while visiting spain a couple of weeks ago with some friends, one of, if not the most, memorable things we ate were these croquettes. a thin crispy outer shell that crackles just a little when you bite into it almost saying hi, and then floods your palate with a creamy filling that gives your whole tongue a biiiig hug, that immediately makes your mouth go mmmmmm and hug it right back. and thats just the formalities. i wont even begin to describe the savory love fest that ensues but trust me, it's amazing! and i've had croquettes before, but there were unbelievable. heres how you make them:
get this:
1 stick butter
2/3 cup flour
2 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
bread crumbs
oil to fry with
and something extra to mix into your bechamel like tuna, chicken, boiled egg, etc. (i used tuna)
do this:
in a pan over medium heat, melt the butter. when thats melted add the flour and mix until they are combined. you might need to add a bit of milk to help it along (your milk can be either scalded or not). keep stirring the mixture and adding milk about 1/3 cup at a time, until all the milk is used. stir the mixture until it thickens. add your something extra at this point (i used tuna in oil, which i definitely recommend) and mix it into the batter. you may want to season with some salt at this point too. then put the mixture aside and let it cool for a good 30-45min, it needs to stiffen so you can handle it later.
when your mixture is manageable, place some oil (i used vegetable) in a fryer (or a small pot) and let it heat up at medium heat. then roll a spoonful of the mixture (it should have the shape of a large oblong pill) in a little bit of flour, then coat with egg, then with breadcrumbs, and place it into the oil to cook for about 3-5 minutes.
and thats that. enjoy!
