1/2cupGrated cheese (cheddar, parmesan, or mozzarella cheese.)
1/4cupChopped ham
2tbspGreen onions
1/2cupAll purpose flour
2Eggs for coating
1½cupsBreadcrumbs
Salt to taste
Cooking oil spray
Instructions
Start off by combining the mashed potatoes with one beaten egg, chopped ham, and grated cheese in a big bowl.
Mix everything well and add chives, salt, and pepper. Combine everything with your hands in a way that creates a well-blended mixture.
Now, take a spoonful of the potato mixture and form a small ball. Do this with the entire mixture. All the balls should be uniform, and you can decide the size however you like.
Once done, take three different shallow dishes. Add flour in one, two beaten eggs in the second one, and breadcrumbs in the third dish. Keep them near you.
Roll each ball or croquette in the flour and shake off the excess. Next, dip them into the egg mixture and roll them in the breadcrumb dish until the croquettes are well-coated.
Preheat the air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 200 degrees Celsius. It will help you get a crispy exterior.
Once the air fryer is preheated, transfer the croquettes into the air fryer basket in a single layer. You may need to work in batches.
Spray the croquettes with the cooking spray lightly and cook them in the air fryer for about 10 to 15 minutes. Or, you need to cook them until they are nicely golden brown. Flip the potatoes halfway through the cooking time.
Once the croquettes are cooked, transfer them onto a plate and let them cool on a wire rack. It will help crisp the croquettes.
Finally, serve them warm with your favorite dipping sauce. I usually serve them with sour cream or aioli.
Notes
Always shape the croquettes into a uniform size. It will help with even cooking and crispy texture.
Chill the croquettes. For this, you can put the croquettes in the fridge for half an hour before air frying them.
Like conventional ovens, preheating the air fryer helps reach an optimal temperature in less time. This helps in getting a perfectly crispy exterior.
Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket, or you will be left with undercooked croquettes. It is better to leave some space between them so that air circulation is possible.
Do not underestimate the cooking spray. It will help you get the right golden-brown color.
Do not be afraid to add spices to the croquettes. Experiment with different croquette mix-ins like herbs, spices, and different types of cheese to personalize the taste.