Say Goodbye to Your School Lunch Days!

Remember tater tots?  If you ever had a school lunch growing up, chances are you had them. Tots were practically currency in some schools. They were crispy, potato-y, you could eat them with you hands and dip them in your favorite sauce. Amazing huh? However, if you revisited them as an adult, you’d likely find that the same coveted school tater tots were actually soggy and flavorless. They were probably more suited for a food fight than consumption. You probably didn’t realize how bad they actually were because you were a kid and just didn’t know any better.  

So we set out to recreate the tater tot that you remember, with a grown-up twist that’s perfectly seasoned, crunchy with a fluffy center and plain fun to eat.  Leave the glorified french fry from your childhood for the school lunch and try our fanny-kicking recipe. See, being an adult does have its perks!

Here's what you'll need:

• 2 Medium russet potatoes
• 2 Cups frying oil (canola has worked best for us)
• 1-2 Teaspoons Wayward Gourmet Sweet Heat Blend (We're clearly biased, but it just works best!)
• 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour (corn starch if you're rockin a gluten free diet)
• Box greater
• Large fry pan or sauce pan
• Slotted spoon
• Baking sheet
• Paper towels

Here's what you do:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Give your potatoes a good scrub with warm water to clean the skin.
3. Poke about 8 holes in both potatoes to vent moisture. Place potatoes directly on middle baking rack and bake for 10-15 minutes. This won't fully cook them, just make them hot enough to easily remove skin.
4. Remove potatoes from oven and remove skin. WILL BE HOT!
5. Dispose of skins and shred potatoes with the large holes of the box greater. (You can also shred with a fork if you don't have a greater.)
6. Mix shredded potatoes with flour and Sweet Heat Blend.
7. Roll potato mixture into 1 1/2 inch cylinders (see recipe's picture for reference) and place on a banking sheet.
8. Fill frying pan with enough oil to coat tots (about 3/4 of the way up.)
9. Heat oil over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes.
10. Place tots into oil about 10 at a time. (Do not crowd them, they're not fond of that.)
11. Cook tots in oil for about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
12. Remove tots with slotted spoon or tongues and place on baking sheet lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil. 
13. Serve immediately straight up or with your favorite dipping sauces.
14. Invite us over for a tasting!

Let us know how they turned out, we love to see your creations on Instagram #WaywardGourmet and Twitter @WaywardGourmet. We'll post your deliciousness on our site. Thanks!