Potato Croquettes and a Despedida Party


Potato Croquettes

Oh yeah, I'm still here! Just got a little busy with stuff.  You're still with me right? *wink*

I know a lot of dishes to cook but whenever there is a party wherein I need to bring some food, I'm stuck.  I often always can't decide on what to bring.  I don't know, too many options maybe? Laziness to cook a complicated dish could be a reason also.  But bottomline, it doesn't always follow that if a person knows how to cook, she can immediately decide on what to prepare for a party.  Or maybe it's just me *wink*

Last Sunday was a friend's despedida slash surprise birthday party and I have to bring something.  And as always, it took me several days to decide on what to cook.  Since I can't squeeze my brain anymore, (on what I already know) I consulted Tita Betty of The Queen's Notebook and almost decided to prepare her Israeli Couscous with Lemon Shrimp until something changed and I have to bring entree.  What did I do? I consulted the recipe books and made up my mind to do Potato Croquettes, a recipe from Mix and Match Meals 2.  Simple ingredients though early preparation was needed.

I started by boiling the potatoes in a deep casserole for 25 minutes or until soft to mash.  Set aside to cool.


While that is boiling, I made my own ground pork with the help of a food processor.  I like doing this for I am sure that I am using good quality pork.  There were several times wherein the ones I bought from the supermarket are not fresh anymore.



TIP: chilled or slightly frozen meat works better if you will use a food processor in grinding.

In a skillet, cook chopped bacon until it sweats and oil is produced.  Add onion.


Once onion is transparent, add the ground pork and a teaspoon of rock salt.


This process of cooking the meat is not actually in the original recipe.  I just thought that if I have to wrap the meat with the potatoes, there is a big probability that the meat mixture will be undercooked and we don't want that.  So to be sure, I pre-cooked it.

Cook the meat mixture until only ALMOST brown.  Set aside to cool.

I thought that this recipe would be lovely with cheese so I cubed some, about half a cup.  I used a cheese cutter to do this.  Easier for me.  This also goes in the croquettes.

Season your mashed potatoes with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon ground black pepper.

Spread about 1 tablespoon of mash potato (more if you want your croquettes bigger) on your palm into a flat circle.  Put meat mixture and cheese.

quantity doubled for photo purposes
Seal or enclose completely to form a ball.  Dip the croquette in beaten egg and roll in breadcrumbs.

After doing this procedure for about 6 balls. I stopped.

"This is taking me forever!"  

You know what I did?  I incorporated (or mix) the meat mixture with the mash potato portion by portion.  I am just making sure that I can still form a ball. And I did!  I did not forget to put some cheese of course.  Doing this cut by prep time in half! Ha!


Deep fry balls in very hot oil.  We just want them brown and crispy.  Remember, the meat mixture is already cooked.

If cooking in batches, wait till the oil heats up again for you don't want to produce hollow croquettes like these:

This happened because I lowered the heat while cooking for I was worried I will burn them.

Drain croquettes and serve with prepared dip or dressing of your preference.


During potlucks, do you normally cook or do you just buy?

Potato Croquettes 
Recipe from Mix and Match Meals 2

1/4 kilo ground pork
1/2 cup finely chopped ham
1/2 cup chopped bacon
salt and pepper
2 cups cooked and mashed potatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg beaten
breadcrumbs
oil for frying

In a bowl, combine the ground pork, ham, bacon, onions and some salt and pepper.  Mix well then form into oval-shaped patties.

Season mash potatoes with salt and pepper. Put about 2 tablespoons of mashed potato on your palm.  Spread into flat circle.  Put meat patty at the center then enclose completely.  Dip croquette in beaten egg then roll in breadcrumbs.

Fry until golden brown.



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Comments

  1. love the recipe and your technique! will def. bookmark this post; my kids like mashed potatoes and potato fries...this will be a hit with them :)

    thanks for sharing this over at Food Friday, Ms. Dudut
    hope you're enjoying the long weekend! ♥

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  2. Pork & cheese-stuffed croquettes sound delicious, but what a great idea to just incorporate the meat and potatoes together! I will also have to follow your example and make my own ground meat in the food processor - I never thought of that. Depending on how many people will be eating, I try to make something homemade for potlucks. But if it's a big crowd, I admit to taking the easy way out and buying something. Next time, I'll give these a try! 8-)

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  3. saw this on ecards and just wanted to say how much I like this... sounds really good, I make similar here using crab or crawfish meat, will have to try your version...

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  4. Thanks too Maiylah! Hope your kids like it!

    Hi tracey! I'm glad you liked it. That idea of incorporating the meat is a by-product of my laziness! haha!

    Hello Drick! I'm glad you liked it. I hope to hear from you when you cook your own version. Do let me know :D

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  5. wow! will definitely try this some time :)

    http://www.ladymyx.info/

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  6. You know, I have been looking for good recipe for potato balls with stuffing and I think I just found it. Your croquettes look wonderful and I will definitely try them. Thank you for sharing the recipe.

    ~ ray ~

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  7. hi dudut, your potato croquettes looks so delicious and the ingredients are easily obtainable, will definitely try this at home=)

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  8. These were great but they are very rich. I made them fairly big and I could only eat 2-3 before I'd had enough. I think experimenting with different flavours might be a go too.

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