Belgian Cheese Croquettes Recipes

Steps:

• Shell the shrimp and reserve the shells. Chop the shrimp into 1/4-inch dice.
• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until translucent but not browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the shrimp shells and cook for 2 more minutes. Add 1-3/4 cups milk and the bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
• Strain the broth through a sieve and discard the solids. Return the broth to the saucepan and heat over low heat. Add the shrimp and poach for 3 minutes. Drain the shrimp and reserve the broth. You should have 1-1/2 cups of broth left.
• In a small saucepan, sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water. Let stand while you prepare the béchamel sauce.
• Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a medium-sized saucepan over low heat. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon. Switch to a whisk and gradually whisk in the reserved broth. Bring almost to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is smooth and thick, about 7 minutes. Add the grated cheese and bring to almost a boil again.
• Heat the gelatin mixture over low heat until the gelatin has melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir it into the béchamel sauce and mix well.
• Remove the sauce from the heat and let cool for a few minutes. Whisk the egg yolk and remaining 5 tablespoons milk together, then stir it into the béchamel. Stir in the shrimp, lemon juice, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne.
• Line a 9-inch-square cake pan with plastic wrap. Pour in the shrimp mixture and smooth with a spatula. Press plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate at least overnight or up to 3 days.
• Prepare the coating: In a medium-size bowl, beat the egg whites with the salt and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil just until frothy. Put the flour and bread crumbs into separate shallow bowls ready for dipping.
• Unmold the firm shrimp mixture onto a lightly floured surface. Cut into 3 x 1-1/2-inch rectangles and roll each rectangle into a cylinder for croquettes. For smaller hors d'oeuvres, cut each rectangle in half and roll into a ball.
• Arrange the three bowls in order -- flour, then egg whites, then bread crumbs -- and coat the croquettes one at a time: Dust each cylinder or ball lightly with flour, dip into the egg white mixture, and coat with the bread crumbs. Cover and refrigerate until ready to fry. (At the point, the croquettes can wait several days in the refrigerator or longer in the freezer. Thaw in the refrigerator before frying.).
• Preheat the oven to 250°F.
• Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a deep fryer to 375°F Fry the croquettes, a few at a time, until they turn a rich golden color, about 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels and keep warm in the over until ready to serve.
• Serve the little walnut-size fritters as hors d'oeuvres with a supply of toothpicks. The larger croquettes traditionally are serve on a plate decorated with Boston lettuce leaves, lemon wedges, and Fried Parsley (see below).
• Deep Fried Parsley: ("Very crisp and utterly delicious," according to Ruth. Traditionally served with cheese or shrimp croquettes, and as a garnish for fish dishes.) Rinse two cups curly parsley leaves (stems removed) under cold running water. Spin dry and roll in a clean dish towel to dry completely. Heat oil in a deep fryer or wok to 375°. Add the parsley and fry until crisp but not brown, about 20 seconds. Remove with a skimmer and drain on paper towels.

Steps:

• Whisk 1 of the eggs in a medium bowl. Press the potatoes through a ricer into the bowl. Add the Parmesan, butter, chives, parsley, nutmeg, cayenne, salt, and black pepper, to taste. Mix gently with a rubber spatula until evenly combined. Using your hands, form the potato mixture into ovals a bit smaller than the size of an egg, and then flatten slightly. Press a cube of Gorgonzola into the center of the oval and pack the potato mixture around the cheese until it forms a smooth, egg-shaped ball. Continue until all the potato mixture is used up.
• Beat the remaining egg in a shallow plate. Put the breadcrumbs in another shallow dish and set it next to the egg. Roll a croquette in the egg until coated, then in the breadcrumbs, and place it on a clean plate. Repeat with the remaining croquettes. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
• Pour enough vegetable oil into a heavy-bottomed skillet to reach a depth of 1/4 inch. Heat the oil over medium heat, and fry the croquettes a few at a time, turning, until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and salt to taste. Repeat with the remaining croquettes. Transfer to a serving platter and serve warm.
• Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved

Steps:

• In medium saucepan, melt butter; blend in the 1/3 cup flour.
• Add the 1 1/2 cups milk all at once; cook and stir until thickened.
• Add pepper and nutmeg.
• Stir about 1/2 cup hot mixture into egg yolks; return to hot mixture.
• Cook and stir 10 minutes.
• Add cheese; stir until smooth.
• Spread cheese mixture in lightly greased 11x7x1 1/2 inch baking pan.
• Chill until firm.
• Cut chilled mixture into 12 portions.
• In small bowl, beat together the 2 eggs and the 1/2 cup milk.
• Roll cheese croquettes carefully in the 1/2 cup flour; dip in egg mixture, then roll in crumbs to coat.
• Deep fry in oil heated to 375° until golden, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Drain.

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a saucepan. Tip in the shallots and fry gently for 10-12 mins until translucent. Stir through the flour to make a thick paste. Warm the milk gently in a separate pan until steaming, then gradually whisk the milk into the floury paste to make a thick sauce. Add the cayenne, three cheeses and a pinch of salt. Pour the mix into a baking tray and set aside to cool for 30 mins, then cover and chill for at least 3 hrs or overnight.
• For the sauce, tip the cranberries into a pan with the sugar and 100ml water, and simmer for 10-15 mins until the cranberries break down. Season to taste. Once chilled, loosen with a splash of water if the cranberry sauce is too thick.
• With wet hands, roll the cheese mixture into walnut-sized balls. Put the beaten egg in a shallow bowl and the breadcrumbs on a shallow plate. Roll the balls in the egg, then the crumbs, making sure each one is well coated. Repeat once more so they're coated in two layers of each.
• Pour the oil into a large saucepan until it's a third full, and heat to 175C, or until a cube of bread browns in 30 seconds. Carefully fry the croquettes in batches for 2-3 mins until golden. (If the oil is too hot, they will darken on the outside before the inside is hot.) Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a plate lined with kitchen paper. Leave to drain for a few minutes, then serve with the cranberry sauce.

Steps:

• If using left-over chicken or turkey, chop it finely and set aside. Continue with the recipe from Step 3, using stock to make the sauce rather than water, and add the chicken or turkey to the sauce at Step 6.
• If using veal or beef, season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Place a large pan over medium-high heat and melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the veal or beef, wine, onion, clove, bay leaves, nutmeg or mace, parsley, thyme, lemon zest or juice and water. (Use chicken stock if you have chosen to use chicken or turkey.) Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour. By this time the meat should be tender (or if using poultry, the stock will be bursting with flavor).
• Strain the stock and reserve, along with the meat. Finely chop or cut the meat into into small pieces.
• Melt the remaining butter in the pan, stir in the flour and keep stirring for a few minutes on low heat. Don't let it brown. Slowly and gradually add the stock and cook over moderate heat, stirring until the sauce is smooth and thick. Add more flour, or corn starch to thicken the sauce if necessary. Cool slightly and add the 3 egg yolks and mix well (reserve the whites for later).
• Add the veal, beef, chicken or turkey, mix well and season to taste. The mixture should be thick and stiff by this time.
• Set the mixture aside to cool thoroughly. When ready, cut or separate the stiff, thick mixture into rolls about 1.5" thick and about 3" long.
• Spread the crumbs on a clean, dry chopping board. Slightly beat the eggwhites in a deep plate until just incorporated. Roll the croquettes through the breadcrumbs, then through the egg whites and again through the crumbs. (Make sure that the second coating of crumbs is even and thick and no meat mix sticks out, otherwise the croquettes may burst when being deep fried).
• Deep fry the croquettes in batches of four or five for about 4 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Drain on absorbent paper.
• Serve hot, with French fries or fresh chunks of bread. The best way to season is to slather with mustard, as the Dutch do!

Steps:

• To make the croquetas, melt the butter in a medium saucepan and gently fry the onion for 3 mins or until lightly coloured. Stir in the flour and cook for 30 secs. Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly, and cook over a low heat for 5 mins until thick and glossy. Stir in the ham, cheese, mustard and cream, and season to taste. Cook for 1 min more until the cheese melts, stirring constantly.
• Pour into a bowl and cover the surface with cling film to stop a skin forming. Leave to cool, then chill for 4 hrs or overnight - the mixture needs to be very stiff to form the croquetas. Take heaped teaspoons of the mixture and, with wet hands, roll into 24 small oval shapes and put on a tray. Beat the eggs in a shallow bowl, put the flour on a plate and half of the breadcrumbs in a bowl.
• Roll each of the croquetas lightly in flour, then in egg before coating in breadcrumbs. Place on a baking tray lined with baking parchment. Use the remaining breadcrumbs to top up the bowl halfway through the coating process. Chill for 30 mins (or to freeze, see tip, below left).
• Meanwhile, make the tomato chilli jam. Put all the ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover loosely with a lit and cook for 50 mins - 1 hr, stirring occasionally, until thick and glossy. Leave to cool before serving.
• Fill a large saucepan one-third full with the sunflower oil and heat to 180C (or heat the oil in an electric deep-fat fryer). Do not overheat and do not leave hot oil unattended. Using a metal slotted spoon, lower 6 croquets into the oil and cook for 1.5 mins or until golden brown. Transfer to a baking tray lined with kitchen paper to absorb excess oil, and continue cooking the rest. Serve with the chilli jam for dipping.

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients EXCEPT the 1 beaten egg and cracker crumbs.
• Shape into croquettes.
• Dip into crumbs, beaten egg, and crumbs again.
• Chill.
• Fry in deep fryer or deep pot with oil.
• Drain.