Ham And Manchego Croquettes Recipe

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(25 ratings)

Jamon and Manchego Croquettas
Makes16
SkillEasy
Total Time45 mins plus chilling
Nutrition Per PortionRDA
Calories105 Kcal5%
Fat6 g9%
Saturated Fat2 g10%

For a fabulous dinner party recipe that makes a great tapas or starter option, give these tasty croquettes with ham and Manchego cheese a try this week.

HOW TO MAKE HAM AND MANCHEGO CROQUETTES

Ingredients

  • 4tbsp olive oil
  • 1 shallot
  • 70g Ibérico ham, diced very small
  • 60g plain flour
  • 75ml vegetable stock
  • 325ml milk
  • 50g manchego cheese, grated

For the crumb:

  • 75g plain flour
  • 2 large free-range eggs, beaten
  • 100g breadcrumbs, preferably panko Japanese-style crumbs (widely available in supermarkets)
  • oil, for frying

Method

  1. Heat the olive oil in a pan, then add the shallot and sauté until soft but not coloured. Stir in the ham, fry for another minute, then add the flour and fry over a medium heat until the mixture is golden. Combine the stock and milk in a small pan and heat until hot but not boiling. Gradually add the liquid to the roux, stirring all the time. Continue to cook for about 5 minutes until it thickens and leaves the sides of the pan when you stir it. Add the cheese and season with black pepper. Smooth the sauce onto a small baking tray then cover with cling film. Leave it to cool then put it in the fridge for an hour.

  2. Put the flour, egg and crumbs into 3 bowls; disposable food gloves are handy here! Dust your hands with flour, take some of the cheese mixture and roll it to a walnut-sized ball. Dust with flour, followed by the egg and then the breadcrumbs. Put on a tray and put back in the fridge for 30 minutes.

  3. If you have a deep fat fryer, heat the oil to 175C and fry the croquettes for a couple of minutes. if not, heat the oil in a frying pan until it starts to shimmer, then add 3-4 croquettes at a time and fry until golden. You don’t want them to cook too quickly otherwise the centre won’t be hot enough.

Jane Curran

Jane Curran is a freelance food editor, stylist, writer and consultant based in Cape Town. Former food director of TI Media & woman&home. All about food, wine (dipWSET), gardening and the Arsenal.