Frico
| Frico | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Alternative names | Cheese crisp |
| Type | Garnish |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Region or state | Friuli |
| Main ingredients | Cheese, flour |
 Cookbook:Frico  Frico | |
Frico (in friulian language fricò) is an Italian food, typical of Friuli and similar to another Alpine dish, Rösti, which consists of a wafer of shredded cheese and potatoes, then heated by baking or frying until crisp. The mixture becomes malleable during cooking. To prepare frico you need higher-fat hard cheeses like Montasio or Asiago. Originally when Italy was a more impoverished country, frico was used to recycle the crust cheeses.[1] Frico is often used as garnish for soups or stews.
Fricos are not difficult to make [2] and during the cooking process become malleable so it is possible to make baskets or bowls in which suitable foods can be served.[3]
Another way to prepare frico consists in cooking diced potatoes in a large flat pan with little oil and onions, adding water now and then. When the potatoes are tender, Montasio or another 3 months old cheese is diced and added. The cheese will melt within the potatoes and the frico must be cooked and turned to obtain a crispy, golden surface on both sides. Slice and serve it with polenta and red wine.