We love all things croquetas! In Spain there are bars, shops, supermarket aisles, books and even daydreams dedicated solely to the croqueta. They come in all shapes, flavours and sizes but we like to keep them simple. Here we use jamón serrano but you can replace the jamón with practically anything.
Croquetas de Jamón (Ham Croquetas) is a guest recipe by Anna Cabrera and Vanessa Murphy so we are not able to answer questions regarding this recipe
Melt the butter in a large pot set over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 8–10 minutes, until soft, then add the minced serrano ham and the sifted flour, stirring constantly until the flour is golden. Pour in the warm milk and whisk constantly until the mixture starts to thicken. Stir in the salt, pepper and nutmeg, then remove the pot from the heat.
Scrape the mixture out onto a baking tray, cover immediately with cling film and leave to cool, then refrigerate for at least 6 hours (or until the next day).
When you’re ready to cook, set up three bowls: one for the flour, one for the whisked eggs and one for the breadcrumbs. Using your hands, shape the croquetas to your desired size (we suggest 6–8cm long). Roll through the flour, then the eggs and finish with the breadcrumbs.
Heat the oil in a deep-fryer to 190°C. If you don’t have a deep-fryer, you can use a deep pot but make sure it’s no more than half-full of oil.
Working in batches, deep-fry the croquetas for about 2 minutes, until golden. Remove with a slotted stainless steel spoon to a plate lined with kitchen paper to remove any excess oil. Croquetas are always served hot, but we’ve been known to steal them cold from the plate at home!
Croquetas are, indeed, emblematic of tapas culture. That said, I found them initially to be somewhat bland and uninteresting. Especially, when there are other tapas wonders to love! But, eventually, their subtlety grows on one. Crunchy exterior, creamy/hammy interior...delicious!
Tell us what you think
Thank you {% member.data['first-name'] %}.
Explore more recipesYour comment has been submitted.
What 1 Other has said
-
Posted by sancarloscharlie on 28th April 2023
Show more commentsCroquetas are, indeed, emblematic of tapas culture. That said, I found them initially to be somewhat bland and uninteresting. Especially, when there are other tapas wonders to love! But, eventually, their subtlety grows on one. Crunchy exterior, creamy/hammy interior...delicious!