have in the freezer has been frozen solid for several weeks so I'll give it a go tonight and see what happens.  I was hopeful though  :'(   I had some that were really crunchy in the oven that were really supper good.  Maybe crisping them up under the broiler??  Stay tuned to this recipe....more experimenting to come  ;)
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: umpa on March 21, 2013, 08:49:49 AM
Great flavor.Gonna try to bake them next on a pizza stone ;)
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: Amber on April 05, 2013, 05:15:17 PM
Nice recipe TooSweet - going to give them a try.
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: umpa on April 06, 2013, 09:29:12 AM
Hi Amber! :)
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: shawn116 on April 06, 2013, 09:54:05 AM
These freeze wonderfully Amber  ;)  I think you are going to like them  :)
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: suzlyn454 on April 06, 2013, 08:27:49 PM
Putting this recipe on the "TO DO" list to have with hamburgers!!
Title: Re: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: jay12 on April 07, 2013, 09:47:32 PM
They really look like potato tots for real
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: umpa on April 08, 2013, 09:39:57 AM
Just dont deep fry them,bake them like TooSweet says ;)
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: ereino on April 11, 2013, 01:06:28 PM
I read all of the remarks regarding the tator tots and I was laughing out loud, lovingly laughing out loud  ;D and couldn't help but think that this is such a great network of friends!  I was on vacation and don't bring my computer with - so missed you guys all last week.  This week it was just catch up at work and at home - lot's of laundry at home and tons of catch up at work. 

Well, my Thai friend at work gave me another recipe called Green Curry soup with chicken.  She also has bambo which I'm sure are plenty high in sugar - they aren't the usual bamboo shoots you buy in the can that are long and flat.  They look like longer rounder noodles.  There is green curry paste, coconut milk, choice of meat (she used chicken) basis, bamboo and mushroom, thai eggplant and fresh thai chilli (blended).  I'll have to create recipe in appropriate spot on website.  Be looking for it.  I am not good at net carb count and am certain the only thing that is bad here are the bamboo shoots.  We have a really big Asian Market which she and I are going to go to someday and she is going to help me pick out the good stuff.  I am going to get an education on Thai ingredients...I am certain of it and very happy to learn. 

Well take care you all and be good!
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: shawn116 on April 11, 2013, 02:09:30 PM
Welcome back!!  We have been missing you around here  ;)  Hope you enjoyed your vacation  :)
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: o0OSusieO0o on April 11, 2013, 05:47:42 PM
Mary & I are not tater tot fans so no need for us to make this for us.... but hope you enjoy them!!!!!
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: morgan on April 12, 2013, 05:40:38 AM
Well I started off trying to make tator tots and ended up having something more like 'Polish potato cakes (platzki)'.
So I just poured circles of the mix onto a bit of hot oil (think fritters) and browned off both sides and yum.  Closest substitute for that good old home cooking of mums.  Had the texture of hash browns more than anything.
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: o0OSusieO0o on April 12, 2013, 09:14:08 AM
I could make hash browns but need to keep the cheese out because Mary doesn't like much cheese.
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: umpa on April 12, 2013, 05:12:46 PM
Welcome back ereino :) Where did you go?
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: shawn116 on April 12, 2013, 06:47:30 PM
Quote
Well I started off trying to make tator tots and ended up having something more like 'Polish potato cakes (platzki)'.
So I just poured circles of the mix onto a bit of hot oil (think fritters) and browned off both sides and yum.  Closest substitute for that good old home cooking of mums.  Had the texture of hash browns more than anything.

Great idea Morgan  :)   That sounds good!
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: umpa on April 13, 2013, 10:26:50 AM
Great idea Morgan :)
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: o0OSusieO0o on April 13, 2013, 12:28:03 PM
Great to ideas on this forum like Morgan's. Love belonging here.
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: Kim P on April 13, 2013, 09:10:05 PM
Yum!!!! Tots and fried cakes  :)
Title: Re: Cauliflower Tater Tots
Post by: o0OSusieO0o on April 13, 2013, 09:12:07 PM
Yup Kim, it's wonderful for all of us FTS foodies!