Croquetas
Creamy béchamel croquettes studded with jamón, salt cod, or mushroom, breaded in fine breadcrumbs and fried to a crisp golden shell — Spain's most beloved tapa.
Cuisines
Spanish
Best for
Lunch
Dinner
Snacks
Build a full meal around Croquetas
Get a matched combo of sides and accents
Recipe
Prep: 15 min
Cook: 25 min
Total: 40 min
2-3 servings
Ingredients
|
1 cup | Milk , full-fat |
|
4 tablespoons | Butter , unsalted |
|
1/2 cup | Flour |
|
1 cup | Ham , cooked, finely chopped |
|
1/4 teaspoon | Nutmeg , pinch of powder |
|
— | Salt , to taste |
|
— | Black Pepper , to taste |
|
2 | Egg |
|
1 cup | Breadcrumb |
|
— | Vegetable oil , for frying |
Instructions
- 1 Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- 2 Add the flour and stir continuously for about 2 minutes to form a roux.
- 3 Gradually whisk in the milk, ensuring there are no lumps.
- 4 Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until it thickens and starts to pull away from the sides of the pan.
- 5 Stir in the chopped ham, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
- 6 Transfer the mixture to a shallow dish and let it cool completely in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- 7 Once the mixture is firm, shape it into small logs or balls.
- 8 Beat the eggs in a shallow bowl.
- 9 Place the breadcrumbs in another shallow bowl.
- 10 Dip each croqueta in the beaten eggs, then roll it in breadcrumbs to coat.
- 11 Heat the vegetable oil in a deep pan over medium-high heat.
- 12 Fry the croquetas in batches until golden brown on all sides.
- 13 Drain on paper towels and serve hot.
Tips
For a variation, try using chicken or mushrooms instead of ham.