Croquettes
Another item on a tapas menu, croquetas are tubes of bechamel sauce encased in fried breadcrumbs, but a lot more tasty than that sounds.
Yield: 6 serves
Materials
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 8 tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 tbsp nutmeg
- Dash of ground pepper
- 1/2 cup ham very finely hand-minced, so it can be mixed thoroughly with the dough
- 2 eggs lightly beaten with 2 teaspoons water
- 1 cup breadcrumbs for coating
- olive oil for frying
Instructions
- Heat the 8 tablespoons olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Gradually add the milk and the chicken broth, stirring without stopping. This can take up to 30 minutes.
- Mixing chicken broth into dough
- Next, add the nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sauce is thickened and smooth.
- Dough with added salt, pepper and nutmeg
- Add the minced ham and continue to cook for about 2 to 3 minutes on low heat, continuing to stir. Remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Adding crumb minced ham into dough
- Allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes and refrigerate at least 3 hours until mixture is cold. If you are preparing a day or so ahead, you can cover the mixture tightly and keep refrigerated until you are ready to fry the croquettes.
- Pour the breadcrumbs into a small, wide bowl.
- Beat the eggs with water in a small, wide bowl.
- Cover your hands in flour, then divide the mixture into 1-inch balls and set on a plate, so that they are not touching.
- Coating ham croquettes in flour
- Pour enough olive oil in a medium-to-large frying pan to cover 1/2-inch deep. Heat the olive oil for frying to about 355 F.
- Dip the croquettes in the beaten egg and coat with crumbs by rolling in the bowl.
- Coating ham croquettes in breadcrumbs
- Place the croquettes in the hot oil and fry quickly, turning several times, until golden.
- Frying ham croquettes
- Remove the croquettes with a slotted spoon and set on a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.
- Serve immediately. If croquettes will not be served immediately, place in a warm oven (200 F) for up to 30 minutes.
