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Frico con patate

Frico: Carnia's golden skillet cake of potato, onion and melting Montasio

Frico was born in the mountain pastures of Carnia, in the north of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, where herders cooked cheese ends and potatoes together in an iron pan over the fire. Today it is the region's signature dish, served in Udine's osterie and at village festivals in wedges beside soft polenta. The outside sets into a crisp, brown cheese crust while the inside stays soft, stringy and rich with sweet onion. Chef's tip: mix a young Montasio, which melts, with a more aged one, which gives the crust its flavour and crunch.
Total time
35 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

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Method

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  1. Step 1: Melt ⅔ oz butter with 1 tbsp olive oil in a 24 cm non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and cook 1 onion for 5 minutes, until soft.

    5 min
  2. Step 2: Add 1 ⅛ lb potatoes and ½ tsp salt, stir, cover and cook over a medium-low heat for 12 minutes, stirring now and then, until the potatoes are soft and partly falling apart.

    12 min
  3. Step 3: Scatter in 10 ½ oz Montasio cheese, a mix of young and aged and ¼ tsp black pepper and stir for 1–2 minutes, until the cheese melts and binds everything into one mass.

    2 min
  4. Step 4: Flatten into an even cake and cook undisturbed over a medium heat for 6–8 minutes, until the underside is deep golden and the edges look lacy and crisp.

    8 min
  5. Step 5: Shake the pan: the cake should slide freely. Common mistake: flipping too early; the crust tears and sticks, so wait until it moves on its own.

  6. Step 6: Slide the frico onto a plate, turn the pan over it and flip both together. Cook the second side for 5 minutes, until golden and crisp.

    5 min
  7. Step 7: Rest for 2 minutes, then cut into wedges and serve hot.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
420 kcal
Protein
21 g
Carbs
22 g
Fat
28 g
Fibre
2 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does frico con patate take?
About 35 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
What can I use instead of potatoes?
Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
What can I use instead of onion?
2 shallots per onion.

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