Mushroom Croquettes Recipes

KROKIETY RECIPE (POLISH CROQUETTES)

Steps:

• Drain the sauerkraut (drained sauerkraut should weight 1 lb (450g)), combine in a medium pot with dried mushrooms, bay leaves, and allspice berries. Add water, enough to cover the sauerkraut and mushrooms. Cook, partially covered, over medium heat for about 45 minutes or until the sauerkraut is soft.
• Dice the onions. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat in a big frying pan. Cook the chopped onion with caraway for about 10 minutes, stirring from time to time, until soft and translucent. Add marjoram, cook for another minute, transfer to a plate.
• Wash the cremini mushrooms and pat them dry with paper towels. Cut into 1/4-inch (½ cm) slices. Increase the heat to high, add another tablespoon of oil and chopped mushrooms. Don't stir for the first 3-4 minutes or until the mushrooms are browned at the bottom, then stir and cook until the mushrooms release water. Cook until it evaporates, stirring from time to time, then cook until nicely browned, transfer to a plate.
• Drain the cooked sauerkraut with mushrooms. You can reserve the liquid, it can be used to enhance the flavor of many soups, including Polish Christmas Eve Beet Soup. Discard bay leaves and allspice.
• To chop the filling, you can use a food processor or just chop it with a big knife on a chopping board.
• Add the cooked sauerkraut with mushrooms, pan-fried cremini mushrooms, and sauteed onions to the food processor bowl. Pulse several times to chop finely (but not to a paste consistency). Season the filling with salt and pepper, to taste.
• You can also add finely chopped prunes to the filling. It's important to chop them with a knife by hand and not process in the food processor with the rest of the filling (or it will come out too sweet).
• Prepare the crepe batter: Simply mix all the ingredients, season the batter with salt and pepper. You can do that with a blender, hand mixer, an immersion blender, food processor, or even by hand (with a whisk). I prefer to mix the batter with a blender - it's the quickest way to mix the ingredients and the batter is more smooth. If you'll whisk the batter by hand it will have small lumps, but this is also ok and your crepes will be fine.
• Leave the batter to rest: Cover the bowl with plastic foil or a kitchen cloth and leave it on the counter for about 30 minutes.
• Cook the crepes: Brush the pan with a small amount of butter (I'm only adding the butter before the first crepe, but you can brush the pan with butter between each crepe if you wish) over high heat. The pan should be well heated. Holding the pan in one hand (it shouldn't be on the burner) and the bowl or blender jar in the other, pour in a small amount of batter, tilting and swirling the pan simultaneously until the batter evenly coats the bottom of the pan. Place the pan on the burner and cook for about 15-30 seconds.
• When the edges of the crepe look dry and lacy and its bottom is golden brown, it's ready to be turned over.
• Slide the spatula under the crepe (make sure it doesn't stick to the pan), loosen its edges, and flip it over.
• Cook on the other side just briefly, for about 10 seconds, until set. Transfer on a plate. Repeat with the rest of the batter.
• Place about 2 heaped tablespoons of filling on each crepe. Fold it like you would fold a burrito: fold sides into the middle and then roll up the bottom tightly to the top. Some people spread the filling all over the crepe, leaving some border, and then fold them up. It's important to fold them tightly - they will be easier to fry.
• Dip each croquette in beaten eggs then roll them in breadcrumbs until coated on all sides.
• If you have some leftover egg and breadcrumbs you can double-coat the croquettes (dip them again in beaten egg and coat in breadcrumbs). The breading will be thicker and even more crispy!
• Heat clarified butter or vegetable frying oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook the croquettes until golden brown on all sides (in batches). Change the oil if it gets too brown from the breadcrumbs. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess fat.
• Serve with barszcz (Borscht) and enjoy!

SWEET POTATO AND MUSHROOM CROQUETTES

Steps:

• Place red potatoes and sweet potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain. Add rice, milk, 2 tablespoons butter, and 1/2 teaspoon salt into the pot; mash until combined.
• Cover and refrigerate potato mixture until cool, about 15 minutes.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons butter and olive oil in a large skillet. Add mushrooms, garlic, fresh thyme, and fresh marjoram; cook and stir until mushrooms release their moisture and are tender, about 15 minutes. Pour in Madeira wine, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
• Place 1/4 cup of the cooled potato mixture in the palm of 1 hand; flatten slightly. Place 1 tablespoon of the mushroom mixture in the center; form potato mixture into a ball around mushroom mixture using the back of a spoon. Repeat with remaining potato and mushroom mixtures.
• Combine 1/2 teaspoon salt, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, pepper, dried marjoram, and dried thyme in a shallow dish. Drop potato balls gently into the bread crumb mixture; roll around until coated. Press down to flatten potato balls into patties.
• Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook patties 4 at a time until golden and crispy, about 4 minutes per side.

MUSHROOM CROQUETTES

Steps:

• Trim mushroom stems.
• In the container of a food processor, combine 1 pound (about 6 cups) of the mushrooms, the onion and garlic.
• Pulse just until coarsely chopped.
• In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil until hot.
• Add mushroom mixture.
• Cook and stir until mushrooms are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Spoon into a large bowl.
• Stir in 1 1/4 cups of the bread crumbs, the cheese, egg and pepper.
• Form into ten 3-inch long croquettes.
• Place remaining 1/2 cup bread crumbs on a plate or sheet of waxed paper.
• Coat croquettes with bread crumbs.
• Slice remaining 1/2 pound mushrooms; set aside for later use.
• In a large skillet, over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil until hot.
• Cook croquettes on both sides until browned, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, over medium heat, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil until hot.
• Add sliced mushrooms; cook and stir until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in spaghetti sauce; cook until hot, about 2 minutes.
• Serve over croquettes.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if desired.

MUSHROOM CROQUETTES

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until golden, about 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium; add 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper to taste, the celery and shallot and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 4 minutes. Add 6 tablespoons flour, the butter and nutmeg and cook, stirring, until the flour is toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the broth and cook, stirring, until the mixture is the consistency of gravy, about 4 minutes. Slowly stir in the milk and simmer, stirring, until very thick, 6 to 10 more minutes. Remove from the heat, transfer to a bowl and let cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pulse the bread in a food processor to make fine crumbs; transfer to a shallow dish. Put the remaining 1 1/4 cups flour in another shallow dish; beat the eggs in a third dish. Drop tablespoonfuls of the chilled mushroom mixture into the flour and toss to coat, then shape into 1 1/4-inch-long croquettes. Dip in the eggs, then roll in the breadcrumbs and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes.
• Heat 1/2 inch vegetable oil in a deep saucepan until a deep-fry thermometer registers 360 degrees F. Working in batches, add the croquettes and fry until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels; season with salt. Serve with mustard.

LEEK-AND-MUSHROOM CROQUETTES

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the leeks and shiitake, season with salt and freshly ground pepper and cook over high heat, stirring frequently, until the leeks and mushrooms are softened and beginning to brown, about 7 minutes. Add the thyme and oregano to the vegetables and transfer to a medium bowl.
• In a small saucepan, melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Whisk in the 3 tablespoons of flour and cook over high heat until bubbling, about 1 minute. Add the milk and cook, whisking until very thick and bubbling, about 3 minutes.
• Scrape the mixture into the bowl. Add the Gruyere and Parmigiano-Reggiano; season with salt and freshly ground pepper and stir until the mixture is evenly combined.
• Lay an 18-inch-long piece of plastic wrap on a work surface. Spoon the crouquette mixture onto the plastic in a 12-inch strip. Roll up the plastic, pressing the croquette mixture into a 14-inch long log, and twist the ends. Freeze the croquette log until very firm, about 2 hours.
• Fill 3 shallow bowls with flour, the beaten eggs and the panko and line a large baking sheet with wax paper.
• Unwrap the log and cut the croquette mixture into 12 pieces. Using floured hands, pat each piece into a 2-inch round patty, about 3/4-inch thick. Dip each patty in the flour, then dip in the eggs and coat with panko, pressing to help it adhere. Set the croquettes on the baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes.
• In a large skillet, heat 1/2-inch of oil to 375°. Add all of the croquettes and fry over high heat, turning once or twice, until they are golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.
• SERVE WITH: A green salad.
• MAKE AHEAD: The leek-mushroom croquettes can be prepared through log freezing and refrigerated overnight.