Ham and Chicken Breast Croquettes (Fritos)

Ingredients

• Ham (jamón)
• Chicken breast (pechuga de gallina)
• a little Beef lard (manteca de vaca)
• 1 tablespoon Flour (harina)
• 1 wineglass Milk
• Salt
• 1 slice Bread (day-old)
• 1 Egg
• Breadcrumbs (pan rallado)
• Oil

Instructions

1. Finely chop the ham and chicken breast together to make a picadillo (minced mixture). In a saucepan, warm a little beef lard over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook briefly until combined. Add the milk gradually while stirring to avoid lumps, and season with salt. When the mixture begins to boil, add the picadillo, stirring constantly until it thickens into a paste. Remove from heat as soon as the mixture reaches a paste consistency.
2. On a work surface, place thin slices of day-old bread. Spread or sandwich a small portion of the paste between two bread slices. Beat an egg in a shallow dish and spread breadcrumbs on another. Dip each bread-and-paste sandwich first in beaten egg, then coat thoroughly with breadcrumbs.
3. Heat oil in a deep pan until very hot. Fry the breaded croquettes until golden brown on all sides. Drain on paper and serve hot.