Skip to main content

Cheddar Frico

Frico, or “little trifles” in Italian, are very thin and crisp. When sprinkling the cheese mixture in the skillet, don’t worry if there are spaces; the cheese will melt into a lacy whole. In Italy, frico are traditionally made with Montasio cheese, but other cheeses, such as Cheddar, Asiago, and Parmesan, produce excellent results.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 26

Ingredients

10 ounces sharp white Cheddar cheese, grated (about 5 cups)
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a medium bowl, toss together the cheese and flour. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Sprinkle about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture into the skillet to form a 4-inch round.

    Step 2

    Cook until the cheese is starting to melt and become firm, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Using a small offset spatula, turn; continue cooking until it is firm and slightly golden, 15 to 30 seconds more.

    Step 3

    Immediately drape the frico over a rolling pin, and let cool slightly to set the shape. Repeat with the remaining cheese mixture. If the skillet gets too hot and the frico begin to color too quickly, remove from heat for several minutes before proceeding.

The cookbook cover with a blue background and fine typeface.
Reprinted with permission from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics by Martha Stewart Living Magazine, copyright © 2007. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of The Crown Publishing Group. Buy the full book from Amazon.
Read More
Like tiny tomato galettes and chimichurri grilled shrimp.
Punchy, make-ahead chimichurri adds a bright, fresh finish to this easy summer dinner.
With a crisp crust, garlicky mayo, and a juicy slice of tomato.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Attention, martini drinkers and spritz drinkers: Please for a single line.
Use the beer, not the can, for this citrusy take on a classic that nods to mojo criollo.
Loosely inspired by pasta Amatriciana, a few pounds of zucchini stand in for tomatoes.