croquettas

TOTAL TIME: 60 minutes

MAKES: 20 croquettas

With their crisp, fried exterior enveloping a flavorful filling, croquettas are not only irresistible, but also a great way to showcase leftovers. These were created by New York chef Marco Canora as a way to use up the tender meat left behind after making brodo, an Italian meat and poultry broth. A very flexible recipe, croquettas can be made with just about any cooked meat or bird (it does not need to be a mix), and the recipe is easily halved.

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Ingredients

2 small Yukon gold potatoes (3/4 pound)
Fine sea salt or kosher salt
1/2 cup roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley
3 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped
Finely grated zest of 2 lemons
4 cups roughly chopped cooked mixed meat and poultry, preferably from making Brodo
2 large eggs
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
2 to 3 tablespoons Brodo, low-sodium chicken broth or water
3/4 cup fine bread crumbs
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Instructions

In a heavy pot, cover potatoes with salted cold water by 1 inch. Simmer, uncovered, until very tender, about 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, finely chop together parsley, lemon zest and garlic. Finely chop meat together with minced parsley mixture. Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Add eggs and cheese; stir together well and season generously with pepper and a little salt.

Peel and mash potato; add to meat mixture and stir well to combine. Add enough broth so that mixture is moist and holds together.

Form mixture into 20 log-shaped croquettas, each about 2 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter; roll in bread crumbs.

Combine olive and vegetable oils in a medium skillet (oil should come up skillet by 1/2 inch). Heat oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Fry croquettas in batches, turning every 2 to 3 minutes, until golden and crisp all over, 6 to 9 minutes total. Transfer to paper towels to drain and sprinkle with salt while hot. Serve as an appetizer warm or at room temperature with a squeeze of lemon or your favorite aioli, if you like.

Recipe by Marco Canora

Photo by G. Giraldo

November 2009