Ham croquettes are one of the most popular tapas in Spain and can be found in almost every bar and restaurant in the country.
Although it may seem like a simple dish, its preparation requires patience and skill to achieve the ideal texture and flavor.
So go ahead and try the best croquettes in Barcelona!
Croquettes, the tapa queens
Croquettes, a dish that is now popular worldwide with many flavors and fillings, is thought to have been invented in France in the 18th century, despite its association with Spain.
In Spain, it is a famous tapa with contests to find the best croquette in each region.
Similarly, in Japan, it is known as “korokke,” and various fillings are used, such as mashed potatoes, curry, or seafood.
In Mexico, they make another version of croquettes with beef or chicken. They are served with a spicy tomato sauce.
And in Indonesia, there is a version of croquettes, called kroket, which can be filled with meat, vegetables, or cheese.
In summary, croquettes are a delicious and versatile appetizer that has transcended borders and become a common recipe all over the world.
Identify a good croquette
As we have already seen, there are croquettes all over the world. But how can we identify a good croquette? Pay attention to these three aspects:
Bechamel
The gourmands have a very clear idea of what the key to a good croquette is, the texture of the béchamel sauce.
The mixture has to be creamy, without lumps. In the mouth, it has to give the sensation of a great explosion of flavor.
Quality
ingredients
It is very important to choose high-quality ingredients to give flavor to the croquette.
That’s why the key to a good croquette is for the main ingredient (in our case, ham) to be well integrated into the dough.
Frying
Just like with any kind of fried food, it’s very important that it’s done properly or it could ruin the whole dish.
The frying of a good croquette needs to be very crispy, not at all soft. And, above all, all the oil needs to be drained off.