What Is a Croquette?

We’re always a little giddy when we get to talk about anything that ends in “ette” here. Vignettes, cassettes, heck, even the Rockettes…they’re all pretty darn great. However, today we’re discussing perhaps the most fantastic, or at the very least the most delicious, “ette” you could ever find: croquettes. What is a croquette? It’s not a lawn game (that’s croquet). It’s not a flirtatious look (that’s being coquettish). It’s a delicious fried food. Let’s get into the details. 

What is a croquette?

A croquette is a patty, cylinder, or good ol’ reliable “ball” of minced meat, seafood, or vegetables that’s coated with egg and breadcrumbs and deep-fried. 

How to pronounce croquette?

“Croquette” is pronounced “crow-ket.” 

What does croquette mean?

The word croquette comes from the French word, croquant, which means “crunchy.” It’s an apt name for these guys. If they’re made correctly, they come with a great crunch. However, if you leave them in the fryer too long they turn into more of a briquette than a croquette.

What is a croquette made of?

Why, croquettes are made of spunk, gumption, and wild abandon…wait, sorry, that’s the players on my ragtag sandlot baseball team. Croquettes are made from a wide swath of ingredients, which can include meat, seafood, vegetables, and a binding agent like mashed potatoes, eggs, or delicious bechamel sauce. And the outside of a croquette is typically rolled in bread crumbs.  

What are Japanese croquettes made of? 

Japanese croquettes are called korokke. They are made of mashed potatoes mixed with ground meat (usually beef) and sauteed onion. They are breaded with panko and fried much like the common croquette. Korokke are super popular in Japan and are often sold as a ready-to-eat snack in supermarkets and convenience stores. You can also enjoy korokke in a sandwich! Japanese McDonald’s even offer a Gurakoro burger made with a korokke patty.