Croquetas de Jamón
"Crispy, golden ham croquettes with a silky béchamel center loaded with jamón. Costco Spain sells frozen trays of these — now you can make them at home with Costco US ingredients and a little patience."
Costco Copycat — This is a homemade version of the Costco International Flavors item. See it in store →
The Game Plan
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Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook 3-4 minutes until soft and translucent — you don't want any color here.
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Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Stir in the flour and cook the roux for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until it smells biscuity and just barely turns golden.
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Slowly pour in the milk a splash at a time, whisking like your life depends on it after each addition. You're building a very thick béchamel — think pastry cream, not gravy.
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Once all the milk is incorporated, cook on low heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the mixture is thick enough to pull away from the sides of the pan. Stir in the diced prosciutto, nutmeg, salt, and white pepper.
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Spread the mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet into an even layer about 3/4 inch thick. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is even better).
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Once chilled and firm, scoop portions (about 1 tablespoon each) and roll into small logs or ovals with lightly floured hands. Set up a breading station: flour, beaten eggs, breadcrumbs. Dredge each croqueta in flour, dip in egg, then roll in breadcrumbs. Set on a parchment-lined tray.
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Heat oil to 365°F (185°C) in a deep pot or Dutch oven. Fry croquetas in batches of 5-6 for 2-3 minutes, turning once, until deeply golden brown all over. Drain on a wire rack. Serve hot.
