Cuban Croquetas Recipe Recipes Recipes Recipe For Hand

CROQUETAS DE JAMóN (HAM CROQUETTES)

Steps:

• In a saucepan, melt butter at medium-low heat. Add onion and cook for 1 minute.
• Slowly whisk in milk, 1/3 cup of flour, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Continue to whisk until it becomes a very thick sauce (a roux).
• Add in the cooking wine and ground ham to the sauce. Mix together slowly until all is combined. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 5 minutes.
• Transfer the filling to a bowl. Let it rest at room temperature then refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight (the longer the better). The mixture has to harden in order to form into logs and coat evenly. If this step is skipped, it will be very hard to form logs, coat with the breading, and fry. This is an important step. Don't skip it.
• Remove the filling from the refrigerator. Form logs from the mixture straight from the fridge. It's ok if they are cold, it will be easier to form the logs this way. You want the logs to be approximately 3" long and 1" wide. If the mixture is sticky as you're making the logs, add bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon at a time, to the mixture until it's no longer sticky.
• Continue forming the logs until you have all the croquette logs done then place them back in the fridge to firm up once again, about 30 minutes.**
• To bread the croquette logs, you want to set up a breading station. In one bowl, whisk eggs and set aside. In another bowl, mix the remaining flour and bread crumbs.
• Remove the logs from the fridge. Dip each croquette log in the egg wash and then coat in bread crumb/flour mixture. Repeat with each one until they are all breaded. Let the croquettes rest at room temperature for 5 minutes before frying.
• In a large pot or pan, heat enough vegetable oil to cover the croquettes completely. Fry each croquette until golden brown, approximately 3-4 minutes. Don't crowd the pot too much as you are frying. This will help them all get evenly cooked.
• Remove the croquettes from oil and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Serve with saltines and lime wedges. Enjoy!

CLASSIC CUBAN-STYLE PICADILLO

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir garlic, onion, and green bell pepper in the hot oil until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Crumble ground beef into the skillet; cook and stir until browned completely, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Stir olives, raisins, capers, tomato sauce, sazon seasoning, cumin, sugar, and salt through the ground beef mixture.
• Cover the skillet, reduce heat to low, and cook until the mixture is heated through, 5 to 10 minutes.

CUBAN POTATO CROQUETTES WITH BEEF PICADILLO (PAPAS RELLENAS DE P

Steps:

• First prepare the picadillo. In a large bowl using your hands mix beef, onion, bell pepper, garlic, olives, raisins, capers, tomato paste, oregano, cumin, allspice and some pepper. Cover with plastic and leave at room temperature for 1/2 hour for the flavours to mix.
• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the meat mixture with a splash of vinegar and a pinch of salt. Cook, while breaking up the meat frequently. If the meat starts to brown lower the heat, and continue to cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 30 minutes. The picadillo should be juicy, but not soupy.
• Boil the potatoes until very tender. Drain and let cool slightly. As soon as they are cool enough to handle, peel them and rice them into a large bowl. Cool completely.
• Add the egg,flour and parsley and mix well (hands preferred!). Season with salt and pepper. Put the mixture on a slightly floured board and knead until smooth dough. Divide into 12 even portions.
• Shape each portion into a ball, and flatten on the palm of your hand. Each ball should be about 4 inches.
• Put a tablespoon of picadillo in the center of the ball and pinch edges together to seal. Smooth the packet into a round ball, and seal any cracks. Roll the balls in breadcrumbs to coat.
• Fry the balls in the olive oil until deep brown, about 6-8 minutes. Drain on a cooling rack.
• Serve immediately, or keep warm in a 250°F oven for up to 20 minutes.