Ingredients
3 lb. russet potatoes, peeled
1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, plus more for finishing
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
Freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Step 1In a large pot of boiling water, add potatoes and boil until potatoes are met with only a little resistance when poked with a knife, about 7 minutes. Drain and let cool. Step 2When potatoes are cool enough to handle, use medium holes on a box grater to shred potatoes. In a large bowl, combine shredded potatoes, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper. Use your hands to form about 2 tablespoons worth of mixture into a tater tot shape, gently squeezing mixture as necessary. Step 3Working in batches, place tater tots in basket of air fryer. Cook on 375° for 20 minutes, stopping to shake basket halfway through, until golden. Step 4Remove from basket and sprinkle with salt.
After parboiling the potatoes, they will be a bit sticky, but that’s a good thing! It’s how they, well, stick together without any additional flour for binding. As the potato cooks, it will release starches that become tacky to the touch. Keep a bowl of water nearby to wet your hands slightly and help keep the potatoes from sticking to your hands while forming them into tots! If you were already a fan of tots (like most folks, I know, I know) and you’re ready to take it to the next level, check out these 25+ ways to dress your tater tots up. Did these tots finally make you a fan too? Tell us about it below! Editor’s Note: The introduction to this recipe was updated on July 26,2022, to include a video and more information about the dish.
