Buffalo Cauliflower Tots With Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce

• For the tots
• 1 pound cauliflower, cut into florets
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 green onions, finely chopped
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 2-3 tablespoons vinegar-based hot sauce, like Frank's (depending on how hot you want it)
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• For the blue cheese dipping sauce
• 2 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch sea salt

1. To make the cauliflower tots, fill a large pot (that will fit a steamer basket) with about 2 inches of water and bring to a boil. Place a steamer basket in the bottom on the pan and steam the cauliflower florets until just barely tender, about 3-4 minutes. Spread the steamed cauliflower on a sheet pan and let cool to room temperature.
2. Transfer 3/4 of the cauliflower to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse 8 to 10 times until the cauliflower is coarsely chopped, about the size of israeli couscous. Transfer the chopped cauliflower to a large bowl. Add the remaining quarter of the cauliflower to to the food processor and pulse 15 to 20 times until finely ground, almost bordering on being a paste, and add to the rest of the coarsely chopped cauliflower.
3. Add the grated cheese, eggs, chopped green onion, garlic, hot sauce, smoked paprika, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper to the cauliflower and stir to combine. Let the mixture sit for 10-15 minutes (this will allow the breadcrumbs to soak up some of the moisture of the rest of the ingredients making it easier to mold into tots).
4. While the buffalo cauliflower mixture is resting, preheat the oven to 400u0b0F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
5. To form the tots, take a tablespoon of the buffalo cauliflower mixture and gently compress it in your hands, rolling it into a oval tot shape. Place the finished tot on your reserved parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining cauliflower.
6. Bake the buffalo cauliflower tots until they are golden brown, flipping halfway through cooking, about 25-30 minutes total.
7. While the buffalo cauliflower tots are baking, make the blue cheese dipping sauce. Combine all the dipping sauce ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.
8. Remove the buffalo cauliflower tots from the oven and let them sit to cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Pile on a platter and serve alongside the blue cheese dipping sauce.

tots, cauliflower, mozzarella cheese, eggs, green onions, garlic, vinegar, paprika, breadcrumbs, salt, freshly ground black pepper, dipping sauce, blue cheese, sour cream, buttermilk, lemon juice, freshly ground black pepper, salt

Taken from food52.com/recipes/70601-buffalo-cauliflower-tots-with-blue-cheese-dipping-sauce (may not work)