Ingredients
Potato Mixture
- 2 pounds potatoes
- ½ tablespoon flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Pinch of pepper
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped onions
For Frying
- Oil for frying (preferably peanut oil)
For Air Frying
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Parboil Potatoes: Cut the potatoes into fourths and parboil them in a pot with a generous amount of water covering the potatoes. Cook until just tender enough to handle but not fully cooked through. This typically takes about 10-15 minutes.
- Cool and Grate: Drain the potatoes and allow them to cool until you can handle them safely. Using the large holes of a grater, grate the parboiled potatoes into a bowl gently to maintain texture.
- Mix Ingredients: Add the flour, salt, pepper, and finely chopped onions to the grated potatoes. Mix gently to combine all the ingredients evenly without mashing the potatoes too much.
- Rest Mixture: Let the potato mixture stand for about 5 minutes. This allows the flour to bind the ingredients together, making it easier to shape the tots.
- Heat Oil: If frying, heat peanut oil in a deep skillet or fryer to 355–360°F (180–182°C). Use a cooking thermometer for accuracy to ensure perfect crispness without burning.
- Shape Tater Tots: Use about 1 ½ teaspoons of the potato mixture per tot. Shape gently with your hands into the classic tater tot cylindrical shape, being careful not to compress them too much.
- Fry Tots: Fry the shaped tots a few at a time in the hot oil until they turn golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per batch. Do not overcrowd the pan to maintain oil temperature.
- Drain: Remove the fried tots with a slotted spoon and drain on absorbent paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Air Fryer Method (Optional): For a healthier option, chill the shaped tots in the refrigerator first or cook them from frozen. Lightly spray tots with olive oil. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Arrange tots in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don’t touch. Cook for about 10 minutes, gently turning them halfway through at around 6 minutes, until golden and crispy.
Notes
- Use starchy potatoes like Russets for the best texture and crispiness.
- Chilling tots before air frying helps them hold their shape better and get crispier.
- You can customize the recipe by adding cheese, bacon bits, jalapenos, or herbs to the potato mixture.
- Ensure oil temperature is accurate when frying to avoid greasy tots.
- Leftover tots can be reheated in the air fryer or oven to keep them crispy.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
