{"id":34028,"date":"2022-10-31T19:00:24","date_gmt":"2022-10-31T23:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebusyfoodie.com\/?p=34028"},"modified":"2022-10-31T19:00:24","modified_gmt":"2022-10-31T23:00:24","slug":"air-fryer-potato-croquettes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.thebusyfoodie.com\/index.php\/2022\/10\/31\/air-fryer-potato-croquettes\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Fryer Potato Croquettes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Air fryer croquettes, inspired by Spanish croquetas de jamon, <\/strong>have a delicious, crispy exterior and a soft, creamy center\u2014and you don’t even have to break out the frying pan. Everyone goes wild for this delicious appetizer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ham Croquettes Are All You Need to Make Your Next Tapas Party Amazing<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

To taste a croquette is fall in love with croquettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I first tasted croquettes almost two decades ago, at the famed tapas restaurant Jaleo in Washington, D.C., it was love at first bite!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few years ago I discovered a Spanish restaurant about an hour away from us that was also serving up some amazing versions of these fried bites of heaven. I made a few trips back specifically to get them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then it hit me: I need to figure out how to make these things myself! And so here we are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This recipe isn’t traditional \u2014 it features a mashed potato base instead of bechamel sauce \u2014 but they taste spot-on and they’re so easy to make using your air fryer. These are so tasty you’ll never miss the traditional fried version!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What you’ll love about this air fryer recipe: <\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Use your leftovers!<\/strong> These air fryer croquettes are a delicious way to use leftover mashed potatoes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 ingredient recipe<\/strong>. Simple and straight-forward, but chock full of flavor. Just how this foodie likes it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prep them ahead. <\/strong>Make a double (or triple!) batch and keep them in the freezer. You’ll never be more than a few minutes away from a tasty snack. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What are Croquettes? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So first off, what are croquettes? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally, they’re crispy, fried rolls with a creamy center and a crispy, crunchy exterior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spanish ham croquettes, which these were inspired by, are a popular item on tapas menus. The soft, oozy center is often confused for cheese or mashed potatoes, but it’s actually a very thick cream sauce (bechamel) infused with finely chopped jamon iberico or jamon serrano. They’re crispy, salty, and utterly delicious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bechamel isn’t difficult to make, but it does require a pan on the stovetop and it doesn’t hold up well in the air fryer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I used mashed potatoes instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I said above, these aren’t traditional. But they do have all of the delicious flavor that you’d expect in a croqueta de jamon!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Ingredients<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ingredients you’ll need:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Leftover mashed potatoes. <\/strong>For the best results, use smooth mashed potatoes without skins and without too many strong flavors. Use leftover potatoes, or just buy a tub of premade mash at the grocery store. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Milk. <\/strong>Stirring milk into the potatoes helps loosen them up, giving you a texture that’s softer and more sauce-like. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nutmeg<\/strong>. A pinch of ground nutmeg hints at the traditional bechamel flavor and gives these that unmistakable croquette flavor that so many people just can’t put their finger on.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Cured Ham. <\/strong>For the most authentic flavor, use Jamon Serrano or Jamon Iberico<\/a>. A little goes a long way, but it can be pricy. You can also use prosciutto or even finely diced leftover Easter ham or Christmas ham. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Egg. <\/strong>To help create a crisp crust. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unseasoned bread crumbs. <\/strong>For extra crunch, you can also use panko bread crumbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manchego cheese. <\/strong>To sprinkle over the top! <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Breading<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How to make croquettes in the air fryer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Mix<\/strong> together the mashed potatoes, milk, ham, and nutmeg. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Shape<\/strong> heaping tablespoons of the potato mixture into logs. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Bread<\/strong> the logs by dipping them into breadcrumbs, then egg, then more breadcrumbs. Spritz generously with olive oil cooking spray. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Chill <\/strong>the croquettes thoroughly to help them firm up and keep their shape while they cook. 10 minutes in the freezer should do it!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Air Fry<\/strong> in a preheated air fryer until golden brown and crispy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Serve <\/strong>topped with finely shredded Manchego cheese. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    Busy Foodie Tips and Tricks:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n