Korokke or Japanese Croquettes recipe

Korokke or Japanese Croquettes are a wonderfully moreish food, especially in these colder months. The fried potato patties may have started as a French food, but Japan has definitely put its own spin on the potato croquette, as many of you will now. Korokke is a regular food in Japanese supermarkets and convenience stores, and some of you may even have had them as part of school lunches.

If you’re craving those nostalgic potato flavours, then don’t worry, they are actually quite simple to make with ingredients you can find in any British supermarket

Ingredients:

500g of potatoes

½ a medium onion

100g of minced meat (This can be any meat or meat substitute, but pork is best)

Salt and pepper

3TBSP of Flour

1 EGG

Breadcrumbs (The amount depends on how big you make them)

10g of Butter

The sauce: 

2TBSP of Ketchup

2TBSP of Worcestershire sauce

1tsp of Sugar

1. First, peel your potatoes.
2. Then cut them into bitesize pieces.
3. Chop your onion finely.
4. Boil the potatoes until they are soft (about 15 minutes).
5. Add 10g of butter to your frying pan.
6. Lightly fry your onions until soft. Putting a lid on your pan helps if you have one.
7. Season the onions with salt and pepper as you prefer.
8. Next, add your meat or meat substitute. Season it well and cook it thoroughly, then turn off the heat.
9. Your potatoes should be done, so now mash them.
10. Once mashed, add in your meat and stir everything up.
11. Now you need to make your korokke. Traditionally you would make a patty the size of your hands, moulding it into a fat oval shape. If you do this, you will get about eight korokke out of this recipe. Alternatively, you can make bigger or smaller korokke, but that’s up to you.
12. Break an egg and beat it in a bowl.
13. Roll your korokke in flour, then dip them in the egg.
14. Immediately after, coat them in breadcrumbs generously.
15. Now deep fry your korokke until they become golden brown.
16. Mix together the ketchup, sugar and Worcestershire sauce for a delicious dark burst of flavour. You can drizzle this sauce on top, where it will be absorbed into the crispy coating, or leave it on the side to dip in.

These are a fantastic part of a meal and can be served with just rice if you want something simple. Korokke are a very comforting food that can brighten any dark winter’s day.