Ham croquetas

Preparar

1. 🥄step 1
2. 🔥To make the filling, heat the olive oil in a pan until it starts to shimmer.

Pasos

1. 🔥Add the leek and sauté until soft but not coloured.

Cocinar

1. 🧂Stir in the ham with a wooden spoon, fry for 1 min,

Preparar

1. 🍳then stir in the flour and fry over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is golden but not burnt – this will take about 5 mins.

Pasos

1. 🫇step 2

Preparar

1. 🍽️Meanwhile, combine the stock and milk in a small pan and heat until steaming but not boiling.
2. 🌿Season with a few scrapes of nutmeg.

Pasos

1. 🌿Gradually add the liquid, a few tbsp at a time, stirring constantly.
2. ✨step 3

Cocinar

1. ✨Once you’ve incorporated all the milk stock, continue to cook the filling over a medium heat for about 10 mins or until it thickens and leaves the sides of the pan

Pasos

1. 🥄when you stir it.
2. 🔥step 4

Preparar

1. 🔥Season with black pepper, taste and adjust the salt if necessary – the ham can be very salty to start with.

Pasos

1. 🧂The filling is now done: it has to be really thick because you don’t want the croquetas to turn into pancakes.
2. 🍳step 5

Preparar

1. 🍳Smooth the mixture onto a baking tray (30 x 20cm is fine).

Cocinar

1. 🫇Once it has stopped steaming, cover with cling film to stop it drying out.

Pasos

1. 🍽️Leave to cool before putting it in the fridge for 1 hr.
2. 🌿step 6
3. ✨When you're ready for the next stage, line up three bowls: the first filled with the flour, the second with beaten egg and the third with breadcrumbs.

Preparar

1. 🌿Take the ham mixture out of the fridge.

Pasos

1. ✨Put a little bit of olive oil on your hands to make it easier to roll the croquetas.
2. 🥄step 7

Preparar

1. 🥄Roll a spoonful of the mixture between your palms.

Pasos

1. 🔥The size and shape of the croquetas is up to you, but the easiest is a walnut-sized ball.
2. 🧂Then begin coating as follows.
3. 🍳step 8
4. 🫇Dunk the croquetas into the flour – you want a dusting – followed by the egg, then the breadcrumbs.

Preparar

1. 🧂Put them on a tray and, when you’ve used up all the mixture, place in the fridge for 30 mins.

Pasos

1. 🍳step 9

Cocinar

1. 🫇If you have a deep-fat fryer, heat the oil to 180C and fry for a couple of mins.

Pasos

1. 🍽️If not, heat the oil in a deep, heavy-bottomed saucepan until it starts to shimmer.

Cocinar

1. 🌿Then add 5-6 croquetas at a time and fry until golden all over.
2. ✨Once cooked, drain on kitchen paper and eat straight away.