Bubble and squeek croquette
Bubble and squeek croquette
I honestly have no idea why these croquettes are called bubble and squeek… unless you count the ‘noise’ they make when you put them in the hot oil. And it bubbles too then, but that is more the oil bubbling then the croquettes right, so why…?? No idea..
The croquettes were supposed to accompany our lovely ham, but we decided against it. They are lovely but…. also quite filling and considering the amount of work that goes into them we figured that there are better options out there. We also tried the creamy leek tart which is a real winner. I didn’t take any photos of the cream tart, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.
The making of these croquettes was not without trouble; the mash was too moist which was partly my fault but that made it very hard to make them into reasonable shapes and even harder to roll them through egg, breadcrumbs and flour! Especially when rolling them through the egg, they almost fell apart. So I ended up with croquettes in very strange shapes… 
Too big in any case. If you’re interested in making these, then by all means do, as they are very lovely, but make them fairly small and count to have one or two per person. That is really more then enough of these filling little darlings. The recipe below will make about 20-25 in small sizes I think.
Bubble and squeak croquettes
Prep Time: 30 mins plus chilling
Cook Time: 45 mins
Ingredients:
50 gr butter
200 gr onions, sliced
8 rashers back or streaky bacon, chopped
1/2 large cabbage, or few handfuls sprouts, shredded
500 gr leftover boiled or roasted potatoes, mashed
200 gr leftover roast turnip, parnsip or carrot (any leftover veg really. I used the celeriac I had leftover from the soup). Roughly chopped, then mashed
2 eggs, beaten
200 gr plain flour, well seasoned (!! do not skip that part!) plus a little extra for shaping
200 gr fresh white breadcrumbs
2 eggs, beaten with a pinch of salt and a little water
vegetable or sunflower oil, for frying
Directions:
. Melt the butter in a pan, then fry the onions and bacon together for 10 minutes until the onions are soft and the bacon has started to color. Add he cabbage or sprouts to the pan with a good grinding of black pepper. Stir well, then add a splash of water and cook, covered, for 5 mins more until tender.
2. Tip the potatoes and cooked veg into the pan, then mash really well. Mix in the eggs, then season to taste. Turn onto a floured surface, flatten out, then cut into squares about the size of a scone. Roll each piece into a cigar shape about 10 cm long and the width of a 2 euro coin. Cool.
3. Roll each croquette in the flour, then in the egg and finally in the breadcrumbs. Put onto a tray and chill for at least 1 hr.
4 Heat oven to 190C. Heat a 5mm depth of oil in a large frying pan; then, once crumb turns golden within a few seconds. shallow fry the croquettes in 2 batches for 2 minutes each side, turning carefully. Drain on kitchen paper and transfer to a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Bake for 15 mins or if making ahead, cover and chill for up to 2 days. To reheat, give them 15 mins in the oven at 190C until hot through and crisp on the outside.
Snow!!!
Now I just have to share a couple of winter photos that I took; the above one is taken today and as you can see by the pile of snow on the table… we did get a lot of snow!! Unfortunately; it is going to melt starting end of day tomorrow and at christmas the weather forecast says ‘no snow’…. 
Such a shame!! I had a wedding on friday and the couple is crazy about christmas, which is why they wanted to get married in december. We met two times before and the last time we met before the wedding; we actually started fantasizing about the possibility of having snow at the actual wedding. At that point in time it was really quite unlikely to happen, but…. two days before they got married the white fluffy stuff started falling and stayed. So for me that was also a first; a white wedding!!! Doesn’t it look beautiful??
White wedding!
It was a very cold day but also very beautiful and I have loads of gorgeous shots which I will eventually post somewhere but the couple is on a short honeymoon (to Vienna) and I don’t want to show the world the photos before they have seen them first ofcourse…
I have one more dish for christmas to show you and that is our dessert, which moved from Italian icecream to Pannacotta with cranberries… A little less filling again…
Appetizer
Asian
Bread
Breakfast
Desserts & other sweets
Healthy
WOW! The croquettes look luscious and sound very good. I love all your pictures, really amazing ;D
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The croquettes look delicious. During my stay in the Netherlands I noted that the Dutch enjoy a variety of croquettes. All very good.
The photo of the bride and groom are just stunning. The snow serves as an amazing backdrop to their wedding day. Lovely.
Happy holidays to you!
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That looks delicious! I love those snow pictures!
Cheers,
Rosa
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Your pictures are amazing, and the food looks delicious!
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This is a great way to use up leftovers! It’s quite a common dish here in the UK and yea I always wonder why bubble and squeak.
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Hi Simone – I’ve never had bubble and squeek before but I think I will try your recipe just because I like the idea of people asking me what the recipe is called and me having to say “bubble and squeek!”. Other than that of course it looks yummy – I don’t mind having two large portions! And the wedding pic – stunning! The couple look so happy and everything is gorgeous, the dress, the bride and groom, the background!!
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I’m not sure either why they are called “bubble and squeak”. I know it’s an English term…nonetheless they look delightful but I understand your reasons for not including them. The white wedding pic with the snow is beautiful Simone.
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That’s an interesting name. The croquettes looks delish.
I love the photo in the snow.It makes me wish there’s snow here..
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the croquettes sounds like a good snack.
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I have fond memories of bubble and squeek, mum used to make it when we had leftover veg from the Sunday dinner. Like the croquette version, much more stylish. Beautiful white wedding too – must have been very cold tho!
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These croquettes look simply succulent and fabulous! I have only heard of bubble and squeek as a layered dish, never made in croquette form, but boy do I love it like this. Yum! And I can see that you would rather eat these as a lunch dish on their own rather than part of a meal. Well, I would!
And the wedding photo is stunning! Beautiful!
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Thanks for sharing! Would love to try making croquettes someday! Haven’t tried before!
Your wedding photo is just so stunning and sweet!! Wish I’ll have something like this someday, too!
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These croquettes look and sound wonderful! I have heard that “bubble and squeak” refers to the after-effects of the cabbage and turnip that one might experience. lol.
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Simone (junglefrog) — December 22nd, 2009 at 09:41
Really? O haha, I never would have thought that that would be the reason for the name… hmm, didn’t experience any after-effects…
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Thats a great idea for all those leftover holiday veggies! Thanks for the great recipe!
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started to read recipe and got totally side-tracked (all your fault, lol) by your sweet cat in the basket (and I am a 99% dog person) and of course the SNOW and the Happy Couple. Thank you. My husband is Indian but I am sure in a previous life he was a snowman – he just loves snow!!!!!
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Simone (junglefrog) — October 7th, 2012 at 10:33
Haha… Yes I love snow too.. We just don’t get a lot of it here!
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