How to make Tater Tots with leftover mashed potatoes

Colin Joliat

 

Leftovers are the best part of Thanksgiving, and nothing tops turning those cold potatoes into delicious homemade Mashed Potater Tots. Just keep this between us or Napoleon Dynamite is going to show up at your door. And no, he won’t be bringing Tina Majorino with him.

There’s no need to stack all of your leftovers between bread and call it a Thanksgiving sandwich. It sounds good in principle but always fails to live up to expectations. This year try something new. Put those leftover mashed potatoes to good use. Turning them into tater tots is easier than you think. They’re creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Throw in a little spicy ketchup, and you’ll forget all about the lavish meal that put you to sleep the night before.

Colin Joliat

 

It’s amazing how good instant mashed potatoes can be. I made 4-cheese potatoes out of a bag, and they were some of the best I’ve had. They also made for delicious cheesy tots the next day.

These four ingredients are all you need to make it happen, and if you’re at home I’ll bet all of them are already in the house.

Colin Joliat

 

Dipping soft potatoes in sticky liquid isn’t the neatest activity, so make sure you’re not dressed to impress. I’m not sure why you would be the day after Thanksgiving, but maybe you’re family is really f’ing weird.

It turned out that my potato cylinder making skills are a little sub-par. I’m pretty sure the last time I made something the shape of a tater tot was when I was 10 and rolling out Play-Doh. That one in the back left looks like a Dalek ferchristsakes. Luckily there are plenty of chances to fix them.

Colin Joliat

 

See, those aren’t so bad. Sure they’re all different sizes, but they say it takes a village to eat a tot. Just be sure you cook the oversized mutant ones a little longer than the runts or they won’t be completely hot. Cold potatoes aren’t exactly manna from heaven.

Colin Joliat

 

Obligatory frying photo. I was tempted to use the deep fryer, but I woke up Wednesday Friday morning and completely forgot about it. The pan works perfectly fine though. If you’re one of those weird health nuts you could probably bake them too.

Colin Joliat

 

There you have it. The easiest and best use of Thanksgiving leftovers imaginable. You’ll never eat normal tater tots again. I apologize for not somehow slipping potato vodka into these, but we can probably all use a break after last night’s festivities.

The idea comes straight from Taste And Tell, but the process is a little different. Deborah’s way is a little easier, but I prefer to keep my mashed potatoes untainted.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups leftover mashed potatoes (cold)
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • panko bread crumbs
  • canola oil

Instructions:

  1. Mix flour and eggs in small bowl.
  2. Roll potatoes into tot shape.
  3. Dip future tot in egg mixture and quickly roll to coat.
  4. Roll nearly tot in bread crumbs.
  5. Repeat until potatoes are gone or you get sick of this shit.
  6. Heat about an inch of oil in a heavy duty skillet over medium heat. (350F)
  7. Cook a few at a time.
  8. Drain on paper towel.
  9. Test one to ensure potatoes are heated through.
  10. Simultaneously eat finished tots while cooking next batch.
  11. Enter vicious cycle.
  12. Finish every last Mashed Potater Tot.
  13. Regret.

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