Triple-cheese croquettes with cranberry sauce

Heat the butter in a saucepan. Tip in the shallots and fry gently for 10-12 mins until translucent. Stir through the flour to make a thick paste. Warm the milk gently in a separate pan until steaming, then gradually whisk the milk into the floury paste to make a thick sauce. Add the cayenne, three cheeses and a pinch of salt. Pour the mix into a baking tray and set aside to cool for 30 mins, then cover and chill for at least 3 hrs or overnight.

For the sauce, tip the cranberries into a pan with the sugar and 100ml water, and simmer for 10-15 mins until the cranberries break down. Season to taste. Once chilled, loosen with a splash of water if the cranberry sauce is too thick.

With wet hands, roll the cheese mixture into walnut-sized balls. Put the beaten egg in a shallow bowl and the breadcrumbs on a shallow plate. Roll the balls in the egg, then the crumbs, making sure each one is well coated. Repeat once more so they’re coated in two layers of each.

Pour the oil into a large saucepan until it’s a third full, and heat to 175C, or until a cube of bread browns in 30 seconds. Carefully fry the croquettes in batches for 2-3 mins until golden. (If the oil is too hot, they will darken on the outside before the inside is hot.) Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a plate lined with kitchen paper. Leave to drain for a few minutes, then serve with the cranberry sauce.