Frico Del Fattore Food

FRICO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with silicone mat.
• Working in 2 batches, scoop 8 mounds of finely grated Parmesan or Grana Padano cheese (1 tablespoon per mound) onto mat, spreading each mound about 3" wide and spacing at least 1" apart.
• Bake cheese until light brown and melted, 5-6 minutes (check occasionally while baking so it won't turn too brown). Remove sheet from oven and let frico cool completely. (To shape frico, leave baking sheet in oven with door open; use a small offset spatula to remove frico one at a time, working quickly to shape. To form tuile-like shapes, gently roll warm frico around the handle of a wooden spoon. To form cups, press onto the bottom and up the sides of a mini muffin pan. Keep frico warm until ready to mold; it hardens quickly as it cools.)

CACIO E PEPE FRICO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees, and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, gently toss together the cheeses.
• Arrange heaping tablespoon-size mounds of the cheese mixture on the baking sheets, spacing them at least 1/2 inch apart. Using your fingers, gently pat down each mound to flatten. (It's O.K. if there are holes - the cheese will melt into a web.) Grind pepper over each round.
• Bake until golden and crisp, 4 to 6 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets until crisp, then transfer to a serving plate using an offset spatula.

FRICO DEL FATTORE

Steps:

• Saute bacon in a medium-size nonstick pan over medium heat until it gives up some of its fat. Add onion, and cook until onion begins to color.
• Add potato, and stir well to coat. Add 3/4 cup water; reduce heat to low; cover, and cook, stirring once, about 15 minutes, until potatoes are soft and water has evaporated. Mixture should be fairly dry.
• Add cheese, several pieces at a time, and stir continuously, adding more cheese as it melts. When cheese is almost completely melted, turn mixture into an 8-inch nonstick pan (nonstick surface should be perfect, or cheese will stick), and cook over low heat to brown bottom. As fat from cheese accumulates, spoon it off.
• When bottom is browned, carefully flip onto plate, and then return frico to pan to brown the other side, about 20 minutes total. Remove, and cool slightly; cut into small wedges and serve warm or at room temperature.

CHEDDAR FRICO

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, toss together cheese and flour. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Sprinkle about 1 1/2 tablespoons cheese mixture into skillet to form a 4-inch round.
• Cook until 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.
• Immediately drape frico over a rolling pin, and let cool slightly to set the shape. Repeat with remaining cheese mixture. If skillet gets too hot and frico begin to color too quickly, remove from heat for several minutes before proceeding.