Sweet Potato and Mushroom Croquettes

I came up with this recipe for Thanksgiving to serve as a vegetarian main dish that would marry well with gravy and cranberry sauce. It hit the spot for that purpose, but we'll be making it again and again for more casual meals.

• Preparation Time: 40 mins
• Cooking Time: 48 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 28 mins
• Calories: 214 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ cup milk
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 ½ cups bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• ¼ cup canola oil
• 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 ½ cups cooked rice
• ¼ cup butter, divided
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh marjoram
• 3 large red potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 cup finely chopped cremini mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons Madeira wine

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place red potatoes and sweet potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain. Add rice, milk, 2 tablespoons butter, and 1/2 teaspoon salt into the pot; mash until combined.

Step 2

Cover and refrigerate potato mixture until cool, about 15 minutes.

Step 3

Heat remaining 2 tablespoons butter and olive oil in a large skillet. Add mushrooms, garlic, fresh thyme, and fresh marjoram; cook and stir until mushrooms release their moisture and are tender, about 15 minutes. Pour in Madeira wine, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.

Step 4

Place 1/4 cup of the cooled potato mixture in the palm of 1 hand; flatten slightly. Place 1 tablespoon of the mushroom mixture in the center; form potato mixture into a ball around mushroom mixture using the back of a spoon. Repeat with remaining potato and mushroom mixtures.

Step 5

Combine 1/2 teaspoon salt, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, pepper, dried marjoram, and dried thyme in a shallow dish. Drop potato balls gently into the bread crumb mixture; roll around until coated. Press down to flatten potato balls into patties.

Step 6

Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook patties 4 at a time until golden and crispy, about 4 minutes per side.