Brown shrimp croquettes: the true Belgian recipe, crisp and creamy
The shrimp croquette is the pride of the Belgian coast and the star starter of the holidays. Outside, a golden crumb that crunches. Inside, a creamy filling packed with grey shrimp. Homemade, it has nothing to do with the supermarket version. The secret comes down to three words: prepare the day before. Here is the method, in the deep fryer or in the oven on air fry mode.
- 12 croquettes (6 people as a starter)
- Mixture prepared the day before, nice and firm
- Double breading : they won't burst
- Frying 180 °C, 2 to 3 min, or air fry at 200 °C
Appliance and settingInduction hob, then deep fryer at 180 °C or oven in air fry mode at 200 °C
Ingredients
The croquette, a Belgian treasure
On the coast, people argue over who makes the best brown shrimp croquette. At home, you'll win, as long as you follow two rules. First, a well-set mixture, made the day before. Then, a flawless coating, applied twice. The rest is pure pleasure.
The steps
- The day before: make the mixture. Soak the gelatine in cold water. In a saucepan, on the hob at level 5 (out of 9), melt the butter, add the flour all at once and whisk for 2 minutes, without colouring.
- Add the liquid. Pour in the cold milk and cream all at once, whisking vigorously. Leave to thicken for 5 minutes on level 4, stirring constantly: the sauce should be very thick and pull away from the sides.
- Season off the heat. Add the squeezed gelatine, then the egg yolks one at a time, the cheese, lemon, nutmeg, cayenne, salt and pepper. Finally fold in the shrimps and parsley with a spatula, without crushing them.
- Cool. Spread the mixture 2 to 3 cm thick in a dish lined with cling film. Cover with the film touching the surface and refrigerate overnight.
- Shape. The next day, cut the mixture into 12 equal portions. With lightly floured hands, roll each portion into a sausage about 8 cm long.
- Bread twice. Coat each croquette in flour, then in beaten egg, then in breadcrumbs. Repeat: egg, then breadcrumbs. Check there are no gaps. Freeze for 30 minutes.
- Bake. In the deep fryer: 180 °C, 2 to 3 minutes, 3 or 4 at a time so the oil doesn't drop in temperature. Drain on kitchen paper. In the oven in air fry mode: preheat to 200 °C, spray the croquettes with oil on all sides, arrange them spaced apart on the perforated tray and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, turning halfway through.
- Serve immediately, with a wedge of lemon and a little fried parsley (10 seconds in the hot oil).
Appliance settings
| Step | Appliance and mode | Setting | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roux | Induction hob | Setting 5 | 2 min |
| Thicken the sauce | Induction hob | Level 4, whisking | 5 min |
| Frying | Fryer | 180 °C | 2 to 3 min |
| Deep-frying frozen croquettes | Fryer | 170 °C | 4 to 5 min |
| Lighter version | Oven, air fry mode, perforated tray | 200 °C, shelf 2 or 3 depending on the manual | 10 to 12 min, turn halfway through cooking |
| Keep warm | Oven, fan-assisted | 90 °C, door closed, on the wire rack | 15 min maximum |
No deep fryer? A deep, high-sided pan on the induction hob works very well, with a thermometer: never fill it more than halfway and never leave it unattended.
Variations
- With cheese : replace the prawns with 250 g of grated Belgian cheese (aged Bruges, Passendale): these are the famous cheese croquettes.
- With prawn fumet : boil the shells for 15 minutes in 50 cl of milk, strain, and use this flavoured milk for the batter. The taste is much more intense.
- As mini croquettes : shape 30 small bites for the Christmas drinks, 1 minute 30 in the fryer.
- With crab : half prawns, half crab meat.
Storage and advance preparation
The batter keeps 2 days in the fridge. Breaded raw croquettes keep 24 hours in the fridge or 2 months in the freezer. For Christmas Eve, the easiest is to prepare them the weekend before and freeze them: on the day, you only need to fry them. Once cooked, they don't reheat well.
Buy the brown shrimp already peeled from your fishmonger: by hand, allow a good hour for 1.5 kg. And don't skimp on the double breadcrumbing, even if it takes a little longer. It's what makes the difference between a perfect croquette and one that falls apart in the oil. If you love homemade fried food, our recipe for homemade chips awaits you.
Which appliance?
For lighter croquettes, the air fry mode on recent ovens is a good alternative to a deep fryer. Here are the ones in our range that list it on their product page.
The most complete
Bosch HQG572BB3F (Air Fry and steam), Bosch HBA572BW3F (Air Fry tray supplied, white finish), Whirlpool WOI68PT1SXAF (AirFry, 6th Sense), Hisense HO66F (23 modes including AirFry, Wi-Fi).
From €829.99 to €1,049.99
Air fry for under €700
Hisense BI64211EPX and O64213EPBG (AirFry, pyrolysis, 77 litres), LG WS5D7230S (AirFry programme, pyrolysis).
€449.99 to €699.99
Public prices checked on 15 October 2026: the product page prevails, and Nimesclub members often get a reduced price. The name and operation of air fry mode vary by brand (dedicated mode, automatic programme or special tray): ask the shop for a demonstration.
Ovens with air fry mode in store
BOSCH HBA572BW3F Built-in Oven€829.00
Built-in oven BOSCH HQG572BB3F€929.00
Built-in oven WHIRLPOOL WOI68PT1SXAF€1,049.00
Built-in oven HISENSE BI64211EPX€449.00
Built-in oven HISENSE HO66F€849.00
Built-in oven LG WS5D7230S€699.00
Built-in oven HISENSE O64213EPBG€549.00To find out how air fry mode differs from conventional fan cooking, read our guide to oven functions. And to go with game, try our homemade potato croquettes.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my croquettes burst during cooking?
Three possible reasons: the mixture wasn't cold and firm enough, the breadcrumbing had a gap, or the oil wasn't hot enough. Double breadcrumbing, a night in the fridge and 30 minutes in the freezer just before frying will solve the problem.
Can you freeze prawn croquettes?
Yes, and it's handy for the holidays. Freeze them breaded and raw, flat on a tray, then in a bag. They keep for 2 months. Fry them straight from frozen at 170 °C, 4 to 5 minutes.
Are air fryer oven croquettes just as good?
They're a little less golden and less crispy than deep-fried, but much lighter and without the smell of oil. For best results, spray them with oil on all sides and don't crowd them on the tray.
The right oven makes all the difference
Steam ovens, pyrolytic ovens, induction hobs: come and see them at our Temploux store, or ask our expert salesperson for advice.
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