CRISPY Spanish Cheese Croquettes | “Better than Mozzarella Sticks”

These CRISPY Spanish Cheese Croquettes, known as Croquetas de Queso Manchego, have a light, crispy texture on the outside with a creamy interior, they’re easy to make, and all done using simple ingredients. Serve them as a tapas appetizer, next to some marinated olives and a couple of ice-cold beers for the best moment of your day.

To make this recipe, I used a Spanish Manchego that was aged for 4 months. You can use whatever type of Manchego you like or whatever cheese you have on hand. Though I do recommend using a Spanish Manchego. As it’s what gives these croquettes that lift of goodness.

It is important to fry your croquettes on medium heat and nothing higher. Otherwise, the croquettes are going to brown too quickly on the outside and not end up with that beautiful creamy interior.

TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: If your mixture is too sticky when shaping the croquettes. Dust your hands off with some flour. You can make the croquettes ahead of time and then fry them when ready. They will hold for up to 3 days in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer.

Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY COOKWARE
MY CHEF´S KNIFE
SPANISH MANCHEGO I USED (10% OFF Your Order with Coupon Code ONAFORK)
SPANISH OLIVE OIL (10% OFF Your Order with Coupon Code ONAFORK)

If you´re not already subscribed to my youtube channel, become a subscriber and click on the bell icon to be notified everytime I release a new video.

Support Spain on a Fork. Get your Spain on a Fork Apron and other awesome Merchandise here.

Your SUPPORT Helps Spain on a Fork Keep Going

Join Me on Patreon!

Watch the Video Below on How to Make CRISPY Spanish Cheese Croquettes

Print

CRISPY Spanish Cheese Croquettes | Croquetas de Queso Manchego

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Spanish

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Cooling Time 30 minutes

Servings 12 croquettes

Calories 243 kcal

Author Albert Bevia @ Spain on a Fork

Ingredients

FOR THE FILLING

• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 30 ml
• 1 shallot (finely chopped)
• 3 cloves garlic (roughly chopped)
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour 30 grams
• 1 cup low fat milk 240 ml
• 2 cups shredded Manchego cheese 240 grams
• sea salt & black pepper

FOR THE OUTER SHELL

• 1/2 cup all purpose flour 60 grams
• 2 cage-free organic eggs
• 1 cup plain breadcrumbs 120 grams
• 1/2 tsp dried parsley .50 grams
• 1/2 tsp dried rosemary .50 grams
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme .50 grams
• sea salt & black pepper

EXTRA

• 1 cup sunflower oil 240 ml

Instructions

1. Heat a large fry pan with a medium heat and add in the olive oil

2. After a couple of minutes add in the chopped shallot and garlic, mix continuously, after 2 to 3 minutes and the shallot is slightly translucent, add in the 1/4 cup flour, continue to mix together, after 2 minutes slowly add in the milk while mixing continuously, once all the milk has been added and you have a thick paste turn off the heat, add in the shredded cheese and season with sea salt & black pepper, mix together until well mixed, folding the mixture if you have to, then transfer into a bowl

3. Once the mixture has slightly cooled, cover with saran wrap and add into the freezer for 30 minutes

4. In the meantime, add the 1/2 cup flour into a bowl, crack in the eggs into a separate bowl, season with sea salt & black pepper and whisk together, and add the breadcrumbs into a third separate bowl, season with the dried herbs and mix together

5. After leaving the mixture in the freezer for 30 minutes remove from the freezer

6. Heat a fry pan with a medium heat and add in the sunflower oil

7. In the meantime, grab spoonfuls of the mixture and shape the croquettes, each one about the size of a large egg, then coat each one in the flour, then the egg wash and finally into the breadcrumbs, making sure at each stage that they're fully coated all around

8. Add the croquettes into the hot fry pan, fry for 2 minutes per side or until golden fried all around, then transfer into a dish with paper towels, serve immediately, enjoy!

9. As for the oil in the pan, run it through a fine sieve and into a pitcher, this will clean the oil up so you can use it on future recipes

Recipe Notes

Get the Spanish Manchego I used to make this Recipe (10% OFF Your Order with Coupon ONAFORK)

Nutrition Facts

CRISPY Spanish Cheese Croquettes | Croquetas de Queso Manchego

Amount Per Serving

Calories 243 Calories from Fat 153

% Daily Value*

Fat 17g26%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Trans Fat 0.003g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 11g

Cholesterol 43mg14%

Sodium 202mg9%

Potassium 92mg3%

Carbohydrates 15g5%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 8g16%

Vitamin A 206IU4%

Vitamin C 0.4mg0%

Calcium 144mg14%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Disclosure: At Spain on a Fork, we offer affiliate links to help you find what you need to re-create our recipes. If you like what we do, you can support us through our chosen links, which earn us a commission, but you still pay the same price. Learn more here.