Homemade Potato Tots

These notes are here to help make this recipe a success; they cover some but not all ingredients; for a complete ingredient list, check out the recipe card below.

Potatoes: Russet potatoes are the best choice for making tots as they have a high starch content, which helps them hold their shape and stay crispy when fried. You could also use Sebago or King Edward potatoes; the main thing is you want a non-waxy potato.
Salt, Onion Powder, and Paprika: These are all for seasoning. You can leave out the onion powder and paprika, but the tots need the salt. Feel free to use seasoned salts like Lawry's or chicken salt. 
Oil: Use vegetable, canola, or sunflower oil. Olive oil is too strong for the subtle taste of the potatoes.

We've tested this recipe at least 3 times to ensure it works well for you, have a look at our tips for getting the best dish you can!

• You only need to parboil the potatoes for 5 minutes. This softens them enough to grate them gently but stops them from turning to mush. 
• Once you drain the parboiled potatoes, don't return them to the pan. Allow them to steam dry in the colander. Allow them to cool slightly before you can grate them. They don't want to be totally cold, just cool enough to handle.
• Squeezing the liquid from the potatoes is a crucial step; this ensures the tots hold their shape when fried. Place the grated potato in a clean tea towel, and twist the ends together. Keep twisting until the tea towel is tight and the potatoes stop releasing liquid.
• Combining the flour and the seasonings first ensures that each part of your tater tot is seasoned well.
• When forming the tots, ensure they are even in size so they cook evenly.
• If the potato mixture sticks to your fingers, you can lightly coat your fingers in oil to help shape the potato tots. 

These are all just suggestions and things that have worked in our test kitchen, but it is your dinner, so adapt it to suit your family. That is the beauty of cooking; we can all create our own delicious meals.

• Add herbs: Chives, parsley, basil, sage, and thyme are all great additions.
• Add spice: Add some chopped fresh chilies like jalapeno or habanero to your tots, or sprinkle some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper into the flour.
• Add extra vegetables: Mix grated vegetables with the potatoes for a vegetable tot— zucchini, carrot, parsnip, onion, and sweet potato are great choices. 
• Add cheese: Any cheese that you can shred would be perfect. We like the sharp bite of English cheddar and the stretch pull of mozzarella. But anything that can be shredded will work.
• Change the seasonings: Swap the onion powder and paprika for other seasoning blends. Taco seasoning, jerk seasoning, ranch seasoning, fajita blend, peri peri seasoning, Moroccan seasoning, or garlic parmesan seasoning are all great ideas.  

Why You'll Love These Homemade Potato Tots

• They are a healthier version of your favorite store-bought potato treat.
• Kids love them!
• They are so versatile you can add lots of different flavorings to them.
• They go with nearly every meal you can think of and can be eaten as a snack.

These are perfect with everything! Or just as a snack. But some of our favorite meals to enjoy them with are:

• Chicken and Gravy
• Garlic Butter Chicken
• Cheesy Smothered Mushroom Chicken
• Lamb Porterhouse
• Mom's Meatloaf
• Mushroom Swiss Burger
• Seared Steak with Blue Cheese Butter
• Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Schnitzel

If you love potatoes why not try:

• Bradant Potatoes
• Cheesy Garlic Butter Potatoes
• Smashed Potatoes
• Hedgehog Potatoes
• Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
• Prepare Ahead Roast Potatoes