Potato and cheese croquettes are a classic of home cooking, perfect for an aperitif, a tasty appetizer or as an irresistible side dish. Thanks to their crunchy exterior and stringy center, they conquer adults and children alike. This quick and easy recipe will guide you in the preparation of golden and tasty croquettes, ideal to serve on any occasion!
Vegetarian
👥 Servings: 4 people
💰 Cost: Medium
⏱️ Preparation time: 20 min
⏱️ Cooking time: 10 min
🔋 Difficulty: Medium
Ingredients
For about 8-10 potato and cheese croquettes
- 500g (17.6 oz) potatoes
- 100g (3.5 oz) stringy cheese (mozzarella or scamorza)
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan
- 1 egg
- Breadcrumbs to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil for frying
Preparation
How to make potato and cheese croquettes:
- Cook the potatoes: Boil the whole potatoes with the skin in plenty of boiling water for about 20 minutes, until they are soft.
- Prepare the mixture: Peel the potatoes while still hot and mash them with a potato masher in a large bowl.
- Add the ingredients: Combine the grated parmesan, salt and pepper, mixing well until you get a smooth mixture.
- Form the croquettes: Take a portion of dough, flatten it and place a cube of stringy cheese in the center. Close the dough well around the cheese and form cylindrical or spherical croquettes.
- Breading: Pass each croquette first in the beaten egg and then in the breadcrumbs, making sure they are well coated for perfect crunchiness.
- Frying: Heat plenty of oil in a pan and fry the croquettes until they are evenly golden. Drain them on absorbent paper to eliminate excess oil.
- Serving: Enjoy while still warm to appreciate the stringy cheese heart!
Sustainable Tips ♻️
To reduce the environmental impact of this recipe, there are several strategies you can adopt:
Reduce the use of plastic: When purchasing ingredients, choose compostable packaging or bring your own reusable containers to reduce waste.
Avoid food waste: If you have leftover or already cooked potatoes, you can reuse them to prepare these croquettes instead of throwing them away. Alternatively, you can transform the mixture into gnocchi or meatballs.
Alternative to frying: If you want to avoid excessive use of oil, you can cook the croquettes in the oven at 200 ° C for about 20 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking for even browning. The air fryer is also a great solution to obtain a crispy result with very little oil.
Use more sustainable ingredients: If you want an even more eco-friendly version, try replacing the cow’s cheese with plant-based or sustainably farmed cheeses. Using homemade breadcrumbs, made from stale bread, is also a greener choice.
