I have a work project on at the moment which is keeping me busy, so at home we´ve got a week or so of quicker to cook dishes coming up, or slow cooked dishes that I can put in the oven and then forget about for a few hours.
This speedy light lunch or supper is often served as a “child friendly” dish here in Spain. Sometimes you just don´t fancy “fancy” food. Something simple and speedy, and just a little naughty is required. Deep fried ham and cheese coated in breadcrumbs hits the spot. And if you serve it up with a dollop of ketchup and a fried egg with a runny yolk – well I won´t tell anyone that you´re not 9 years old!
Per person you´ll need
- 2 large slices of your favourite ham
- Enough thin slices of cheese to almost cover the ham (choose one that melts like cheddar, mozzarella etc)
- A beaten egg plus 2 tablespoons of milk (this is enough for 4 slices of ham)
- Dried breadcrumbs to coat the ham
- Hot oil for frying
Place the cheese on the ham and either roll it up or fold it over to make a “sandwich”. Use a toothpick if necessary to keep your San Jacobo closed, but don´t forget to remove before eating…!
Dip the ham in the egg then the breadcrumbs and then repeat. This will give you a good seal so that the cheese doesn´t ooze out as it melts when it cooks, and a super crispy coating.
Get your oil very hot and fry (you can deep or shallow fry – your decision). Remove when browned and serve immediately.
I tried to find out why these little fried ham parcels are called “Saint Jacobs” but no one seems to know. At least it makes the meal sound a little more gourmet than it actually is. Make sure you have a cold beer to hand as a medical aid in case you burn your tongue on that lovely melted cheese.
PS. Happy Valentine´s Day to you all – young. old, single or happily with someone, it´s all about love…so go on, go out today and hug someone!
Chica Andaluza 