Chicken Croquettes

Ingredients:

100g (3 ½ oz) butter
115g (4oz) flour
750ml (1 ¼ pints) milk
400g (14oz) cooked chicken, shredded
2 tsp tomato purée
salt and freshly ground black pepper
8-9 tbsp fine breadcrumbs
3 eggs, beaten
oil, for shallow frying

Prepare Ahead:

The béchamel sauce can be prepared ahead and allowed to cool. The croquettes can be made up to 24 hours in advance and fried before serving.

Preparation:

1 - Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium-low heat and add the flour, stirring continuously. Cook the mixture for 1-2 minutes, then stir in the milk to make a smooth, thick sauce.
2 - Add the shredded chicken and the tomato purée and season to taste with salt and pepper. Continue to cook for 5 minutes, or until the mixture thickens. Remove the pan from the heat and leave to cool completely.
3 - Use two spoons to form croquettes about 3-4cm (1 ½ -2in) long. Roll them in the breadcrumbs, coat in the egg and roll in the breadcrumbs again.
4 - Heat the oil in a heavy frying pan. When hot, fry the croquettes in batches for 5 minutes, turning frequently, until they are golden all over. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
5 - Transfer the croquettes to a heated serving plate and serve while still hot.