Cauliflower Tots

A hand holds a cauliflower tot after dipping it in a bowl of ketchup. There are more tots in the background.

Enjoy these easy, low-carb cauliflower tater tots as a fun, healthy way to get your tots in! Each tot is crispy on the outside, and flavorful on the inside. Serve them with your favorite black bean burgers.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Diet Vegan

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 25

Total Time 30

Servings tots

Calories 37kcal

Author Marly McMillen

Equipment

Ingredients

4 cups cauliflower florets
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons almond meal (see notes)
2 tablespoons onions, finely chopped
¼ cup vegan cheddar shreds
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup panko crumbs regular or gluten-free
2 tablespoons olive oil (omit for oil-free)

Cups - Metric

Instructions

Place cauliflower florets in a food processor and pulse until broken down in small, rice-sized bits.
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat, adding 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the priced cauliflower and cook until heated through. Use a spatula to turn the cauliflower occasionally, allowing them to brown a bit. Cook for up to 10 minutes, until the cauliflower is tender and any moisture has cooked off.
Add nutritional yeast flakes, flax, cornstarch, onions, and cheddar shreds to a bowl. Top with cooked hot cauliflower rice. Stir to combine. Once it's cool enough to handle, portion the dough into tater tot form (roughly 1" x 1/2"). This should make around 20 to 25 tots. Roll the tots in the bread crumbs,
Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F/190°C. Place tots on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with remaining oil. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the outside crust is golden. Use tongs to turn the tots about halfway through cooking.
Skillet: Heat one tablespoon of oil in a skillet. Add tots (cooking them in batches, depending on the size of your pan) and cook until brown on one side. Use tongs to turn the tots, cooking them equally on each side. Transfer to a heated toaster oven. Repeat with the remaining tots.
Air Fryer: Preheat air fryer to 375°F/190°C. Add tots in a single layer. Give them a light spray of vegetable cooking spray and cook for 5 minutes. Use tongs to flip the tots and cook again for up to 5 minutes until golden brown.
Serve tots warm with your favorite toppings, like vegan aioli. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Notes

I used almond flour to keep this recipe low carb, but you can substitute regular flour or gluten-free flour.

Nutrition