These mouth-watering croquetas de jamon are a Cuban classic! They have a crispy exterior with a soft inside and are absolutely delicious!
I like to serve them with ketchup, saltine crackers, and bacon garlic aioli.
WHAT ARE CROQUETAS DE JAMON?
They’re a popular Cuban appetizer made by blending finely ground ham with bechamel sauce. The mixture is shaped into oval shapes, coated with breadcrumbs, and deep-fried until golden brown. Cuban croquettes have a firm ham filling while Spaniard croquettes have a looser filling.
If you love authentic Cuban recipes, check out this crockpot Cuban picadillo, chicharos Cubanos, and rabo encendido.
INGREDIENT NOTES
- Ham – Any type of thick-cut ham will work, just make sure to blend it in the food processor for a few seconds to get it nice and smooth.
- Butter – Use unsalted otherwise your croquetas may turn out too salty.
- Milk – I recommend whole milk for best results.
- Breadcrumbs – Avoid seasoned breadcrumbs. Just use plain breadcrumbs because the filling is salty enough.
TOP TIPS FOR THE ULTIMATE CROQUETAS DE JAMON
- I highly recommend using a candy thermometer to measure the oil. You’ll want the oil to be at 350 degrees F. If the oil is too hot, the croquetas will burn on the outside, and the inside will remain frozen.
- The ham I used contained a lot of salt so I didn’t have to add any additional salt, but feel free to season to taste.
- You’ll have to freeze the croquetas for at least an hour before frying otherwise they may fall apart. You don’t have to thaw them. I recommend frying them as soon as you take them out of the freezer for best results.
HOW LONG DO I FRY THEM FOR?
For a perfect crispy croqueta, I recommend deep frying them for 2-3 minutes. Again, make sure the oil is at 350 degrees F.
CAN I MAKE THESE AHEAD OF TIME?
Yes, of course, in fact, I encourage you to do so! These freeze very well and stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months. To freeze them, simply follow all the recipe steps except for the frying stage. After coating the croquettes in breadcrumbs, place them in a plastic zippered bag and freeze until you’re ready to fry them.
STORAGE
If you have any leftovers, place them in a zippered plastic bag and refrigerate for up to 2 days or you can leave them on the counter for a few hours. Reheat in the air fryer, microwave, or oven for a few minutes or until heated through.
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Croquetas de Jamon
Equipment
- Candy Thermometer To measure oil temperature
Ingredients
- 16 ounces ham thick cut or diced
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 garlic cloves finely minced
- ½ onion finely diced
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- salt to taste
- oil, for frying canola or vegetable
Instructions
- Place the ham in a food processor and blend for a few seconds or until smooth.
- Add the butter to a large skillet and allow it to melt completely.
- Stir in the onions and cook for 2 minutes or until soften.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for 15 seconds.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes. This will help to get rid of that raw flour taste.
- Whisk in the milk and then add the ham. Mix it continuously for a few minutes. Check for seasoning and add salt if needed. Remove it from the heat and allow it to cool completely. I like to place it in the fridge for 45 minutes.
- Form ham mixture into 3/4-by-2-inch logs, dip in egg, then roll in breadcrumbs to coat.
- Place them on a baking sheet and freeze for one hour.
- Heat your oil to 350 degrees F. Deep fry the croquettes for 2-3 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- I highly recommend using a candy thermometer to measure the oil. You’ll want the oil to be at 350 degrees F. If the oil is too hot, the croquetas will burn on the outside, and the inside will remain frozen.
- The ham I used contained a lot of salt so I didn’t have to add any additional salt, but feel free to season to taste.
- You’ll have to freeze the croquetas for at least an hour before frying otherwise they may fall apart. You don’t have to thaw them. I recommend frying them as soon as you take them out of the freezer for best results.
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