I have to be honest about Bacon Cheddar Cauliflower Tots {Healthier Tater Tots}. When I first decided to make these, I wasn’t sure how they would go over at my house. My youngest three boys have always resisted cauliflower in most forms, aside from a stray floret dunked in dip. The only cauliflower exception until now was Creamy Cauliflower Garlic Sauce.
Many cauliflower-based potato substitutes fall short in texture and flavor: too mealy, too watery, or worse, both. They can also be bland, and bland food isn’t something I tolerate easily.
Bacon Cheddar Cauliflower Tots fix all those problems. The flavor is boosted by crispy bacon and sharp Cheddar, so bland is not an option.
As for texture, these tots avoid mealiness and sogginess. I’ll explain the details in the Cook’s Notes, but in short: they bake up crispy on the outside, sturdy, and tender but fluffy on the inside. I’m picky about tots — floppy, cold tots (like the pocketfuls in Napoleon Dynamite) are unforgivable in my book. These are meant to be crisp, well-structured, and satisfying.
These Bacon Cheddar Cauliflower Tots were a big hit here. One child who usually refuses cauliflower begged for them “all the time!” and gave me an enthusiastic high five when I agreed. I didn’t tell the kids what was in them until after they’d finished the entire pan and checked to see if any more were hiding in the kitchen.
They weren’t fazed when I told them it was cauliflower. One skeptical child said, “Well, whaddya know?” Another, who wanted them every day, paused and admitted, “I guess I DO like cauliflower then. But only like this.” If you have kids who complain about vegetables, you’ll understand how rewarding that moment felt. The older two kids, who usually eat most vegetables, loved them too.
Cook’s Notes
- I start with a 2-1/2 pound head of cauliflower. After trimming the stalk and leaves you’ll have about 2 pounds of florets. Grated on a food processor grating disc and briefly microwaved, that yields roughly 3 cups firmly packed cauliflower.
- If you prefer not to grate cauliflower, you can use pre-cut fresh cauliflower rice; buy about 2 pounds.
- Line the microwave-safe bowl with a clean cotton kitchen towel. Cotton withstands the microwave; other fabrics may not.
- Salt the grated cauliflower in the towel and let it rest. The salt helps draw out moisture before and during the quick cook. This resting period and the subsequent squeezing are essential to achieving the right texture, so don’t skip them.
- You can squeeze the cauliflower while it’s very hot if you use silicone oven mitts, but I let it cool slightly before squeezing. This prevents burns and keeps the cauliflower warm rather than hot when you add the raw egg and cheese. You don’t want the egg to scramble or the cheese to melt while mixing — a slightly warm mixture is easier to handle and shape.
- Use your preferred bacon, but cook it until crispy before adding it to the tot mixture.
- Choose a sharp Cheddar you like; a robust cheddar gives the best flavor.
- Line sheet pans with parchment paper. Allow about 1 to 1 1/2 inches between tots since they spread a bit while baking. If you have a full sheet pan that fits your oven, you can bake the whole batch on one pan; otherwise use two half-sheet pans. Well-greased mini-muffin tins are an alternative if you don’t have sheet pans.
- Lightly spray the tops of the tots with olive oil spray, non-stick cooking spray, or spray coconut oil before baking for a golden finish.
- These tots freeze well, either before or after baking. To freeze raw tots: form them, freeze until solid on a tray, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months; bake from frozen (allow a few extra minutes). To freeze after baking: cool completely, freeze on a tray, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven on a foil- or parchment-lined pan at 350°F for best texture; microwaving works but yields a softer exterior.
You can use this to make Bacon Cheddar Cauliflower Tots {Healthier Tater Tots}
- food processor or box grater
- microwave-safe bowl
- cotton kitchen towel
- sturdy spatula
- half sheet pans
- parchment paper
- small cookie scoop/disher
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Love cauliflower? Try these other recipes:
The Best Easy Cauliflower Rice with Garlic and Green Onions, Low Carb Cauliflower Tortillas, Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Puree, Chili Lime Cauliflower Popcorn, Cauliflower Bolognese, and Low Carb Pepper Jack Cauliflower.
Bacon Cheddar Cauliflower Tots {Healthier Tater Tots}
Rebecca Lindamood
Adapted from Cauli-Tots from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 pound head of cauliflower woody stalk and leaves removed, cut into florets
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt divided
- 1/4 cup corn meal
- 8 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese shredded
- 12 strips bacon cooked until crispy, then crumbled
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon dried mustard powder
- 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
-
Line a microwave-safe bowl with a clean cotton kitchen towel and set aside.
Grate the cauliflower florets with a box grater or the standard grating disc on a food processor until they resemble cooked rice. Transfer the grated cauliflower to the towel-lined bowl, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the kosher salt over the top, and let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes. Gather the towel edges, cover the cauliflower, and microwave for 2 minutes. Open the towel and let the cauliflower cool until it’s comfortable to handle, then twist the towel and squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line two half-sheet pans with parchment paper.
Discard any liquid in the bowl used to microwave the cauliflower, then return the cooked, squeezed cauliflower to that bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and stir vigorously to combine. Use a small cookie scoop to portion the mixture onto the prepared pans—this recipe yields about 50 to 52 tots. Shape each portion into a tot, leaving about 1 1/2 inches between them for spreading.
Bake 25 minutes, until golden on top and a deep brown underneath. Let the tots rest on the pan for 2 minutes before transferring to a serving plate.
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Calculate nutrition using the exact ingredients you use.
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