Croquette Sandwich Croqueta Preparada Recipes

CUBAN CROQUETA PREPARADA (CROQUETTE SANDWICH) SLIDERS RECIPE

Steps:

• Slice your bread in half and spread about 2 tsps of mustard to the inside top portion of the bread. Then, add the pickles.
• To the bottom half, layer the ingredients in this order: first the croquettes, then the ham and finally the swiss cheese.
• Cover the bottom half with the top portion containing the mustard and pickles. Place the sandwich in a panini press. Cook until the bread is toasted and the cheese is slightly melted.

CROQUETTE SANDWICH (CROQUETA PREPARADA)

Steps:

• Begin by bringing a medium sized pan to medium heat. Melt the butter inside the pan and add olive oil. Once the oil begins to smoke, toss in your finely chopped onion and sauté.
• Slowly add in 1/2 cup wheat flour to create a paste. Next, season with salt, pepper, and your ground garlic. Gradually whisk in your milk and mix until texture is thickened.
• After the base is thickened, stir in your chopped parsley and ham. Turn off heat and place the filling into a sealed container. Refrigerate the croquette (croqueta) filling for at least 2 hours.
• Prepare an egg wash by whisking the eggs with a tablespoon of water in a bowl. Place breadcrumbs in a separate bowl or plate with 1/4 cup of the remaining flour. Bring vegetable oil inside of a pan to medium heat. The oil level should cover half of the croqueta log.
• Take your ham croquette (croqueta) filling out of the refrigerator and shape individual croquette (croqueta) logs. They should be at most 3 inches long. Dip ham croquette (croqueta) logs into the egg wash then into breadcrumbs. Repeat egg wash and breadcrumbs dip one more time then place into frying pan.
• Fry the croquettes (croquetas) making sure it is golden on all around. Then, place fried croquettes (croquetas) inside a paper laced bowl or wire rack to soak excess oil. Lastly, prepare a sandwich by placing in order - mustard, pickles, cheese, ham, and croquetas. Bring griddle or pan to low-medium heat with butter. Flatten sandwich with a separate skillet or bacon press and toast each side.

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.