Tamale Croquettes with Spicy Avocado Dipping Sauce

Give leftover tamales a delicious makeover with these crispy, deep-fried croquettes. Served with a cool and spicy avocado dipping sauce, they make a perfect snack or appetizer.

Prep Time

20 minutes

Total Time

40 minutes

Calories

625 kcal

Difficulty

Medium

Equipment

5 items

Cost

£1.74/serving

Season:

☀️ Summer

Meal Type:

Snack•Bread•Appetiser

Cuisine:

British

Mood:

Spicy

Ingredients

Servings

4mediumLeftover Tamales(Any flavor works, but pork or cheese are excellent choices.)

£3.00

0.5cupAll-Purpose Flour(For breading)

£0.10

2Eggs(Lightly beaten)

£0.60

1cupBreadcrumbs(Panko or regular)

£0.30

3cupsVegetable Oil(For deep frying)

£0.80

1mediumAvocado(Ripe)

£1.00

2tablespoonsLime Juice(Freshly squeezed)

£0.20

0.5Jalapeño(Seeded and minced, adjust to taste)

£0.25

0.3cupCilantro(Chopped)

£0.40

2tablespoonsSour Cream or Mexican Crema(Optional, for a creamier sauce)

£0.30

to tasteSalt

to tasteBlack Pepper

Total Cost

£6.95

£1.74 per serving

Instructions

1.
Carefully remove the corn husks from the tamales. In a large bowl, mash the tamales with a fork until mostly smooth, but with some texture remaining.
2.
Form the mashed tamale mixture into small, oval-shaped croquettes (about 2 inches long).
3.
Set up a breading station: Place the flour in one shallow dish, the beaten eggs in another, and the breadcrumbs in a third dish.
4.
Dredge each croquette in the flour, then dip it in the egg, and finally coat it evenly with the breadcrumbs.
5.
Heat the vegetable oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 350°F (175°C).
6.
Carefully drop the breaded croquettes into the hot oil, a few at a time, and fry for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy.
7.
Remove the croquettes with a slotted spoon and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
8.
To make the dipping sauce: In a small bowl, mash the avocado with a fork. Stir in the lime juice, minced jalapeño, cilantro, and sour cream (if using). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
9.
Serve the tamale croquettes immediately with the spicy avocado dipping sauce.

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My Notes

Nutrition Information

Nutrition per serving (250g)

625 kcal / 2615 kJ

Carbs

43g

17% of RDA

Fat

45g

64% of RDA

Protein

18g

36% of RDA

Detailed Breakdown

Fibre

8 g

27% of RDA

Sugar

5 g

6% of RDA

Sodium

650 mg

28% of RDA

Saturated Fat

8 g

40% of RDA

Chef's Tips

If the tamale mixture is too soft to form croquettes, refrigerate it for 30 minutes to firm up.

For a spicier sauce, leave the seeds in some of the jalapeño.

These croquettes are best served immediately while they are still hot and crispy. They can be reheated in an air fryer or oven, but they will not be as crispy.

You can add shredded cheese (like cheddar or Monterey Jack) to the tamale mixture before forming the croquettes for extra flavor.

Cooking Equipment

Large Bowl

Fork

Deep Fryer or Large Pot

Slotted Spoon

Paper Towels

Wine Pairings

No wine pairing suggestions available for this recipe.

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