Croquetas de Jamón (Ham Croquettes)

Learn how to make these croquetas de jamón (aka ham croquettes) that are perfectly crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. These are a classic Spanish appetizer that can be found in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and across Latin America. They are known for their signature crispy breaded exterior, and lusciously creamy beschamel filling.

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If you've ever tried any Puerto Rican recipes, you're likely familiar with the strong European influence in many of our dishes. This crispy fried treats are filled with diced ham and a creamy beschamel sauce.

These ham croquettes are a perfect example of how heavy the influence is on the island's culture. The delicious deep fried bites pair well with ensalada verde and piragua on a hot day.

If you like these croquetas de jamón, you should also try papas rellenas, sorullos and alcapurrias.

What Are Croquetas?

Croquetas or croquettes are crispy fried bites, originally made with a mashed potato filling.

While the name and origin of croquetas can easily be mistaken as Spanish in origin, croquettes are actually of French origin.

That said, you can find versions of these ham croquettes in Spain, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and across Latin America.

What are croquetas de jamón made of?

It's a valid question. Here's the rundown:

• butter
• onion, minced
• ham, minced
• all purpose flour + more for breading
• whole milk
• salt
• pepper
• nutmeg
• eggs, beaten
• breadcrumbs
• oil for frying

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Variations

There are many variations of croquetas you can find all over the world. Here are some of my favorites to explore:

• cod croquetas - a seafood spin on the classic croqueta that's delicious with sofrito in the filling
• shrimp croquetas - this adds a savory bite of protein and lots of flavor
• cheese croquetas - cheese versions are usually made with mashed potato filling, but can be made using a beschamel sauce as well
• veggie croquetas - these are often filled with mushroom, broccoli, sweet potato, etc

What to Eat Croquetas With

These croquetas de jamón are an excellent snack, appetizer, or side. Here are a few of my favorite dishes to serve alongside:

• enslada verde - a fresh green salad makes the perfect pairing with the crispy fried bites
• arroz con gandules - a plate of rice and beans can really balance out the fried elements of the croquetas
• pink sauce - if you need a dipping sauce, look no further than mayoketchup
• mojo de ajo - another classic Puerto Rican dipping sauce that's heavy on the garlic flavor
• sorullos - enjoy a plate of assorted Puerto Rican appetizers and serve sorullos and alcapurrias with your croquetas
• mofongo - try this classic fried plantain recipe with your croquetas
• pina colada - a refreshing cocktail to enjoy with the fried bites
• cafe con leche - it's not uncommon to enjoy fried bites like these with a cup of coffee

Equipment

You could invest in a deep fryer if you're getting really into Puerto Rican cuisine. That said, I've had success using my all-clad frying pans or a trusty cast iron pan.

Use what is most accessible to you.

I do recommend using a tablespoon scoop to portion out the croquetas. It helps ensure they are equal in size, and makes rolling them easier.

Storage

Like most fried delicacies, croquetas are best enjoyed fresh out of the fryer. I do not recommend storing leftovers.

Reminder

Make sure to let the filling cool in the freezer for several hours before shaping so they don't fall apart while frying.

Buen provecho,

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