What Are Potato Croquettes?
Croquettes are small, cylindrical or round-shaped snacks, usually made with mashed potatoes or vegetables, herbs, and spices, covered with breadcrumbs and deep-fried until crispy. It can also be served as an appetizer or side dish.
Croquettes served with dipping sauce can be prepared with many fillings. Depending on preference, it can be made with various types of meat, seafood, vegetables, or cheese. Croquettes are popular in many countries, including Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Japan.
Potato croquettes are foods that are deep fried by breading and mixing mashed potatoes with various ingredients such as meat, vegetables, cheese, herbs and spices. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, these snacks are usually served with dipping sauces. Also, the croquettes can be made ahead of time, frozen and reheated.
What are the Differences Between European Potato Croquettes and Japanese Potato Croquettes?
There are many differences between European potato croquettes and Japanese potato croquettes in terms of both ingredients and preparation methods. Here are some differences between these two potato croquette recipes:
Ingredients: European potato croquettes usually contain mashed potatoes, milk, butter, flour and breadcrumbs. It is flavored with fresh herbs, cheese or meat. Japanese potato croquettes, also known as Korokke, are made with mashed potatoes, onions, and ground beef or seafood. Panko is covered with breadcrumbs.
Shape: European potato croquettes are usually cylindrical or oval in shape, while Japanese potato croquettes are square or rectangular.
Cooking method: European potato croquettes are deep fried, while Japanese potato croquettes are usually pan or deep fried.
Serving: European potato croquettes are usually served as a side dish or snack, while Japanese potato croquettes are usually served as a main course, sometimes with rice, salad, or other side dishes.
In general, both European and Japanese potato croquettes are similar in that they are made with mashed potatoes and breadcrumbs. However, these two recipes differ in terms of the ingredients used, the shape of the croquettes, cooking method and serving.
What Kind of Potato Is Best for Croquettes?
The best type of potato for making croquettes is a starchy potato, such as a russet or Yukon Gold. Starchy potatoes have lower moisture content and higher starch content. This makes them ideal for making croquettes.
High-starch potatoes help the croquettes rise and hold their shape during frying. Additionally, starchy potatoes tend to absorb liquids and flavors.
How To Cook Potato Croquettes?
Potato croquettes can be made with different cooking methods depending on your preference. Here are the potato croquettes cooking methods:
Frying: This is the most common method of cooking potato croquettes. Heat the oil in a deep fryer or thick-bottomed pan to approximately 350-375 °F (180-190 °C). Carefully drop the croquettes into the hot oil and fry for 2-3 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
Stir-Frying: This method is a healthier alternative to deep-frying. Heat some oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Place the croquettes in the pan and cook for about 3-4 minutes, until golden and crispy on both sides.
Baking: Preheat the oven to 375 °F (190 °C). Place the croquettes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
Air Frying: Preheat the air fryer to 375 °F (190 °C). Place the croquettes in the fryer basket and cook, shaking the basket occasionally, until golden and crispy, about 10-15 minutes.
Whichever cooking method you choose, be sure to cook the croquettes until they are golden brown on the outside and crispy on the inside.
How To Make Vegan Potato Croquettes?
You can make vegan potato croquettes by changing a few ingredients in this recipe.
Butter: You can use coconut oil or vegan butter instead of butter or margarine.
Flour: If you want to avoid gluten, you can use gluten-free flour or almond flour.
Milk: You can use soy milk, almond milk, or oat milk instead of whole milk.
Cheese: You can use vegan cheese.
Eggs: You can use flaxseed or mashed banana instead of eggs.
How Do You Keep Potato Croquettes From Falling Apart?
You can prepare crispy and non-breaking potato croquettes at home. Here are some tips for keeping potato croquettes from falling apart:
- Use the right potatoes. Use starchy potatoes, such as Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes.
- Do not overcook the potatoes. Cook the potatoes until soft. Otherwise, overcooked potatoes may become too soft and fall apart easily.
- Refrigerate the mashed potatoes. Refrigerate the mashed potatoes for at least an hour before turning them into croquettes. This will help them tighten and maintain their shape.
- Use flour or eggs as binders. Adding some flour or scrambled eggs to the mashed potatoes can help bind the mixture together. This can prevent the croquettes from falling apart.
- Wet your hands with cold water or wear gloves when shaping the croquettes to prevent them from sticking to your hands and getting too hot.
What Kind of Cheese Is Best for Potato Croquettes?
Many types of cheese can be used to make potato croquettes. However, cheese varieties such as parmesan, cheddar, and mozzarella are among the types of cheese commonly used for making croquettes.
For more, you can check out our article "Types of Cheeses and Uses".
How To Serve Potato Croquettes?
Potato croquettes can be served as a side dish or appetizer. It goes well with many dipping sauces, such as ketchup, garlic mayonnaise, or aioli sauce. It can be served with grilled vegetables or a salad.
It can be served as a hot starter alongside main dishes such as grilled steak, chicken, or shrimp.
Here are our delicious recipes that you can serve with Potato Croquettes:
How To Store Potato Croquettes?
You can store potato croquettes in the refrigerator or freezer. Allow the croquettes too cool to room temperature before storing them. Then put it in an airtight container or zip-lock bag. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
When ready to serve, reheat the croquettes in the oven or frying pan until they are fully heated and crispy.
If you need to keep it longer, you can freeze it. To freeze croquettes, place them on a baking sheet and freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag or container and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. To reheat frozen croquettes, bake in a 375 °F (190 °C) oven for 15-20 minutes, or until fully heated and crispy.
Should I Freeze Croquettes Before Frying?
Yes, it is recommended to freeze the croquettes before frying, especially if you are storing them for later use. This prevents the croquettes from solidifying and falling apart during frying. Additionally, frozen croquettes create a crispy outer layer when fried, resulting in an overall better texture.
To freeze croquettes, place in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in the freezer until firm. Then, transfer the frozen croquettes to a freezer bag or airtight container. Store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Before frying the croquettes, remove them from the freezer and thaw them in the refrigerator for several hours. Then follow the cooking steps in the recipe.
Can Potato Croquettes Be Frozen?
Yes. You can freeze the potato croquettes for longer storage.
- Allow the fried croquettes to cool at room temperature.
- Arrange the croquettes in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze the croquettes until firm, about 3 hours.
- Once the croquettes are frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag.
- Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How To Reheat Potato Croquettes?
You can reheat potato croquettes in the oven or skillet that you have stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Thaw frozen croquettes in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Oven: Preheat oven to 375 °F (190 °C). Place the croquettes on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until fully heated and crispy.
Pan: Heat oil or butter in the frying pan. Add the croquettes to the pan, leaving some space between them. Cook both sides for 2-3 minutes or until crispy.
Make sure you don't overfill the pan as this can cause the croquettes to get wet. To reheat potato croquettes, avoid using the microwave. This can make them wet.
Can Potato Croquettes Be Made Ahead?
Yes, you can make potato croquettes ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator or freezer. To prepare the croquettes ahead of time,
- Prepare the croquette batter according to the recipe. Place on a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until firm.
- After cooling, you can fry it immediately or store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
- If you want to keep the croquettes longer, you can freeze them for up to 2 months. To freeze, follow the steps mentioned above.
- Before serving, fry the croquettes according to the recipe or follow the steps to reheat.
