Cheesy Rice Croquettes
With just a few pantry staples plus your favourite cheese, you can whip up a tasty starter that complements a range of main meals and is perfect for sharing. Serve with your favourite ketchup or tomato relish. Part of our Leftovers Recipes Collection.
Ingredients
Method
- 1 tbsp Pams Pure Olive Oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1/2 410g can crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 cup short grain rice
- 1 small chicken stock cube
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp Pams Tomato Paste
- 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
- 175g Pams Golden Breadcrumbs
- 50g mozzarella cheese
- Pams Plain Flour
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 cup Pams Golden Breadcrumbs, for coating
- Pams Canola Oil for shallow frying
- Heat olive oil in a pan; add onion and garlic, stirring until onion is soft.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, rice, crumbled stock cubes, water, paste and basil. Bring to boil then simmer, uncovered, for about 12 minutes or until rice is tender and mixture is thick; cool.
- Stir in breadcrumbs; refrigerate until cold.
- Cut cheese into 1cm x 5cm pieces.
- Roll 2 tablespoons of rice mixture into logs, press 1 piece of cheese into the centre and roll into croquette shapes to enclose cheese. Repeat using remaining rice mixture and cheese.
- Toss croquettes in flour (shake away excess flour). Dip into combined eggs and milk and toss in the breadcrumbs. Fry croquettes in hot oil until browned. Drain on absorbent paper and serve.
Tips and FAQs
Want a spicier option? Add some cayenne pepper to the flour and mix!
This recipe can be made to use up any leftover rice.
How do you keep croquettes from falling apart?
Croquettes may fall apart during frying if the mixture is too wet. As the croquettes get hot, moisture turns to steam, causing them to get soggy and lose their shape. Adding more of a binding agent (beaten egg and/or flour) should help the mixture stay together.
How come my croquettes are soggy?
Your croquettes can become soggy if the batter is too wet or if the oil isn’t hot enough when you place the croquettes in the pan. Test a small piece in the oil before beginning to make sure it sizzles immediately. If it doesn’t wait longer until the oil is hot enough.