A croquette is a type of dumpling consisting of a thick binder combined with a filling, which is breaded and deep-fried; it is served as a side dish, a snack, or fast food worldwide.
The binder is typically a thick béchamel or brown sauce, mashed potatoes, wheat flour or wheat bread. The binder may be mixed with or stuffed with a filling; this mixture is called a salpicon. Typical fillings include finely chopped meat, seafood, cheese, rice, pasta, mushrooms, as well as various vegetables as well as seasonings such as herbs and spices. Sweet croquettes may use a pastry cream binder and be filled with fruit.
Croquettes may also be formed in other shapes: disks, ovals, balls.