Croquetas de Jamón

Name: Croquetas de Jamón
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Spain
Ingredients: 4 tbsp butter; 1/2 cup flour; 2 cups whole milk; 1 cup Serrano ham, finely diced; 1/2 onion, minced; Pinch of nutmeg; 1 cup flour, for dredging; 2 eggs, beaten; 1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs; Oil for frying

6 servings30 min prep20 min cookMedium Spain

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Croquetas de Jamón

Story updated September 17, 2026

Croquetas trace back to French cuisine, but Spain adopted and adapted the fried, breaded croquette in the 19th century, filling it with béchamel and often leftover jamón. It became a beloved way to use bits of good ham and turned into a fixture of Spanish tapas bars.

Ingredients

Scale:· 6 servings

4 tbsp butter
1/2 cup flour
2 cups whole milk
1 cup Serrano ham, finely diced
1/2 onion, minced
Pinch of nutmeg
1 cup flour, for dredging
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs
Oil for frying

Instructions

1Sauté minced onion in butter until soft, then add ham and cook briefly.
2Stir in flour and cook 2 minutes to form a roux.
3Gradually whisk in milk, cooking until a very thick béchamel forms; season with nutmeg.
4Spread the mixture in a dish and chill at least 2 hours until firm.
5Shape chilled mixture into small logs, then coat in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs.
6Fry in batches at 350°F until golden brown and crisp.

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