Julie Neville loves to cook for her family and was inspired to write her new cookbook, Authentic Spanish Cooking, when she and her football legend husband Phil Neville spent three years living in Valencia, Spain. Julie, who is mum to Harvey and Isabella, says: “I’ve always found cooking therapeutic. It was an unbelievable experience and for the book to come out of it was a bonus.” Here, she shares one of her foodie loves: her ham and mushroom croquette recipe. "Croquettes are always a favourite in our house no matter what flavour," reveals Julie.
HAM AND MUSHROOM CROQUETTES
Serves 4, store filling in fridge overnight, cooking time 20 minutes
INGREDIENTS
- 150g plain flour
- 100ml olive oil
- One onion
- 200g mushrooms
- 150g ham
- 1l milk
- Salt Pepper
- One teaspoon of nutmeg
- Eggs
- Fine breadcrumbs
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1.
Chop the ham and mushrooms and sauté with the olive oil. Add the onion and the flour and stir continuously for three minutes.
Step 2.
Heat the milk in a separate pan and slowly add to the mixture stirring continually and heat until the desired consistency is achieved which is quite thick.
Step 3.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool before storing in the fridge overnight.
Step 4.
Place some plain flour in a bowl. In a separate bowl, place some beaten eggs. Take small handfuls of the chilled mixture and roll into balls. First, dip into the egg mixture and cover fully, then roll into the flour and finally roll in and coat completely with the breadcrumbs. Repeat this until you have used all the chilled mixture.
Step 5.
Heat enough sunflower oil in a pan until hot to cover the croquettes, then place into the oil. Cook for a couple of minutes on each side until golden. Step 6. Remove from the oil and place onto some kitchen paper to soak up any excess oil then plate up and enjoy!
Authentic Spanish Cooking, published by White Owl Books, is out on 28 February and available to pre-order now. Available in bookstores and at whiteowlbooks.co.uk
MORE: You'd never believe this salmon and sesame salad recipe only takes 15 minutes to make
