Kabocha Korokke (Kabocha Squash Croquette)

These Japanese pumpkin croquettes have a crisp, golden coating with a naturally sweet and creamy mashed kabocha squash filling. Unlike classic potato korokke, kabocha gives the filling a richer flavor and fluffier texture. Kabocha korokke was one of my favorite dishes in Japanese school lunches (gakko kyushoku (学校給食), so this recipe brings back a lot of childhood memories for me. They are delicious freshly fried and make a great side dish, snack, or addition to a Japanese-style meal. What is Kabocha Korokke? Kabocha korokke (かぼちゃ コロッケ) are Japanese pumpkin croquettes made with mashed kabocha squash coated in panko breadcrumbs and fried. Korokke is the Japanese version of a croquette and is usually made with mashed potatoes. Kabocha korokke replaces the potato with kabocha pumpkin, which has a naturally sweet flavor and a relatively dry, starchy texture. This gives the croquettes a creamy, almost fluffy center while keeping the filling firm enough to shape and fry. In Japan, kabocha korokke are enjoyed as a main dish, side dish, bento item, or snack. They are also sometimes served as part of Japanese school lunches which are nutritionally planned meals served to students at Japanese...