croquette: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowCulinary, Informal
Quick answer
What does “croquette” mean?
A small, breaded and deep-fried food roll, typically made from minced meat, fish, vegetables, or potatoes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, breaded and deep-fried food roll, typically made from minced meat, fish, vegetables, or potatoes.
A culinary preparation where a thick binder (like béchamel sauce or mashed potato) is combined with a main ingredient, shaped, coated, and fried until crisp.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is used identically in both varieties. The specific types of croquettes commonly found may vary (e.g., more potato-based in UK pubs, more varied in US appetizer menus).
Connotations
In both, it connotes a somewhat fancy or homemade snack/appetizer, not everyday fast food.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English due to the common 'potato croquette' as a pub side dish.
Grammar
How to Use “croquette” in a Sentence
[verb] + croquette (eat, make, fry, serve)croquette + [preposition] + [ingredient] (croquette of ham, croquette with cheese)adjective + croquette (crispy croquette)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “croquette” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The recipe instructs you to croquette the mixture before chilling.
American English
- She decided to croquette the leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
adjective
British English
- The croquette mixture must be cold to handle.
American English
- We're having a croquette party for the game.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in restaurant/food industry contexts (e.g., 'Our new menu features a salmon croquette starter').
Academic
Rare, found in culinary history or food science texts.
Everyday
Used when discussing cooking, menus, or describing food.
Technical
Specific to professional cookery; refers to the precise preparation method.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “croquette”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “croquette”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “croquette”
- Misspelling as 'croquet' (the garden game).
- Mispronouncing with a hard /kw/ sound (like 'croquet').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In British English, they are very similar, but a rissole is often pan-fried and may not be breaded. In broader terms, 'croquette' is the more internationally recognized term for the breaded and deep-fried version.
Traditionally, they are deep-fried for maximum crispness. Baking is a modern, healthier adaptation but often results in a less crispy texture.
A fritter is food coated in or mixed into a batter and fried. A croquette uses a thick, mouldable binder (like mashed potato or sauce) to hold the main ingredient, which is then coated in breadcrumbs and fried.
It comes from the French 'croquer', meaning 'to crunch'. This perfectly describes the texture of the crispy outer shell.
A small, breaded and deep-fried food roll, typically made from minced meat, fish, vegetables, or potatoes.
Croquette is usually culinary, informal in register.
Croquette: in British English it is pronounced /krɒˈkɛt/, and in American English it is pronounced /kroʊˈkɛt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CROQ-uing' into a CRispy, CRunchy little packet (ette) of food.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FOOD ITEM IS A PACKAGE (a crispy outer coating 'packages' a soft, flavorful filling).
Practice
Quiz
What is the key characteristic of a croquette?