Baked Cauliflower Tots
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 small heads cauliflower
- 1 cup almond meal
- 2 large eggs, separated
- Kosher salt
- 2 cups crispy rice cereal
- Cooking spray
- Dipping sauces, such as ketchup, grainy mustard, pesto or red-pepper hummus, for serving
- Special equipment: cheesecloth
- Position an oven rack in the top position of the oven, and preheat to 450 degrees F. Set a cooling rack on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the onions, and cook, stirring frequently, until browned and soft, about 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, and let cool in the skillet.
- Remove the outer leaves and core of the cauliflower heads.
- Separate the heads into large florets, and trim away most of the remaining smaller stems.
- In 2 batches, process the florets in a food processor until very finely chopped, almost a paste, then transfer the paste to a large bowl.
- Wipe out the food processor.
- Put the cauliflower in the middle of a double layer of cheesecloth, and gather up the sides into a bundle.
- Squeeze out as much liquid as you can over the sink, then put the cauliflower back in the bowl.
- Add the browned onion, almond meal, egg whites and 2 teaspoons salt, and work together with your hands until combined and the mixture holds together when squeezed.
- Scoop out even tablespoonfuls, roll each into a ball and shape into a squared-off tot shape, and line them up on a baking sheet.
- (The tots can be covered loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerated overnight.)
- Pulse the rice cereal in the food processor until finely ground, and transfer to a small dish.
- Whisk the egg yolks with 1/4 cup water in a medium bowl.
- Line up the tots, egg wash, ground cereal and prepared baking sheet with the rack on your work surface.
- Dip the tots in the egg wash (let the excess drip off), roll them in the cereal to fully coat and place on the rack.
- (To avoid a mess, designate one hand for dipping and retrieving in the egg and the other for rolling in the cereal.)
- Spray each tot all over with the cooking spray, turning as needed.
- (Unsprayed breaded tots can be placed on a parchment-lined baking sheet, frozen until solid, about 2 hours, then transferred to a large freezer bag for up to 1 month.
- Coat with cooking spray before baking.)
- Bake the tots until golden brown outside and hot inside, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Let cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a serving platter.
- Serve with desired dipping sauces.
olive oil, onion, cauliflower, almond meal, eggs, kosher salt, crispy rice cereal, cooking spray, dipping sauces
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/baked-cauliflower-tots.html (may not work)