Rice and Ham Croquettes with Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

• 3 cups rice long-grain cooked
• 6 oz country ham diced finely
• 3 oz cream cheese softened room temperature
• 2 large eggs 
• 0.5 cup green onions light finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons milk 
• 1.3 cups panko bread crumbs (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 10 servings tomato sauce 
• 10 servings vegetable oil 

Equipment

• bowl
• paper towels
• oven
• dutch oven

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 22
2. Stir together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl until blended; season with salt and pepper to taste. Lightly beat 1 egg, and gently stir into rice mixture until blended. Stir together milk and remaining egg in a small bowl until blended; place breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl.
3. Form rice mixture into 1-inch balls, using wet hands. Dip balls in egg mixture, and roll in breadcrumbs, shaking off excess.
4. Pour oil to depth of 1 1/2 inches into a Dutch oven; heat over medium-high heat to 34
5. Fry croquettes, in batches, 4 to 5 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Transfer to an oven-safe platter lined with paper towels, and keep warm in a 225 oven.
7. Serve croquettes with warm Tomato Sauce.