Would you believe me if I told you that I have been waiting for Christmas to be over, just to celebrate this marvellous Friday? Happy International Croqueta Day! Whether you live in Spain or not, whether you adore Andalusian food or not, you simply cannot say that you do not love a simple croqueta!
Croqueta as a Symbol of Spanish Gastronomy
I would hate to burst your bubble, but we have a secret to tell you… The croqueta is not actually originally from Spain! This delicious bite originally comes from France, croquette, roughly from the 18th Century. The French used mashed potatoes as the base for the filling, but the Spanish knew they could perfect the recipe. They kept the idea of a crispy crust, but the filling needed to be more creamy, more flavourful! So they changed it to a base of bechamel, made from flour, butter and milk. To this delicious goodness, they would add any left overs. But of course, the most popular is the Croqueta de Jamón! Cured ham was and still is the number 1 croqueta in Spain.
After so many years, Spain has perfected the recipe and you can order them at (almost) every single bar and restaurant that you go to in Spain. Especially in Andalusia they are a very famous and popular tapa.
Types of Croquetas
Everything started with the classic recipe, but nowadays, we can find croquetas of so many different flavours! Here’s a list of popular types of croquetas commonly served in Andalusia:
- Croquetas de Jamón – A classic made with Spanish cured ham (jamón serrano).
- Croquetas de Pollo – Filled with a creamy pulled chicken mixture.
- Croquetas de Rabo de Toro – Bull’s tail, an emblematic Spanish dish within a crispy crust.
- Croquetas de Bacalao o Dorada – Fish croquetas, typically bacalao or Dorada, and a flavourful filling.
- Croquetas de Espinacas – Featuring a blend of spinach and cheese or béchamel.
- Croquetas de Setas – Often using wild mushrooms for an earthy flavour.
- Croquetas de Marisco – Make your imagination go wild! Think of croquetas with crab, carabinero, gambas …
- Croquetas de Chorizo – Chorizo croquettes, featuring the spicy and savoury Spanish sausage.
Croqueta Fun Facts
We love croquetas so we want to keep giving you more information. So how about some fun facts? Let’s start with the most fascinating one. Did you know that Spain holds the World Record of the heaviest croqueta world-wide? t weighed 7.6kg, won in Madrid in 2023. Check the link here to put a smile on your face! The croqueta is one of the most versatile dishes in our nation because it represents the idea that “Nothing Goes to Waste”. Do you have spare chicken and mushrooms? Challenge yourself and make croquetas! Do you have spare vegetables from a stock you made with some beef? Croqueta-it! Get crazy!
Final fun facts. First, you can make a huge badge of croquetas upfront and freeze them! Like this you will always have a Tupperware of deliciousness waiting for you. The only thing you need to do is heat up some oil, and fry them frozen. Lastly, there is nothing that makes an Andalusian happier than meeting up with friends and enjoying a plate of croquetas, which is also why, it is the most ordered tapa in the entire country!
Danielle Ernstsen | 16th January 2026
