Potato Croquetas With Saffron Aioli Spain Recipes

POTATO CROQUETAS WITH SAFFRON ALIOLI

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and cut into 1-inch pieces. Cover with salted cold water by 1 inch in a 2-quart saucepan, then boil until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain in a colander. Force potatoes through ricer into a medium bowl and cool.
• Lightly beat 1 egg in a small bowl with a fork. Add to cooled potatoes along with herbs, butter, salt, and pepper and stir just until combined.
• Spoon tablespoons of potato mixture onto a tray, then lightly roll each into a ball between palms of your hands and return to tray.
• Lightly beat remaining 2 eggs in a small bowl and set aside. Spread flour in a shallow bowl, then spread bread crumbs in another shallow bowl.
• Working in 4 batches (of 6 or 7), roll balls in flour to coat, gently shaking off excess flour. Dip balls in egg, turning to coat and letting excess drip off, then roll in bread crumbs and return to tray. Chill, covered, 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 200°F.
• Heat 1 1/2 inches oil in a 3-quart pot until it registers 360°F on thermometer. Working in 4 batches, fry croquetas, turning if necessary, until browned, about 1 1/2 minutes per batch. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, then transfer to a baking pan and keep warm in oven while frying remaining croquetas. (Return oil to 360°F between batches.)

POTATO CROQUETAS WITH SAFFRON AIOLI (SPAIN)

Steps:

• Prepare Croquetas:.
• Peel potatoes and cut into 1-inch pieces. Cover with salted cold water by 1 inch in a 2-quart saucepan, then boil until tender, about 8 minutes.
• Drain in a colander. Mash or force potatoes through a ricer into a medium bowl and cool.
• Lightly beat 1 egg in a small bowl with a fork.
• Add to cooled potatoes along with herbs, butter, salt, and pepper and stir until just combined.
• Spoon tablespoons of potato mixture onto a tray, then lightly roll each into a ball between palms of your hands and return to tray.
• Lightly beat remaining 2 eggs in a small bowl and set aside.
• Spread flour in a shallow bowl, then spread bread crumbs in another shallow bowl.
• Working in batches, roll balls in flour to coat, gently shaking off excess.
• Dip balls in egg, turning to coat and letting excess drip off, then roll in bread crumbs and return to tray. Chill, covered, for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 200°F.
• Heat 1 1/2 inches oil in a pot.
• Working in batches, fry croquetas, turning if necessary, until browned, about 1 1/2 minutes per batch.
• Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, then transfer to a baking pan and keep warm in the oven while frying remaining croquetas.
• **Croquetas can be fried up to 3 hours ahead and kept at room temperature. Reheat in a preheated 400°F oven for 8 minutes.
• Prepare Saffron Aioli:.
• Put saffron threads in a small cup, then add hot water and let stand 5 minutes.
• Purée saffron mixture with remaining ingredients in a mini food processor or a blender until smooth.
• **Aioli can be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered. Bring to room temperature before serving (this will take about 1 hour).

SAFFRON ALIOLI

Steps:

• Put saffron threads in a small cup, then add hot water and let stand 5 minutes.
• Purée saffron mixture with remaining ingredients in a mini food processor or a blender until smooth.

CHORIZO CROQUETAS WITH AïOLI

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a pan over a medium-low heat, and fry the onion for 8 mins until softened but not coloured. Stir in the flour until it's incorporated into the fat and onions. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 4 mins, stirring - don't let it brown. Warm the milk in a medium pan over a low heat until steaming.
• Remove the onion mixture from the heat and add the milk, a little at a time, stirring after each addition until smooth. When all the milk has been added, return the pan to medium-low heat and bring to the boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 6 mins, stirring often to prevent it from catching. Set aside.
• Cook the chorizo in a frying pan over a medium heat for 3 mins - you don't need any fat, as fat will be released from the chorizo as it cooks. Stir the fried chorizo into the sauce along with the cheese, parsley and seasoning. Pour the sauce into a dish and leave to cool completely, then cover and chill for at least 3 hrs, or overnight.
• Next, make the aïoli. Put the garlic and the egg yolks in a bowl and beat with an electric whisk while slowly adding the oil, a drop at a time. As the mixture starts to thicken, you can add the oil more quickly, in greater amounts. Squeeze in some lemon juice and season, tasting as you go to ensure the flavour is balanced (you can also add a drop of white wine vinegar as well as lemon juice, if you like). Cover and chill until ready to serve.
• Using wet hands, roll the chilled chorizo mixture into walnut-sized balls. Put the egg in a shallow bowl and the breadcrumbs on a shallow plate. Roll the croquetas in the egg, then crumbs, making sure each is well coated. Put the croquetas on a baking tray, then cover loosely and chill for a few hours to firm up, so they don't break up when you fry them.
• Pour the groundnut oil into a pan until it is no more than a third full, and heat to 180C, or until a cube of bread dropped in turns golden within 30 seconds. Deep-fry the croquetas in batches for 2-3 mins per batch, keeping an eye on the temperature. If the oil is too hot, the croquetas will darken on the outside before the inside is hot - they should be golden. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the croquetas to a plate lined with kitchen paper, leave to drain for a few minutes, then serve with the aïoli.