Stories /

Eat this Word: Croquettes

jbfauthor

jbfauthor

June 25, 2009

Search
Recipes

Croquettes WHAT? Dinner, recycled. Croquettes, originally a French term, were introduced into English cookery in the 18th century, Alan Davidson writes in his Oxford Dictionary of Food. The name comes from the French croquant, which means crunchy or crisp. Although the contents vary widely, croquettes are consistently small rounded shapes, ranging in size from a walnut to an egg, which are coated in egg and breadcrumbs and then fried, to a golden brown. Larousse writes that the filling of croquettes is a mixture of vegetables or cooked meats, usually leftover from another use, chopped fine and mixed with béchamel or brown sauce. Some of the most popular are chicken, ham, and salmon. Although in the United States, croquettes are associated, disparagingly, with '50s ladies' luncheons, their image is better elsewhere. Croquetas are eaten as sandwich fillings in Latin America and arancini, a form of Italian crocchetta, are beloved by Italian children. WHERE? The Gay Soirée WHEN? June 27, 2009 HOW? Gavin Portmouth and Chai Trivedi’s Potato and Paneer Croquettes with Banana Ketchup Can't make it to the Beard House? Try them at home, with this simple recipe for goat cheese croquettes.