Croquetas de jamón

Description

Crispy croquetas de jamón are small and unusual Spanish fritters, which consist of a crispy outer shell and a creamy interior. As the central ingredient, they employ a thick variety of buttery béchamel sauce, which is formed into small logs, coated in breadcrumbs and egg wash, and fried until golden and crunchy. Spanish croquetas are made with a variety of ingredients but the jamón version, which incorporates diced Spanish ham, is the most common and popular of them all. Fragrant and spicy ham is an ideal addition to the lush and mild taste of béchamel. Croquetas are not a decadent food item; they were developed as a poor man’s food, to make use of the cheap or the remaining ingredients. Today, they represent a favorite dish, popular and eaten everywhere in Spain. Whether they are served as a smaller tapas dish or a more substantial individual meal, they are always served fresh and hot, while the center is still hot and partially melted.