Spanish · PANTRYHOP RECIPE
Croquetas de Jamón
50 minutes · 6 servings · omnivore
Croquetas are one of Spain’s most iconic tapas; this version uses a straightforward béchamel filling.
Ingredients
Check you have the quantities below.
- 40 g butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 80 g all-purpose flour
- 500 ml milk
- 120 g cooked ham, finely chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 120 g breadcrumbs
- 500 ml oil for shallow frying
Let’s make it
- Heat butter and olive oil in a pan. Stir in flour and cook 2 minutes.
- Whisk in milk gradually and cook until very thick. Stir in ham, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Chill 20 minutes.
- Shape into small cylinders or balls. Dip in egg, then breadcrumbs.
- Shallow-fry in hot oil over medium heat 2–3 minutes per side until golden. Drain and serve warm.
Make them small and use a mild ham so they’re easy for children to eat.
Cooking time varies with equipment and batch size. Follow school allergy rules for children’s meals; keep perishable lunches cold.
Build a meal from your ingredients →