Serrano Ham Croquetas

📝 Ingredients

• 400 ml milk
• 70 g serrano ham (without the excess fat)
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 onion (40g approx) (cut in small cubes)
• 1 garlic clove (finely grated or minced)
• 60 g all purpose flour
• 1/8 tsp ground or grated nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 50 g manchego cheese, freshly grated
• 100 g all purpose flour
• 2 eggs + 2 tsp water
• 100 g breadcrumbs
• 500-1000 ml vegetable oil for frying (enough so the croquetas can be fully submerged)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- For the bechamel ---
2. 2Chop the serrano ham in cubes and cook it in the milk on medium heat for about 3min from the point where it starts steaming.
3. 3Cook the onion in a bit of the olive oil from the recipe over medium-low heat until soft and translucent.
4. 4Add the garlic and cook for a few seconds. Don't let it become golden.
5. 5Add the rest of the olive oil, salt, nutmeg and flour and mix using a whisk over medium heat.
6. 6Cook the mix for a minute from the moment it starts boiling.
7. 7Turn the heat off and add the milk little by little and whisking in between to make sure no lumps form.
8. 8Once all the milk has been incorporated return to a medium heat and whisk constantly until it starts boiling.
9. 9Add the manchego cheese and mix.
10. 10Transfer to a container and cover with cling film. Make sure the cling film touches the surface of the bechamel sauce so a skin doesn't form.
11. 11Once cooled to room temperature take to the fridge for at least 2 hours and a maximum of 4 days.
12. 12--- For the breading and frying ---
13. 13Prepare 3 bowls: one with flour, the other with egg and water whisked together and the last one with breadcrumbs.
14. 14Make ovals or balls on your hands and pass through the flour, always removing the excess. Make this with all of them first so you don't bread your hands.
15. 15Then pass through the egg using always the same hand and make sure the excess drips off.
16. 16Finally pass through the breadcrumbs with the other hand always.
17. 17Heat the oil over medium heat, it should bubble when the croquetas go in.
18. 18Fry until golden and serve immediately.