In the Italian region of Friuli, frico—the simple, enticingly crisp cheese disks—are ubiquitous snacks that allegedly were slipped into hunters' pockets by their wives. Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson recommends making frico with the classic Italian cheeses montasio and Piave: "If you're a nut like that and can get aged montasio for your frico, it will change your life," he says of the hard-to-find, exquisitely nutty cheese. Parmigiano-Reggiano is a fine substitute. More Snack Recipes
How to Make It
Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large bowl, toss the montasio with the Piave. In the corner of a large nonstick baking sheet, sprinkle 1/4 cup of the grated cheese in a 4-inch round. Repeat to make 3 more rounds on the baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between the rounds.
Bake the frico in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese is slightly melted and golden brown. Let the frico cool on the sheet for 2 minutes to firm up. Using a metal spatula, transfer the frico to a platter to cool completely; they'll crisp as they cool. Repeat with the remaining cheese. Arrange the frico and soppressata on the platter and serve.
