Montasio Cheese Crisps (Frico)

Lidia Bastianich, who owns New York's Felidia and operates a restaurant called Frico with her son, grew up eating frico, the irresistible fried-cheese snack, in her hometown of Pula, Croatia (once part of Italy). Frico may be stuffed with a variety of fillings. When making this simple version, we added a little flour to help it hold its shape.

  • Serves

    makes 10 crisps

Ingredients

  • 12 lb. (about 2 cups) coarsely shredded montasio (or asiago) cheese
  • 1 tbsp. flour
  • Extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

Step 1

Combine cheese with flour in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly.

Step 2

Lightly grease a large cast-iron skillet with extra-virgin olive oil, then place over medium-low heat. Spoon 2 tbsp. of cheese onto heated skillet for each 2''-3'' round. Allow cheese to melt and edges to turn golden brown. Cook, without touching, for about 3 minutes, then turn with a spatula (when ready, frico should come away easily from pan) and continue cooking for 2 minutes.

Step 3

Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining cheese. Serve at room temperature.
  1. Combine cheese with flour in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly.
  2. Lightly grease a large cast-iron skillet with extra-virgin olive oil, then place over medium-low heat. Spoon 2 tbsp. of cheese onto heated skillet for each 2''-3'' round. Allow cheese to melt and edges to turn golden brown. Cook, without touching, for about 3 minutes, then turn with a spatula (when ready, frico should come away easily from pan) and continue cooking for 2 minutes.
  3. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining cheese. Serve at room temperature.
Recipes

Montasio Cheese Crisps (Frico)

  • Serves

    makes 10 crisps

Montasio Cheese Crisps
CHRISTOPHER HIRSHEIMER

Lidia Bastianich, who owns New York's Felidia and operates a restaurant called Frico with her son, grew up eating frico, the irresistible fried-cheese snack, in her hometown of Pula, Croatia (once part of Italy). Frico may be stuffed with a variety of fillings. When making this simple version, we added a little flour to help it hold its shape.

Ingredients

  • 12 lb. (about 2 cups) coarsely shredded montasio (or asiago) cheese
  • 1 tbsp. flour
  • Extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

Step 1

Combine cheese with flour in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly.

Step 2

Lightly grease a large cast-iron skillet with extra-virgin olive oil, then place over medium-low heat. Spoon 2 tbsp. of cheese onto heated skillet for each 2''-3'' round. Allow cheese to melt and edges to turn golden brown. Cook, without touching, for about 3 minutes, then turn with a spatula (when ready, frico should come away easily from pan) and continue cooking for 2 minutes.

Step 3

Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining cheese. Serve at room temperature.
  1. Combine cheese with flour in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly.
  2. Lightly grease a large cast-iron skillet with extra-virgin olive oil, then place over medium-low heat. Spoon 2 tbsp. of cheese onto heated skillet for each 2''-3'' round. Allow cheese to melt and edges to turn golden brown. Cook, without touching, for about 3 minutes, then turn with a spatula (when ready, frico should come away easily from pan) and continue cooking for 2 minutes.
  3. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining cheese. Serve at room temperature.

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