Crunchy breadcrumbs on the exterior, creamy béchamel on the inside, savoury bits of jamón – these are Croquetas de jamón. Small, big, oval, long, round – no matter the shape, this tapa is on every menu at Spanish restaurants.
Quick facts about Croquetas de jamón
- Also known as: Spanish Ham Croquettes
- Definition: Croquetas de jamón is a Spanish tapa made with béchamel, minced ham, and breadcrumbs, usually fried, served hot, and known for the contrast of texture between the creamy inside and the crunchy exterior.
- Context: Originally invented in France during the reign of Louis XIV and popularised in 1817 by Antonin Carême, Croquetas later came to Spain and quickly became very popular.
- Served: hot
- Texture: crunchy, creamy, silky
- Flavour: savoury
- Pronunciation: kroh-KEH-tahs deh hah-MOHN
- One-line verdict: Croquetas de jamón are for anyone who wants a warm, satisfying small bite — order them if you love the contrast of a crunchy exterior giving way to silky, jamón-laced béchamel inside.
Why it’s worth ordering
Besides being delicious, Croquetas de jamón are fun to eat: you get these warm, small bites to share with friends while you talk and have a good time. You can eat with your hands; it’s informal, and they tend to run out fast.
Pair these with Patatas bravas, and you have a winning combination you can find at any Spanish restaurant.
Taste and texture
What makes a great Croqueta de jamón is the contrast in texture between how creamy the interior is and how crunchy the exterior is. Then, there’s the balance of flavors.
As you pick up the Croqueta with your hand, your fingers feel the crunch of the breadcrumbs that cover it. You can feel it’s warm and delicate; press too hard, and you’ll break it. Bite in, and you feel the crunch. Continue eating and the warm béchamel flows in with savoury flavors. Then you feel the minced jamón and everything comes together.
You have a sip of your drink, and then you want to try a second.
How to order it
Croquetas come in different sizes and portions. Some restaurants sell them by piece, others by pair and most offer 3 portion sizes: ración (portion), media ración (half a portion) and tapa (small serving). Depending on how many people are with you, you’d choose a how many Croquetas de jamón you’d like to order:
- If you mix with other tapas: “Una tapa de Croquetas de jamón, por favor”
- For 2-3 people, as an appetizer: “Media ración de Croquetas de jamón”
- For +4 people, with other appetizers: “Una ración de Croquetas de jamón”
If there are no other types of Croquetas on the menu, you don’t need to specify “de jamón” and just ask for Croquetas.
Also, if you’re not hungry, you can ask the waiter how big the croquetas are and adjust your order.
Quick decision guide
You’ll like it if: you like a contrast in textures.
Frequently asked questions
The cream inside the Croquetas de jamón is made up of béchamel (butter, flour, milk), with nutmeg and minced ham.
The silkier the cream, the better. Great Croquetas don’t have thick cream. The outer layer isn’t soggy either. The key is the contrast of the textures: get the exterior very crunchy while not cooking the cream too much.
