Time: 1 hour 20 minutes plus cooling time
Complexity: easily
Servings: 6

It's hard to believe these bite-sized flavor bombs are baked in the oven: they have a deliciously crispy crust, almost like they were deep-fried. These balls are very similar to the popular Tater Tots, but made with cauliflower. Make a double batch and freeze half to keep on hand for when friends come over. Frozen balls can be baked without defrosting.

Ingredients:

Cauliflower balls

• 1 tbsp. l. olive oil
• Half a small onion, finely chopped
• 2 small heads of cauliflower
• 1 cup almond flour
• 2 large eggs, separate the whites from the yolks
• 1/4 cup hot sauce, plus extra for serving
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 cups puffed rice (breakfast cereal)
• Cooking spray
• Special device: gauze

Blue cheese sauce

• 0.5 tbsp. low-fat plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tbsp. l. milk 2% fat
• 1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• A pinch of cayenne pepper
• 0.5 cup crumbled blue cheese

Substituting ingredients
Measuring containers used

1 glass (st.) - 250 ml.
3/4 cup (st.) - 180 ml.
2/3 cup (st.) - 160 ml.
1/2 cup (st.) - 125 ml.
1/3 cup (st.) - 80 ml.
1/4 cup (st.) - 60 ml.
1 tablespoon (tbsp) - 15 ml.
1 teaspoon (tsp) - 5 ml.
1/5 teaspoon (tsp) - 1 ml.

Recipes with similar ingredients

cauliflower, blue cheese, yogurt, mayonnaise, milk, dry breakfast, hot sauce, lemon juice, ground cayenne pepper

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Preparation:

Step 1
• Blue cheese sauce:
  
  In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, milk, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper until smooth. Gently fold in the blue cheese. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper to taste.
Step 2
• Refrigerate overnight or for 3 days, covered, to allow the flavors to develop.
Step 3
• Position racks on the top shelf of the oven and preheat the oven to 230°C (430°F). Place another rack on a rimmed baking sheet.
Step 4
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until browned and softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool in the skillet.
Step 5
• Remove and discard the outer leaves and core of the cauliflower. Separate the heads into large florets and trim most of the stems. Blend half the florets in a food processor until they form a chunky paste. Transfer to a large bowl. Repeat with the remaining florets.
Step 6
• Cauliflower balls:
  
  Place a large double layer of cheesecloth on the counter and place the cauliflower paste in the center of the cheesecloth. Gather the ends into a bundle. Hang the bag over the sink and squeeze out as much liquid as possible (there should be plenty). Return the remaining cauliflower to the bowl (it should now be fairly dry).
Step 7
• Add the sautéed onion, almond flour, egg whites, hot sauce, 2 teaspoons salt, and cayenne pepper to the cauliflower and mix with your hands until the mixture comes together when squeezed.
Step 8
• Scoop out 1 tablespoon of the mixture at a time. Roll into balls, shape them into cylinders, and place them on a baking sheet. Cover the balls loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
Step 9
• Pulse the puffed rice in a food processor until finely ground, then transfer to a small dish. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks with 1/4 cup water. Place the cauliflower ball, egg, ground oats, and prepared baking sheet (with a wire rack) on a work surface.
Step 10
• Dip each ball in the egg mixture, letting any excess drip off, then roll in the oatmeal mixture to coat completely and place on a wire rack on a baking sheet. To ensure the balls are neat, use one hand to remove them from the egg and the other to roll them in the oatmeal mixture. Spray each ball with cooking spray, turning them as needed.
Step 11

• Culinary advice

  
  Leftover balls, not sprayed with shortening, can be frozen on a parchment-lined baking sheet for about 2 hours, then transferred to a large bag and frozen for up to 1 month.
  
  If baking from frozen, spray with cooking spray and bake until deep golden brown on the outside, 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 12
• Bake the cauliflower balls on the prepared baking sheet until deep golden brown on the outside and warmed through, 15-20 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle with hot sauce. Serve with blue cheese dipping sauce.

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