Mushroom Croquetas

• 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 ounces trimmed seasonal wild mushrooms or flavorful cultivated mushrooms such as shiitake, sliced
• 2 teaspoons plus 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 large yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 3 ounces stemmed bunch (not baby) spinach, rinsed well, then dried (about 6 loosely packed cups)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
• About 1 1/4 tsp. kosher salt, divided
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 1/3 cups flour, divided
• Pinch of nutmeg (preferably freshly grated)
• Canola or other neutral oil for frying
• 2 eggs, beaten lightly with 1 tbsp. water
• 1 cup panko (Japanese-style bread crumbs)

1. Make mushroom-spinach mixture: Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add mushrooms. Saute, stirring often, until well browned, 7 minutes.
2. Add 2 tsp. butter. When it foams and browns, add onion and garlic and cook until softened, 3 minutes. Add spinach and cook until it wilts evenly. Stir in vinegar and 1/4 tsp. salt, then spread on a plate and let cool. Put cooled mixture in a food processor and pulse to chop coarsely.
3. Make bechamel sauce: Heat milk over medium heat or in a microwave until just steaming. Meanwhile, put 1/3 cup flour and remaining 1/4 cup butter in a medium saucepan and heat over medium-low heat until butter is almost melted. Cook roux, whisking, until it is pale gold and smells toasty, 3 to 4 minutes. Slowly whisk hot milk into roux to create a very thick paste. Stir in nutmeg and 1 tsp. salt.
4. Remove from heat and fold in mushroom mixture. Season to taste with salt, scoop into a bowl, and press plastic wrap against surface to keep a skin from forming. Chill at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
5. Form the croquetas: Scoop out 2-tsp. portions from bowl and roll into balls (they should be about 1 in. diameter). Chill until firmed up, at least 20 minutes.
6. Pour enough canola oil into a deep, wide pot so oil is 3 in. deep. Insert a deep-fry thermometer and heat oil to 350u0b0 over medium heat.
7. Meanwhile, coat croquetas: Set out 3 shallow bowls. Fill the first with remaining 1 cup flour, the second with egg wash, and the third with panko. Working with a few balls at a time, roll first in flour, then in egg wash (use a slotted spoon to roll them over and lift them out), and last in panko, pressing to help crumbs adhere (balls should be well coated). Transfer to a plate as done.
8. Using a metal slotted spoon, lower balls into oil. Fry in 2 batches until deep golden brown, about 5 minutes per batch, making sure oil temperature returns to 350u0b0 between batches. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.
9. Make ahead: Through step 5, up to 2 days, chilled; through step 6, up to 1 day, chilled; through step 8, up to 1 day, chilled.

extravirgin olive oil, mushrooms, unsalted butter, yellow onion, garlic, spinach, sherry vinegar, kosher salt, milk, flour, nutmeg, other neutral oil, eggs, bread

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/mushroom-croquetas (may not work)