Not your father's tots

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Cheater! I actually tried to describe them! 😂😂😂 And now, I'll have to go buy a bag.

When you get em let me know. I'll help you devour them!

[Fuerte Rav]

Thanks for all the info guys! Don't think we have anything like that available - probably not a bad thing

As a possible alternative I make my 'mash' with equal quantities of potato, sweet potato and carrot, mashed down with a bit of olive oil. If I took scoops of that and placed on a baking tray, sprayed a bit more olive oil and then baked until golden, would that be a reasonable substitute?

[estación seca]

What you describe would probably be called a potato patty, and it sounds delicious. But, potatoes aren't cooked like that in the US. Most are boiled and mashed; baked with skin intact, then sliced open and served with butter or sour cream and other toppings; made into French fries; boiled, sliced and made into potato salad with a mayonnaise sauce; diced and fried with other things as hash; or sliced and fried as pommes frites.

Some people of Germanic, Slavic or Jewish descent make pancakes from shredded potatoes, served with sour cream and/or applesauce and/or fruit jam. The potatoes are shredded, not mashed for these. I think the Spanish make these as well, but it's never served in the very few Spanish restaurants here.

Tater tots are made of finely shredded potato, not mashed. Then they are molded together with shortening to form very small cylinders, which will fit into many people's mouths whole. They are partially fried until they're brown, then frozen. They are sold frozen, partially cooked. It's really a compressed potato pancake.

[Dollythehun]

Originally Posted by Fuerte Rav

Thanks for all the info guys! Don't think we have anything like that available - probably not a bad thing

As a possible alternative I make my 'mash' with equal quantities of potato, sweet potato and carrot, mashed down with a bit of olive oil. If I took scoops of that and placed on a baking tray, sprayed a bit more olive oil and then baked until golden, would that be a reasonable substitute?

Doubtlessly healthier.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

A couple of you have alluded to health concerns about tots. Since most shortenings today are cholesterol free, why would tots be a problem? The only health concern I see is in the form of blood sugar issues. Potatoes, in any form, are almost pure starch, which turns to sugar in the blood. Cholesterol in the recipe would come from the sausage (if you use the pork variety) and since one serving is about
2 1/2 ounces, would pose little issue. When my wife makes this, she uses turkey sausage.

[WaterWitchin]

LOL... a thread on the merits of tater tots! Gotta love it!

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Fuerte Rav

Thanks for all the info guys! Don't think we have anything like that available - probably not a bad thing

As a possible alternative I make my 'mash' with equal quantities of potato, sweet potato and carrot, mashed down with a bit of olive oil. If I took scoops of that and placed on a baking tray, sprayed a bit more olive oil and then baked until golden, would that be a reasonable substitute?

It sounds like a tasty dish, but there is something unique about the taste of tots. They don't taste like mashed or french fried. I don't bake my tots. I like them deep fried like french fries.

[Dollythehun]

We have been conditioned by various means not to fry anything. If your cholesterol is not a problem, God bless you. Mine is borderline and I do NOT want to take medications. Tots are a treat.

A whole potatoes w skin does have health benefits. Processed, not so much. To each his own. But, carrots and sweets combined might be tasty and healthy, I'm gonna try it.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

We have been conditioned by various means not to fry anything. If your cholesterol is not a problem, God bless you. Mine is borderline and I do NOT want to take medications. Tots are a treat.

A whole potatoes w skin does have health benefits. Processed, not so much. To each his own. But, carrots and sweets combined might be tasty and healthy, I'm gonna try it.

As has already been stated, the dish is not an everyday meal. And the portions contain little cholesterol. My issue is blood sugar. I am very careful with the amount of sugars and starches I consume. I had a cholesterol issue once, but a change of job environment corrected that. (If you want to know more about this, just ask. I'm an open book.) I still have the occasional scoop of ice cream or a dessert when dining out, but not often. NO SOFT DRINKS except stevia sweetened root beer.
If we make this dish 4 times a year, that is a lot.

[jcec1]

Originally Posted by Fuerte Rav

Thanks for all the info guys! Don't think we have anything like that available - probably not a bad thing

As a possible alternative I make my 'mash' with equal quantities of potato, sweet potato and carrot, mashed down with a bit of olive oil. If I took scoops of that and placed on a baking tray, sprayed a bit more olive oil and then baked until golden, would that be a reasonable substitute?

The closest thing in the UK would be frozen hash browns, they're not like hash browns served in the USA, more like the ones you have at McDonalds.