Appetizers, they’re fun, bite sized, packed with flavor and usually fan favorites aren’t super healthy. Some of my favorite appetizers or snack foods include tater tots, mozzarella sticks, fried mac n cheese balls. You know, all those super nutritious things. I typically don’t devise as many appetizer recipes, but this one just came to me. I had a bunch of leftover carrots, pepper jack cheese and triscuits. And I realized, wow, I could combine all of my favorite appetizers and make a sort of ‘healthy’ alternative. Thus was born these zesty carrot cheesy tots. I knew I didn’t want to have plain steamed carrots, and the triscuits would probably go stale before I’d finish them so I grated up the carrots with the pepper jack, breaded them with the triscuits and voila my new favorite crispy & cheesy treat! I used triscuits, but panko also works just fine. These also freeze really well and are excellent re-heated in the toaster oven
Zesty Carrot Cheesy Tots
Ingredients
Ingredients for Tots:
- 3 Cups grated carrots
- 4 oz Cream Cheese
- 1 Cup pepper jack cheese
- 1 Cup parmesan cheese
- 1 Tablespoon red pepper flakes
- 1 Tablespoon adobo or sub garlic & onion powder
- 1 Egg
Ingredients for Breading:
- 2 Eggs
- 2 Tablespoons water
- 1 ½ Cups breadcrumbs
- ½ Cup flour
Instructions
- Grate carrots and toss with 1/2 tsp salt. Transfer to a fine mesh strainer over a bowl and allow to drain. You can press the mixture against the sides of the strainer to remove excess water. Allow to sit for 5 minutes
- In a large microwave safe bowl heat the cream cheese for 30 seconds to 1 minute so that its softened
- Add the carrots, pepper jack, Parmesan, red pepper flakes, adobo and egg to the cream cheese and mix to combine
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon portion out the mixture and roll into balls. Place on a plate. This should make roughly 20 to 22 tots.
- Prepare the breading station:
1. Scramble the two eggs in a small bowl and add the two tablespoons of water.2. Place the breadcrumbs and flour in two separate dishes as well and line them up on your workspace
- To bread the tots first roll in the flour, then coat in the egg and finally roll in the breadcrumbs, then place on a plate. Repeat for all remaining tots
- In a medium saucepan or heavy high sided skillet heat 2/4 inches oil 350 degrees F. The oil should be high enough so that the tots will be covered and can cook. Fry the tots in batches of 3 to 4 until crispy and golden, about 4 minutes
- Remove with a slotted spoon or mesh skimmer. Cool on a paper towel-lined plate, about 5 minutes. Serve hot, or reheat in the toaster oven
