There are a few things I miss TERRIBLY about Iowa and other than my best friend + her family - they are ALL food related!!! I've been on a quest to make them at home so I don't have to have such a gorgefest when I get home. There are Maid Rites, Carlos O'Kelly's Queso, Fareway Chicken Salad, Ginormous Pork Tenderloins and Taco Johns Potato Oles!!!
(Update: here's an AWESOME Skinny Tater Tot Casserole using this seasoning too! And you can use it on these Copycat Tacky Jacks Nachos!)
I used to eat these on practically a daily basis in college. They were on campus and my best friend & I would always go for lunch and get soft tacos and potato oles! They're basically Crispy Crowns (flat tater tots) with zingy + spicy seasoning salt.
How to Make Potato Ole Seasoning
It's super simple and now I have a jar of it ready to go anytime I want to have my fantastic Potato Ole's at home!! Four simple ingredients: Lawry's Seasoned Salt, Cayenne Pepper, Paprika and Cumin.
So you mix the ingredients together - shake it up - and then you're done. That's it!!! So simple!
So I cooked up some of those yummy little Crispy Crowns...because that's what they have to be eaten on - it's authentic Taco Johns! And then sprinkled the seasoning on - shook it a little to coat and boomio! Done!
You can also use this on hashbrowns, tots, eggs, chicken, and more. If you want to add some zing to something - just sprinkle away!
I had them with my yummy Copy Cat Penn Station - which if you haven't tried - you are MISSING OUT! If I was to move back to Iowa - this would be something I would miss about Ohio.
So enjoy this taste of home from me and - if you're ever in Iowa - stop by Taco Johns. They also have the best churros ever!!
copycat, taco johns
CopyCat Taco John's Potato Ole's
prep time: 5 MINScook time: total time: 5 mins
One of my favorite places in Iowa is Taco John's - it's the Redneck Taco Bell. Their potato oles (flat tater tots) are sprinkled with this seasoning - it's my favorite!!!! It turns tots into TOTS!
ingredients:
- 4 tsp Lawry's seasoned salt
- 2 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 1 bag Crispy Crowns (flat tater tots)
instructions:
- Mix all ingredients together and sprinkle on fresh baked Crispy Crowns! Store in a ziploc bag and you're done!
Honestly a little goes a long way. I personally hate this spice caked on like in the photos. I cringe whenever I see people applying spice with a spoon. Use a freakin' shaker like a normal person. Don't store it in a ziploc. Mix it, yeah, but don't store it like that. Use an empty shaker and label it if you want.
ReplyDeleteMost people do not put mixed spices in a shaker. You sound high strung and like you worry too much about stupid trivial things in life. How strange to write a whole paragraph about that. You need to get out more.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anonymous for defending my honor! And Hey - Unknown - suck an egg!
DeleteBeing from Nebraska (Scottsbluff) I grew up on Taco Johns, Miss it so much! Thanks for the recipe! Tried it without the cayenne, substituted chili powder, so much yum!
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! Thanks!
DeleteLive in Cheyenne, WY. Home of Taco Johns! Grew up waiting for Taco Tuesday every week!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove it! i've got a tater tot casserole coming in a couple of weeks using this seasoning - you'll love it!
DeleteCan't wait to try the seasoning! I loved their Potato Oles when I lived in Kansas City, MO. Didn't have a Taco John's in the Dallas area or in Florida where I now reside.
ReplyDeleteI love it - i use it all the time!!! be sure to check out my tater tot casserole with it too!
DeleteThey're not fucking tater tots or knock offs and you know it
ReplyDeleteThat's correct - they're Crispy Crowns and that is what Taco Johns serves. To be clear - Taco Johns doesn't serve fucking tater tots. :-)
DeleteUnknown... needs to get a life!!
ReplyDeleteTaco John’s is not ‘redneck Taco Bell’. Not anymore than Burger King is ‘redneck McDonald’s’. They’re just two different restaurant chains that serve the same kind of food.
ReplyDelete