Ham, Cheese & Potato Croquettes

10 minutes prep, 15 minutes cook

Serves 16

Ingredients

50g butter

50g plain flour

A grating of nutmeg

1 bay leaf

220ml semi-skimmed milk

100g strong Cheddar, grated

270g Maris Piper potatoes, boiled, peeled and mashed

125g thick cut ham, cut into ½cm cubes Salt and pepper

Golden breadcrumbs to coat

Cooking oil spray

Method

Heat the oven to 200ºC/180ºC/Gas 6. Melt the butter and whisk in the flour. Season well, then add the nutmeg.

Slowly whisk in the milk on a medium heat. Add the bay leaf and cook for a few minutes until thickened. Mix in the cheese, potato and ham and stir well. Leave for five minutes to infuse.

Remove the bay leaf and spread the mixture out into an even rectangle on a cling film lined oven tray.

Score into 16 rectangles. Take each rectangle, roll into a short, fat sausage and roll through the breadcrumbs. Repeat until finished.

Remove the clingfilm from the baking tray, spray the croquettes with a little cooking oil and cook for 8-10 minutes until warmed through. Don’t cook for too long or they will start to spread and collapse. Serve warm with a spicy tomato salsa on the side.