PARTNER POST: The versatile potato is perfect in a multitude of recipes showcasing flavors from around the globe. Get creative with your spuds.
Filled with cajun spices, crab, bacon, corn, and cheese, these mashed potato croquettes are something special, especially when served with a lemon sauce.
By Julie Finch & Debbie Fraser
Have you ever had a croquette? If not, make these cajun crab croquettes immediately!
Tender rounds of creamy mashed potatoes are stuffed with cajun seasoned crab, sweet corn, smoky bacon, and sharp gruyere cheese that are deep fried to golden perfection and then drizzled or dipped in a creamy cajun lemon sauce with fragrant fresh basil. 
Croquettes are little balls of mashed potatoes that are sometimes stuffed (like ours are) and then rolled in a crust of some sort and deep fried until golden brown. They were originally a French delicacy (the French sure know where it’s at!), but now pretty much every culture or cuisine has their own version. These crab croquettes are our take on a New Orleans version, stuffed with crab and cheese. I suppose to be seriously authentic then these should be crawfish croquettes.
Apparently croquettes are quite the thing in New Orleans, with travel websites listing the best places to eat them here like this one and this one when visiting. There is even a restaurant called Croquette in New Orleans! We would sure like to try them all. Every. Last. One.
The star of these crab croquettes is most definitely the potatoes. Potatoes are a seriously versatile vegetable! You can fry them, boil them, roast them, mash them, bake them. And they taste great in any and every form! The US Potato Board has tons of delicious recipes using these root veggies. Check out this video recipe for Bombay Spiced Potatoes. Don’t they look delish too? Potatoes are loaded with goodness. Vitamins B and C, antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, fiber and naturally gluten free!
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Cajun Spiced Crab Croquettes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6
- Diet: Pescatarian, Omnivore
Description
Creamy mashed potato croquettes filled with spicy Cajun crab, bacon, and cheese. Served with a zesty lemon-basil sauce.
Ingredients
- 4 medium russet potatoes
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/8 cup milk or cream
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 can of crab
- 1/2 cup corn
- 1/4 cup cream cheese
- 3 strips bacon (cubed and cooked)
- 1 tsp cajun spice
- 1/4 tsp salt or to taste
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 cups (237 ml) grated gruyere cheese
- 1 cups (237 ml) Panko pre seasoned (or add 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup flour seasoned with 1 tsp of salt
- 1/8 cup mashed potato
- 1 tbsp rolled into a ball
- 4 tbsp mayo
- 1 tbsp chopped basil
- 1/4 cup lemon squeezed
- 1 tsp cajun seasoning
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 4 cups (946 ml) vegetable oil (sunflower oil works great)
Instructions
- First make the mashed potatoes.
- Peel the potatoes and cut into chunks.
- Add them to a large pot, cover with water and bring them to a boil.
- Cook until you can slide a fork into a potato easily.
- Drain and either rice your potatoes back into the pot or add them back in and mash them well with a masher.
- Add the butter, cream and salt and mix well.
- Set aside to cool.
- Next make the filling.
- Add all the filling ingredients to a medium bowl and stir to combine.
- Set aside.
- Make the sauce.
- Add all the ingredients into a small bowl, stir well and set aside.
- Get out three plates or shallow bowls.
- In one add the panko and season it if necessary.
- In another, add the egg and beat it with a fork.
- In the third, place the flour and salt.
- Arrange them so they go in a line in this order: flour, egg, panko.
- Make the balls.
- First take a tablespoon of the filling and roll it into a ball.
- Next take ½ a cup of mashed potatoes and roll into a ball as well.
- Using your thumb, make a hole in the mashed potato ball and slide the filling ball into the hole.
- Push the mashed potato around the filling ball until it’s completely covered.
- If any spots of filling are showing, just take a little potato and patch the hole.
- Roll the ball around again so it’s got a nice circular shape.
- Repeat with the rest of the potato and filling.
- Pour vegetable oil into a medium skillet to measure 4 inches deep and heat over medium-high until a pinch of breadcrumbs bubbles immediately when added.
- Dip potato balls in the flour, then the egg, and then roll in breadcrumbs.
- Working in batches, fry the croquettes, turning often, until golden brown and crisp, 3–4 minutes.
- Remove from the hot oil with a slotted spoon.
- Drain on paper towels.
Notes
- For optimal texture, ensure the mashed potatoes are completely cool before assembling the croquettes to prevent them from becoming gummy.
- Leftover cooked crab can be substituted for canned crab, just be sure to flake it and remove any shells.
- Store any leftover croquettes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a pan or air fryer for best results.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 croquettes
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 15
- Cholesterol: 100
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of cheese works best for the crab croquettes?
Gruyere cheese is recommended for its sharp flavor, but you can also use other melting cheeses like cheddar if preferred.
How do I ensure the croquettes are crispy when frying?
Make sure to roll the croquettes in breadcrumbs before frying, and maintain the oil temperature at around 350°F to achieve a golden, crispy exterior.
Can I substitute the bacon in the recipe?
Yes, you can use turkey bacon or omit it entirely for a vegetarian version, though the flavor profile will change slightly.
