FOOD NEWS
José Andrés Says These Are His All-Time Favorite Tapas
By Arianna Endicott
Tapas are small servings of food in Spanish culture, often found in bars, served alongside beer and wine, as an appetizer before dinner. Like the rest of us, celebrity chef José Andrés is a fan of tapas in general, but there is one specific dish that he enjoys above all others.
Croquettes, also known as croquetas, are a thick bechamel sauce mixed with meat and vegetables that are coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried to create a crunchy exterior. When money was scarce, according to Andrés, his mother used to save this meal and create the filling from leftover food and the breadcrumbs from stale bread.
Butter, oil, onions, salt, and nutmeg are needed to prepare the base of the filling for croquetas, which is then combined with flour, milk, and diced ham to create a thick, creamy dough. Once it has cooled, shape it into little rolls,coat them in breadcrumbs and fry to a beautiful brown.