It is a while since Miss GF Makes last made an appearance on the blog. It’s not that she hasn’t been in the kitchen, but what with her starting secondary school and getting used to a whole new routine and myself increasing my hours from 4 days to full time, managing to find the energy and getting the timing right to photograph and blog her exploits has been difficult.
She has yet to have any cookery lessons at school, but for sure, she is extending her repertoire at home, and has started to cook us occasional family meals at weekends. She makes a mean Chilli and has no problem with parcel-baked salmon and roux-based cheese sauce.
These Ham and Potato Croquettes however, are a step further in the skill set…… she found a recipe in a gluten free cook-book that she was given by her child-minder as a goodbye present when she moved on and then (following the habits of her mother) pulled out the key bits of necessary process (in this case, making a thick roux) and massacred the recipe beyond all recognition to create a delicious dish that she could call her own.
As always, she decided to make them with absolutely no planning whatsoever and then expected all the ingredients to be to hand……. Fortunately I managed to find a few slices of Cherry Coke boiled Ham left over from last Christmas (yes….. really!) which were perfect for the croquettes…… and given that Christmas is nearly here again (more ham on the way…), Miss GF’s need for it was amazingly well-timed.
I also discovered a packet of Esgir Crunchy Crumbs that I had forgotten about in the larder. If you have never come across Crunchy Crumbs before, keep your eyes out for them (or get them from Ocado). They are corn-based ‘breadcrumbs’, which give a beautifully crispy coating and come from an innovative gluten free Spanish company – Esgir, that I first discovered at the Allergy Show a few years ago.
The photos for this post are pretty cruddy…… the light had all but gone and dinner was needed for hungry tummies which took priority over faffing for the perfect shot, but hopefully you will get a rough idea of how great they were.
I am sharing Miss GF’s Ham & Potato Croquettes with the following linkies :
Cook Blog Share – this week with Easy Peasy Foodie.
Free From Fridays with Le Coin De Mel and Free From Farmhouse.
Ham & Potato Croquettes (makes approx 26 croquettes)
Ingredients
large handful frozen sweetcorn (optional)
Method
- Put the butter into a large saucepan and melt over a low heat.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the corn flour until smooth and free from lumps (it will be very thick).
- Return to the heat and gradually stir in the stock, beating with a wooden/silicone spoon.
- Gradually bring to a simmer, stirring until all the stock has been added and you have a very thick sauce.
- Remove from the heat and add the mashed potato, chopped ham, sweetcorn (if using), herbs and seasoning. Stir through thoroughly.
- Set aside to cool completely.
- Put the breadcrumbs/cornmeal into a wide bowl.
- Once cool, take a large tablespoon of the ham-potato mixture and shape into a cylinder shape approximately 3 inches/8cm long.
- Dip and roll in the breadcrumbs/cornmeal until completely coated. Set aside until all the croquettes are shaped and rolled. Chill until ready to use.
- Pour sunflower oil into a skillet or large saucepan to a depth of about 1 cm/½ inch. Heat until a cube of GF bread sizzles.
- Gently lower the croquettes one at a time into the oil using a slotted spoon or tongs. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes on either side until golden, then remove with the tongs/slotted spoon and place on kitchen paper to drain any excess oil.
- Serve hot.
I love the recipe! Ham croquettes are always a good idea, and everyine loves it. Have you tried cooking them with
iberian ham? Its a delicacy. Congrats for the recipe we share ir with our clients.
Thanks Mar. Iberian ham may be a little extravagant for potato croquettes… But I’ll happily take it on the plate on its own. Love the stuff x
OMG… Everything you make is amazingly delicious! So tasty!!
I love the sound of these, and I love that I'm not the only one that keeps meat for so long in the freezer, lol! Thanks for sharing with the #NoWasteFoodChallenge!
You're welcome Elizabeth. I was very proud of Miss GF…. these were rather good!
Uh, yes please. These look SO good! Throw in a few veggies and my kids will never know what hit em! 😉
Thanks Karly…… Absolutely! I think you could hide pretty much anything in a croquette…… If you mash it all down first, they wouldn't even notice….. Ha ha!
Ooooh, I love croquettes but I've never made them. It's one of those special things my mum makes at home with roast beef. It's 'her' thing, he he! Miss GF's version, with ham, sounds yummy! I'd have it with lots of salad and walnut cider dressing, yummy! Thanks for sharing with #FreeFromFridays
Thanks Mel. I used to make fish and vegetable versions for Miss GF when she was a toddler and your comment has just reminded me that my Mum used to make them with Sunday roast occasionally when I was young too (I had forgotten!!). They are great because they can be eaten at lots of occasions! x
Oh yum! Looks so good!
Thank you Bethany x
Yey! Do love a Miss GF Makes post 🙂 She sounds so like me with her massacring the recipe beyond all recognition…to make it even better I should suspect! These croquettes sound fabulous. And I'm very impressed she can make a roux already. Could Miss GF come round and teach my husband please? I did try on a few occasions and it always ended in tears! Thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare 🙂 Eb x
Thanks Eb. She is a bit of an expert with a roux! She is also a bit of a free spirit in the kitchen and there is part of me which is excited to see what she will produce next and part of me which is dreading what ingredients she will expect to be instantly available! x
how lovely that she enjoys time in the kitchen – even when it sounds like really busy times – good luck with increasing your hours and having a high school kid in the house – and love the crispy coating on the croquettes
Thanks Johanna. Right now I am feeling totally exhausted with both the hours and with keeping track of a child who has new-found independence! But I am also very lucky that she enjoys to cook….. Such an important skill to learn for the future x
I didn't know these could be made from scratch, they look fab and super crunchy, I will be trying out some veggie versions!
They are really easy Kat! I think you can stuff them with pretty much anything as long as the potato-corn mixture if firm enough to hold together. x
Clever Miss GF! You are fabulous.
😇 😇 😇 Indeed she is! x
I find croquettes so moreish and these sound lovely especially with that cola ham in them too. I'd love to have a big batch of these in the freezer – such a great idea. Thank you so much for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice!
Thanks Corina. You're welcome. They are definitely handy to have ready and waiting in the freezer and perfect for using up excess mashed potato!
oooh, I love a croquette but I don't think i've ever made one! They're such a good idea really and look at that golden crumb… who wouldn't love them!
Absolutely! They are really easy to make too x