What's Happening Sweet Tot?
Amy Kundrat
Photo: Via Flickr user cassaendra
No, I'm not cat-calling you, but these fried pillows of sweet potato certainly called to me on a recent trip to Burgers, Shakes & Fries. A nice respite from the french fry with an unfortunate name that when used, makes one feel as if they are bleeding brain cells, the sweet potato tot boasts a shape that maximizes its fried surface area with an interior brimming with sweet potato goodness.
If loving a Sweet Tater Tot as an adult is wrong, I don't want to be right. Thankfully I'm not alone. For your local fix, swing by Burgers, Shakes & Fries in Darien or Greenwich who keep them in regular rotation; Little Pub in Ridgefield has them as occasional specials; and My Favorite Place on the Avenue in Greenwich and Port Chester sell them by the cup.
If you'd prefer to keep your Tot-loving self in the closet, Serious Eats offers a great tutorial on how to make the snack in the non-judgemental comfort of home:
"We know that what keeps the Tater Tots stuck together is a combination of two pretty sticky things: moist starches and proteins. The more they come in contact with each other, the stickier they become, and the tighter/gummier the Tater Tots will be. Oil can lubricate individual pieces of potato and starch, preventing them from rubbing up against each other too hard. Oil is like a chastity belt for starches that just really wanna get it on ..."
You can find a recipe and variations including (wait for it) a bacon, cheddar and chive tot, over at Serious Eats: Food Lab post.
Reader Comments (2)
Excellent call here Amy, the Sweet Tater Tots at BSF are the best side dish on the menu, and it's not even a fair contest. That mix of sweet starchy flavor and crispy fried goodness works every time.
Kory should rename his restaurants "Burgers, Shakes, and Tots" to honor the awesomeness of that dish.
I couldn't agree more!
I visited BSF after spinning for 6 hours (!!) and probably could have eaten everything on the menu. Even in my ravenous state, the tots stood out!