Recipe: Lidia's Montasio Cheese Crisps (Frico di Montasio)

LIDIA'S MONTASIO CHEESE CRISPS (FRICO DI MONTASIO)

"This is the basic, unfilled frico that gets quite crisp when it cool to room temperature. If you like, drape the frico hot from the pan over the handle of a wooden spoon suspended between two cans. It will cool in the shape of a taco shell and, when filled with a salad of lightly dressed baby greens, makes a spectacular first course. Made smaller-the size of a chocolate chip cookie - and draped over a spoon, they make a wonderful hors d'oeuvre. Serve these fricos as they are in Fruilia, with a glass of chilled white Tocai Fruiliana."

1/2 pound Montasio cheese, rind removed (or about 6 ounces trimmed), coarsely shredded (about 2 1/2 cups)

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.

Place a 4- to 5-inch non-stick skillet over medium low heat until a shred of the cheese begins to sizzle 2 to 3 seconds after it hits the pan. Scatter one fourth of the cheese in an even layer over the bottom of the skillet. Let the cheese cook without disturbing it or moving the pan until the fat which separates from the cheese begins to bubble around the edges, about 3 minutes. At this point shake the skillet gently to free the cheese crisp from the bottom of the pan. If it sticks, let it cook a minute or two more, then try again. If at that time, the crisp is still sticking in places, carefully work a heatproof rubber spatula under the crisp to free it. In about 6 to 7 minutes total cooking time the underside of the crisp should be an even golden brown and the crisp should slide very easily in the pan. Slide the crisp onto a small plate then invert the crisp back into the skillet. Cook the other side as you did the first.

Slide the crisp out onto a baking sheet and keep it warm in the oven while cooking the remaining fricos. Pat the fricos with paper towels before serving.

VARIATION:

TO COOK THE FRICOS ON A GRIDDLE:
Heat a cast-iron or other heavy, stick-resistant griddle over medium-low heat until a shred of the cheese begins to sizzle 2 to 3 seconds after it hits the surface of the griddle. Using one-fourth of the cheese for each, form as many circles about 4 inches in diameter as will fit on the griddle without touching. Cook as described above, simply flipping the crisps with a metal spatula when the underside is golden. Fricos cooked on a griddle will require about 10 minutes total cooking time.

Makes 4 crisps
Source: Lidiasitaly.com from: Lidia's Italy by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali