The saltiness of the cheese and the crispy outside were delicious, and I loved it! Imagine biting into a mozzarella stick, or a really good chicken nugget, but instead of cheese or chicken in the middle it is a creamy french fry-like texture that melts in your mouth, I had a huge smile on my face and I bet you would too!
Croquetas are made by combining cheese with mashed potatoes (my two favorite food groups), then shaping the mixture into small rolls or balls. The shaped croquettes are then coated in a three-step breading process: first in flour, then in an egg, and finally in breadcrumbs. The croquetas are then deep-fried until golden brown and crispy and so yummy!
It is originally a French food and are called Croquettes (crow- ket-s), but they are a very popular form of tapas in Spain, and were renamed Croquetas (cro-ket-tas) and are mainly filled with jamón (ham) and cheese. The other difference is the filling: in French Croquettes, the potato mix is different, being closer to mashed potatoes, and the Spanish ones have a cool filling called béchamel, which is potatoes and creme, making it so delicious and melt-in-your mouth. The fillings are where it becomes really Spanish with jamón, a smoked preparation of ham, as well as cod, and even pulpo (octopus). These are all ingredients found in Spain. The reason these ingredients are so common in Spain is because the country is almost surrounded by ocean, and cod and octopus are therefore very easy to catch. There are also wild boars (pigs) everywhere!
