Wine And Ham Croquettes Food

HAM CROQUETAS

Steps:

• To make the filling, heat the olive oil in a pan until it starts to shimmer. Add the leek and sauté until soft but not coloured. Stir in the ham with a wooden spoon, fry for 1 min, 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.
• Meanwhile, combine the stock and milk in a small pan and heat until steaming but not boiling. Season with a few scrapes of nutmeg. Gradually add the liquid, a few tbsp at a time, stirring constantly.
• 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 when you stir it.
• Season with black pepper, taste and adjust the salt if necessary - the ham can be very salty to start with. The filling is now done: it has to be really thick because you don't want the croquetas to turn into pancakes.
• Smooth the mixture onto a baking tray (30 x 20cm is fine). Once it has stopped steaming, cover with cling film to stop it drying out. Leave to cool before putting it in the fridge for 1 hr.
• 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. Take the ham mixture out of the fridge. Put a little bit of olive oil on your hands to make it easier to roll the croquetas.
• Roll a spoonful of the mixture between your palms. The size and shape of the croquetas is up to you, but the easiest is a walnut-sized ball. Then begin coating as follows.
• Dunk the croquetas into the flour - you want a dusting - followed by the egg, then the breadcrumbs. Put them on a tray and, when you've used up all the mixture, place in the fridge for 30 mins.
• If you have a deep-fat fryer, heat the oil to 180C and fry for a couple of mins. If not, heat the oil in a deep, heavy-bottomed saucepan until it starts to shimmer. Then add 5-6 croquetas at a time and fry until golden all over. Once cooked, drain on kitchen paper and eat straight away.

HAM CROUQUETTES

Steps:

• Preheat the fryer. In a large saute pan, melt the butter. When the butter is melted, add the onions and saute for about 2 minutes, or until translucent and soft. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the flour to make a roux. Cook for about 1 minute and remove from the heat. Whisk in the milk to form a smooth sauce. Return to medium heat and cook until the sauce is thick and creamy. Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg, parsley and sherry. Stir in the ham. Mix well and cook for 4 to 5 minutes on low heat. Pour the mixture into an 8 by 8 1/2-inch baking pan and cool in the refrigerator so that the mixture will be easy to handle. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours or until well chilled.
• In a small mixing bowl, beat the eggs with water until frothy and pour into a medium bowl. Combine the bread crumbs and flour in a second bowl. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Using your hands, shape the ham mixture into a log about 3/4-inch thick. Using a knife, cut the logs into 1 1/2-inch thick. Dip the logs in the egg wash, letting the excess drip off. Roll the logs in the seasoned bread crumbs. Place the logs on a baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the logs for 2 to 3 hours. Fry the croquettes in the hot oil, a few at a time, until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the croquettes from the oil and drain on a paper-lined plate. Season the croquettes with salt and pepper. Serve the croquettes with fresh lemon juice and garnish with parsley.

CROQUETAS DE JAMON RECIPE

Steps:

• Using a food processor, chop the ham into very tiny pieces.
• Heat a large pan over medium heat and put in the butter and olive oil.
• Heat until the butter is melted, then add the chopped onion. Turn down the heat to the minimum and sautée the onion at low heat for 8-10 minutes, until tender and golden-colored.
• Mix in the chopped ham and cook for a few more seconds.
• Sautée with salt, nutmeg, and ground black pepper.
• To create the bechamel, slowly mix flour with the onion and ham. Stir until it starts to darken a bit.
• Then slowly add in the milk in small dashes, being sure that it evaporates and thickens before adding the next pour.
• Once all the milk is integrated and the batter separates from the pan, turn off the heat and let it cool down for 20 minutes at room temperature.
• Let the batter rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours but preferably overnight, so it can fully develop its flavors.
• Once the batter has rested, beat the eggs and put them on a large plate. On another plate, prepare a bed of breadcrumbs.
• Slightly wet your hands with water or oil and shape little cylinders. You can also use two spoons if you do not wish to use your hands. Keep wetting your hands once the batter starts to stick.
• Gently place the croquetas on the egg plate, being careful that they do not lose their shape. Repeat until all the croquetas are shaped.
• Turn each of them around to cover with the beaten eggs.
• Then transfer them into the breadcrumbs plate and completely coat them.
• Pour the vegetable frying oil into a large pan and heat at medium heat.
• Fry the ham croquetas for about 3-4 minutes on each side until browned.

HAM & CHEESE CROQUETAS

Steps:

• To make the croquetas, melt the butter in a medium saucepan and gently fry the onion for 3 mins or until lightly coloured. Stir in the flour and cook for 30 secs. Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly, and cook over a low heat for 5 mins until thick and glossy. Stir in the ham, cheese, mustard and cream, and season to taste. Cook for 1 min more until the cheese melts, stirring constantly.
• Pour into a bowl and cover the surface with cling film to stop a skin forming. Leave to cool, then chill for 4 hrs or overnight - the mixture needs to be very stiff to form the croquetas. Take heaped teaspoons of the mixture and, with wet hands, roll into 24 small oval shapes and put on a tray. Beat the eggs in a shallow bowl, put the flour on a plate and half of the breadcrumbs in a bowl.
• Roll each of the croquetas lightly in flour, then in egg before coating in breadcrumbs. Place on a baking tray lined with baking parchment. Use the remaining breadcrumbs to top up the bowl halfway through the coating process. Chill for 30 mins (or to freeze, see tip, below left).
• Meanwhile, make the tomato chilli jam. Put all the ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover loosely with a lit and cook for 50 mins - 1 hr, stirring occasionally, until thick and glossy. Leave to cool before serving.
• Fill a large saucepan one-third full with the sunflower oil and heat to 180C (or heat the oil in an electric deep-fat fryer). Do not overheat and do not leave hot oil unattended. Using a metal slotted spoon, lower 6 croquets into the oil and cook for 1.5 mins or until golden brown. Transfer to a baking tray lined with kitchen paper to absorb excess oil, and continue cooking the rest. Serve with the chilli jam for dipping.