- 75g/2½oz butter
- 275g/7oz plain flour
- 500ml/18fl oz milk
- 75g/2½oz fresh breadcrumbs
- 50g/1¾oz serrano ham, chopped
- 50g/1¾oz manchego, chopped
- 1 small bunch fresh parsley, chopped
- 250g/9oz salt cod, soaked and cooked and flaked
- 75g/2½oz plain flour
- 2 free-range eggs, beaten
- 100g/3½oz dried breadcrumbs
- rapeseed oil, for deep-frying
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3 free-range egg yolks
- 4 garlic cloves
- ½ lemon, juice only
- 150ml/5fl oz extra virgin olive oil
- mustard powder, optional
- saffron, optional
- For the croquetas, melt the butter in a large saucepan, then whisk in 200g/7oz of the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes. Whisk in the milk slowly until you have a very thick sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Divide into 2 bowls and in 1 bowl stir in the fresh breadcrumbs, ham, manchego and half the parsley, and in the other the cooked salt cod and remaining parsley. Place in the fridge to chill for 3-4 hours.
- When you're almost ready to cook the croquetas, fill a deep-fat fryer or a large, deep, heavy-bottomed pan two-thirds full with rapeseed oil. Heat the oil to 170C (CAUTION: Hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.)
- Place the remaining flour, beaten eggs and dried breadcrumbs in 3 separate bowls. Shape the chilled mixture into 7cm/2¾in cylinders. Coat each one in the flour, then egg and finish with a layer of breadcrumbs.
- Deep-fry the croquetas in batches until golden-brown. Remove and drain on kitchen paper.
- For the aioli, blend all the ingredients, except the olive oil, in a food processor. Pour the oil into the blender in a steady stream, until it forms a thick sauce. The mixture, once blended, should be vibrant and yellow in colour. To vary the flavour, add a little mustard or some saffron. If you'd like your mayonnaise runnier, add a couple of tablespoons of hot water.
- Serve the croquetas on a board with a bowl of the aioli for dipping.