The croquetas from Estadio, which come with salad at Proof.

Dish of the Week: Croquetas
Where: Estadio, Taberna del Alabardero

Meat and breading, fried. With croquetas, what’s not to love? Some variation of croquetas is found in almost every single culinary tradition.

The recently opened Estadio in Logan Circle has reminded me of how much I love the chopped up meat, rolled in egg wash and bread crumbs. A creamy, almost gravy like jamón filling, Estadio’s croquetas are surrounded by a thin crisp shell of breading that combines some of the world’s greatest culinary joys. The dish is served with a red sauce and accompanied by lightly pickled cucumbers. You can also find it on the bar lunch menu at Proof, accompanied by a light salad.

If the crowd at Estadio is too much for you to brave, you can head over to Taberna del Alabardero during their happy hour, (Monday through Friday, from 3-7 p.m.) for 50 percent off tapas at the bar. And though it’s not on the menu, I’ve sampled excellent seafood croquetas when they’ve run out of jamón.