How to Make Ham Croquettes

If you're a fan of tapas or small bites, you'll enjoy ham croquettes. A creamy ham mixture is coated in breadcrumbs and then fried to create this Spanish appetizer. Try a simple traditional croquette, or add a sharp cheese to create an intense snack.

Ingredients

Traditional Ham Croquettes

  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 3 scallions, white parts only, finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 4 cups ham, cooked, finely diced
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg, beaten with 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 cups fine dry breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup vegetable oil (for frying)

Ham and Cheese Croquettes

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 7 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for shaping
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 6 tablespoons finely chopped ham
  • 1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup grated Manchego cheese (about 1 3/4 ounces) You could substitute Pecorino-Romano or Asiago cheese
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
  • Vegetable oil, for frying

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:
Traditional Ham Croquettes

  1. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 1
    1
    Sauté the scallions. Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium heat until the butter melts. Add the scallions and flour. Stir the mixture and cook about 2 minutes until the scallions start to soften a bit.[1]
  2. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 2
    2
    Make a roux. Slowly add in the milk while you whisk. Keep whisking and cooking until the mixture thickens up and the flour dissolves. There shouldn't be any lumps.
  3. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 3
    3
    Add the ham. Stir in the diced ham and take the pan off of the heat.[2]
  4. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 4
    4
    Add the eggs yolks. Whisk the mixture very quickly while you add the egg yolks. Make sure they are completely incorporated.
  5. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 5
    5
    Stir in the seasonings. Put the pan back on the stove over medium heat and add the mustard, sage, salt, and pepper. Stir well till the mixture is combined. Set it aside to cool completely.[3]
    • To speed up cooling, spread the mixture on a baking sheet.
  6. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 6
    6
    Prepare to coat the croquettes. In one bowl, whisk the egg and water. Set it aside. Set the breadcrumbs aside in another bowl.
  7. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 7
    7
    Heat your oil. Place the oil in a large pot on the stove and heat it to 375 degrees.[4]
    • You really need to have a deep-fry thermometer to gauge how hot the oil is. Your croquettes may not cook evenly if the oil is too hot or not hot enough.
  8. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 8
    8
    Shape the croquettes. Using a spoon or cookie scoop, scoop 1 tablespoon of your cooled ham and cheese mixture. Shape the mixture into a 2-inch oval. Repeat this with the rest of the mixture.[5]
    • Dust your hands with flour to make shaping easier. Floured hands will keep the mixture from sticking to your hands.
  9. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 9
    9
    Dredge or coat the croquettes. Take an oval and completely cover it in the whisked egg. Then place it in the breadcrumbs. Roll it around so the croquette is completely covered. Place it on a baking sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper. Repeat this for the rest of the croquettes.[6]
  10. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 10
    10
    Fry the croquettes. When your oil has reached 375 degrees F, carefully lower 3 or 4 croquettes at a time into the oil. Do this slowly or the temperature of the oil will drop quickly, making them cook unevenly. Fry the croquettes for 1 or 2 minutes, or until they're completely golden brown.
    • Fry the rest of the croquettes and let them cool off a little bit before you serve them. Keep checking the temperature of the oil as you fry the other batches of croquettes.[7]
  11. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 11
    11
    Take the cooked croquettes out of the oil. Remove the cooked croquettes with a slotted spoon and set them on paper towels to cool a little. Then serve them. [8]

Method 2
Method 2 of 2:
Ham and Cheese Croquettes

  1. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 12
    1
    Sauté the onion. Heat the butter and oil in a saucepan over medium heat until the butter melts. Add the minced onion, salt, and pepper. Stir the onion and cook until it turns clear, about 3 minutes.[9]
  2. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 13
    2
    Make a roux. Add the flour to the onions and stir really well, letting it cook for 1 minute. Whisk or stir in the milk. Keep stirring and cooking the mixture for about 3 minutes. There shouldn't be any lumps and the mixture should start to thicken a little.[10]
  3. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 14
    3
    Add the ham and cheese. Stir in the finely diced ham and 1/3 of the grated cheese. The mixture should be very thick but not lumpy, like a paste, by this point. Set the mixture aside to cool completely.[11]
    • To speed up cooling, spread the mixture on a baking sheet.
  4. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 15
    4
    Prepare to coat the croquettes. In one bowl, whisk the eggs and set them aside. In another bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs and the remaining 1/4 cup of Manchego cheese. Set this mixture aside.
  5. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 16
    5
    Heat the oil. Place the oil in a large pot on the stove and heat it to 375 degrees.[12]
    • You really need to have a deep-fry thermometer to gauge how hot the oil is. Your croquettes may not cook evenly if the oil is too hot or not hot enough.
  6. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 17
    6
    Shape the croquettes. Using a spoon or cookie scoop, scoop 1 tablespoon of your cooled ham and cheese mixture. Shape the mixture into a 2-inch oval. Repeat this with the rest of the mixture.[13]
    • Dust your hands with flour to make shaping easier. Floured hands will keep the mixture from sticking to your hands.
  7. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 18
    7
    Dredge or coat the croquettes. Take an oval and completely cover it in the whisked egg. Then place it in the breadcrumb and cheese coating. Roll it around so the croquette is completely covered. Place it on a baking sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper. Repeat this for the rest of the croquettes.[14]
  8. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 19
    8
    Fry the croquettes. When your oil has reached 375 degrees F, carefully lower 3 or 4 croquettes at a time into the oil. Do this slowly or the temperature of the oil will drop quickly, making them cook unevenly. Fry the croquettes for 1 or 2 minutes, or until they're completely golden brown.
    • Fry the rest of the croquettes and let them cool off a little bit before you serve them. Keep checking the temperature of the oil as you fry the other batches of croquettes.[15]
  9. Image titled Make Ham Croquettes Step 20
    9
    Remove the cooked croquettes. Remove the cooked croquettes with a slotted spoon and set them on paper towels to cool a little. [16]

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References

  1. ↑ http://www.foodrepublic.com/2011/04/23/ham-croquettes-recipe
  2. ↑ http://www.foodrepublic.com/2011/04/23/ham-croquettes-recipe
  3. ↑ http://www.foodrepublic.com/2011/04/23/ham-croquettes-recipe
  4. ↑ http://www.foodrepublic.com/2011/04/23/ham-croquettes-recipe
  5. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/336686/croquettes-with-serrano-ham-and-manchego
  6. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/336686/croquettes-with-serrano-ham-and-manchego
  7. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/336686/croquettes-with-serrano-ham-and-manchego
  8. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/336686/croquettes-with-serrano-ham-and-manchego
  9. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/336686/croquettes-with-serrano-ham-and-manchego
  1. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/336686/croquettes-with-serrano-ham-and-manchego
  2. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/336686/croquettes-with-serrano-ham-and-manchego
  3. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/336686/croquettes-with-serrano-ham-and-manchego
  4. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/336686/croquettes-with-serrano-ham-and-manchego
  5. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/336686/croquettes-with-serrano-ham-and-manchego
  6. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/336686/croquettes-with-serrano-ham-and-manchego
  7. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/336686/croquettes-with-serrano-ham-and-manchego

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wikiHow Staff
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wikiHow Staff
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Co-authors: 7
Updated: May 6, 2021
Views: 12,696
Categories: Pork
Article SummaryX

To make traditional ham croquettes, heat butter, scallions, and flour in a saucepan. Slowly add milk to the pan and whisk until the mixture thickens. Next, stir in diced ham, egg yolks, mustard, sage, salt, and pepper. Once everything is incorporated, take the pan off the heat, scoop the ham mixture into 2 inch ovals, and dip them in egg wash. Once coated in egg, roll the ovals in breadcrumbs and fry them in oil for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown. To learn how to make ham and cheese croquettes, keep reading!

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