Seafood Croquettes

* Exported from MasterCook *

SEAFOOD CROQUETTES

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 4 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Seafood

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
3 tb Unsalted butter
1/2 sm Onion -- finely minced
1/2 Celery stalk -- finely diced
3 tb All-purpose flour
1/3 c Milk
1/4 ts Ground nutmeg
Bread crumbs
1 lb Cooked fish and/or shellfish
- such as salmon, shrimp,
- scallops, white fish,
- or a combination
1 tb Finely chopped parsley
1 tb Chopped chives
1 t Salt -- or as desired
1/4 ts Cayenne pepper -- as desired
Flavorless cooking oil

MELT THE BUTTER in a small skillet over medium heat.
Add the onion and celery and cook, stirring
occasionally, 5 minutes or until soft. Add the flour,
stirring to form a paste. Add the milk and nutmeg and
cook another minute or so until mixture thickens.
Meanwhile, place bread crumbs on a plate. Scrape the
mixture into a mixing bowl and add the fish, parsley,
chives, salt and pepper. Using 2 forks, mash the fish
into the mixture. Drop tablespoon dollops of the
mixture into the bread crumbs. Roll each dollop in
bread crumbs, then between the palms of your hands to
form balls. Set croquettes aside on a plate while
making the rest. Fill a medium-sized cast iron or
other heavy skillet with a 1 1/2-inch depth of oil and
place over medium heat on the stove. Heat the oil to
frying temperature--350F. When the oil is hot enough
for frying, a droplet of water will dance across the
surface of the hot oil and evaporate. Drop croquettes
carefully into the hot oil. Fry croquettes, in batches
if necessary, without crowding the skillet, until
golden brown, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon,
remove croquettes from the oil as they are done and
drain on paper towels. Place a linen napkin on a
platter and arrange the croquettes in a pile. Serve
immediately and accompany with tomato mayonnaise. TO
FREEZE the mixture: Place croquettes on a lightly
oiled cookie sheet and place in the freezer. When the
croquettes are frozen, transfer them to airtight
plastic bags or a lidded freezer container. Cook
frozen uncooked croquettes directly from the freezer,
increasing cooking time to 5 minutes. TO FREEZE COOKED
CROQUETTES: Cool cooked croquettes to room
temperature, uncovered. Place in an airtight plastic
freezer bag or lidded container. Label and place in
freezer for up to 3 months. To cook frozen cooked
croquettes, place on a cookie sheet and place in
preheated 375F oven for 20 minutes.



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