Ham croquetas Recipe (Ready in 115 Min)

A proper Spanish pork built around breadcrumbs, leek and jamón ibérico — roughly 115 minutes start to finish, and rated involved to make. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 16 steps.

You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and saucepan. At involved difficulty across 16 steps, it's worth setting aside proper time for. As written, it's meat-free.

How to make it

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.

You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Saucepan · Pan · Baking tray · Steamer

Tips & common questions

How long does Ham croquetas take to make?

About 115 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 16 steps and 11 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.

What can I use instead of milk?

Try any unsweetened plant milk. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.

Can I scale this recipe up or down?

Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.

Is Ham croquetas vegetarian?

Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.