When we say that Spanish cuisine is among the best in the world, we don’t say it lightly. Spanish food is very popular, both at home and in the rest of the world. Among our traditional recipes we have such representative dishes as: Iberian ham, gazpacho, potato omelette, paella and many others. Without a doubt, the Spanish croquette is one of the favourite dishes among lovers of good food.
Everyone likes croquettes, and enjoying that delicious bite, while looking out of the corner of your eye at how many are left on your plate, is priceless. In this article we are going to talk about Spanish croquettes, the secret that makes them so popular and without a doubt why they are the best in the world.
`Cocreta’ or spanish croqueta?
This is another of the great discussions along with the usual one: the potato omelette, with or without onion? The truth is that I don’t want to leave this controversy in suspense. The correct way to call it is croquettes. There are fakes news that indicate that the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language approves the term “cocretas”, something that is totally false and which they themselves have reiterated on many occasions. The term “cocreta” is not in the dictionary.
So why is it sometimes called “cocretas”?
Cocretas is a vulgarism, we can find others in our gastronomy such as: albóndigas or almóndigas. They are used colloquially and the reason why they are used is because for some people, the correct word is difficult to pronounce. Usually, when someone says “cocretas”, there is another person who replies: “croquetas” or “cocretas”?
Why are the best croquettes Spanish?
Being Spanish, it is very easy to say that what is ours is always the best. However, in the case of croquettes it is true. It’s not because we say so, everyone who tastes them says so. The croquette is made in other European countries, such as Germany and Austria, although they share the same name and appearance, the recipe is very different.
The secret, which makes the Spanish croquette the best in the world, is the béchamel sauce. In the rest of the potatoes, although they respect the shape and breading, the filling is made from boiled potato and is not usually mixed with other ingredients, such as mushrooms, ham, chicken or prawns.
Spanish croquettes with béchamel sauce
The Spanish croquette is always made with béchamel sauce, which is possibly its main characteristic. Bechamel is a sauce made from a fat, such as butter or oil, wheat flour and milk. Depending on the time you let the sauce reduce, it will have one texture or another.
Unlike other croquettes, the béchamel sauce will add juiciness and creaminess to the bite. In addition, the béchamel makes the filling you use, whether it is chicken, ham, prawns or whatever you want, integrate better as a whole.
What is the best croquette in Spain?
Possibly, after reading this title, you would say that the best croquettes are those of my mother. I will agree with you that, without a doubt, the best croquettes are those of my mother.
However, as they have competitions for all kinds of things, how can there not be a competition for the best croquette in Spain? Every year in Madrid Fusion, the competition for the best croquette in Spain is held. In the year 2023, the winner was the Ababol restaurant in Albacete, with a creamy croquette made with sheep’s milk.
Most popular types of Spanish croquettes recipe
The truth is that you can find all kinds of Spanish croquettes. As we have mentioned before, the requisite to be considered a Spanish croquette is that it is made with béchamel sauce and that it has a crispy breading. With these two requirements, the versatility of this recipe and a good imagination, you can make any type of croquette.
However, it could be said that the most popular croquettes are:
Ham croquetas recipe
We can find croquettes of Serrano ham or Iberian ham, it has a very characteristic taste, since the fat of the ham is integrated with the béchamel creating a delicious combination. It is a popular dish, usually made from ham tips or those parts of the ham that are more difficult to cut with a knife and have to be cut into pieces and cubes.
Spanish chicken croquettes recipe
One of the most popular croquettes is the chicken croquette. A classic of Spanish gastronomy, it is a very juicy dish. It is ideally made with cooked chicken thighs, as the meat separates and crumbles easily.
You could say that it is a dish that makes the most of the meat, as first you make a chicken broth with the thighs. Then, once the chicken thighs are cooked, we make croquettes with them.
Cod croquettes recipe
Cod croquettes can be made from whole loins of cod or codfish crumbs. It is very important to desalinate the cod beforehand and not overcook it. The cod will separate naturally, as in small flakes.
Stew croquette
The cocido croquette is made with the leftovers from the cocido madrileño stew. It uses the leftovers from the stew: chorizo, beef, bacon, black pudding, all finely chopped and mixed together. A delicious flavour.
Croqueta de puchero (stew croquette)
Croqueta de puchero is very similar to croqueta de puchero. The ingredients are leftovers from other dishes, the most common are poultry and veal.
Prawn croquette
Prawn croquettes, like octopus croquettes, are a more gourmet dish. The ideal is to lightly fry the prawns in butter so that they add all their flavour to the béchamel sauce. It is ideal to use those prawns that are split or less beautiful, as they are going to be cut into pieces for their preparation.
Blue cheese croquettes
Blue cheese croquettes are a speciality made in the north of Spain, in the region of Asturias. Blue cheese is one of the most representative cheeses of the region, characterised by its blue mould infiltration and its crumbly texture. It is a cheese that melts well, ideal for mixing with béchamel sauce.
Blue cheese croquettes have an intense, powerful flavour, just like the blue cheese they are made with.
What is the most popular Spanish croquette recipe?
Without a doubt, the most popular Spanish croquettes both inside and outside Spain are: the chicken croquette and the ham croquette. As we said before, croquettes are made with “leftovers” of everyday products. Ham and chicken are products frequently used in Spanish homes and restaurants.
Chicken and ham croquettes are delicious, their juiciness, texture and flavour make them consumer favourites. They are ingredients that everyone likes, both adults and children.
For these two reasons, chicken croquettes and ham croquettes are the most popular.
The best vegetarian croquettes you can cook at home
Within the gastronomic offer, vegan croquettes could not be missing. These are made with soya milk and olive oil, thus replacing traditional milk and butter. They are very simple to make, similar to traditional croquettes. When it comes to binding the béchamel, unlike traditional milk, soya milk has no fat, so we have to add a little more oil to achieve the right consistency. I’m sure you’re wondering, if you can’t use eggs, what do you use for breading, soya milk?
Among the most traditional vegan croquettes we find:
Rice croquettes
Rice croquettes are made from cooked rice and are mixed with vegan béchamel sauce and seasoning, such as thyme or nutmeg. It has a more compact consistency and is usually shaped like a ball.
Spinach croquettes
Very easy to make croquettes, when the béchamel sauce is ready, add the chopped spinach, stir to mix well and that’s it!
Vegetable croquettes
These croquettes are a “potpourri” of the vegetables we have in the fridge, broccoli, carrots, aubergines, whatever you can think of! When making these croquettes, the important thing is to chop the vegetables well and that they are perfectly cooked when the soya milk is added.
Where to buy Spanish croquettes?
Outside Spain, it is very difficult to find Spanish croquettes. Although it is true that there may be establishments that sell frozen Spanish croquettes, their quality is far from that of a homemade croquette.
At Gastronomic Spain you can buy all the ingredients you need to make a homemade Spanish croquette, from the ham for croquettes to the crunchy breadcrumbs. Eating croquettes is not a whim, it is a necessity.
