Potato and cheese pancake (frico)

Frico is a bit like a cheesy potato tortilla, but without any eggs. It hails from the mountainous Friuli region in north-east Italy.

Potato and cheese pancake (frico) Credit: Paola Bacchia

• serves

  4

• prep

  15 minutes

• cook

  45 minutes

• difficulty

  Easy

Frico is typically made with Montasio, a cow’s milk cheese that is found in Friuli-Venezia Giulia and the Veneto regions. If you cannot find Montasio, look for Piave, Asiago (semi-stagionato) or Latteria. Frico can be eaten on its own, accompanied by a glass red wine, or with polenta. You will need a small non-stick frying pan with a lid to make this dish.

Ingredients

• 2 tsp olive oil
• ½ onion (about 100 g/3½ oz), thinly sliced into rings
• 2 small potatoes (about 200 g/7 oz), peeled and cut into small dice or coarsley grated
• 150 g (5½ oz) montasio cheese, grated

Instructions

Heat the oil in a saucepan over low heat, then add the onion and potato. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes until the potato is tender and the onion is starting to colour. Add the cheese and stir it in slowly to melt. Remove from the heat and place in a small non-stick frying pan, flattening it so it resembles a thick pancake. 

Place the pan over a low heat and cook, covered, for about 10 minutes, until the underside of the ‘pancake’ is starting to brown and crisp. Use a large plate to help you flip the frico over, and then slide it back into the frying pan. Cook for a further 10 minutes or until the underside is crisp. Slide onto a plate, allow to cool slightly, then cut into wedges and serve warm. 

Note

• You can substitute montasio cheese with Parmesan cheese. 

This recipe is from Italian Street Food. (Smith Street Books). Photography by Paola Bacchia.

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.

Frico is typically made with Montasio, a cow’s milk cheese that is found in Friuli-Venezia Giulia and the Veneto regions. If you cannot find Montasio, look for Piave, Asiago (semi-stagionato) or Latteria. Frico can be eaten on its own, accompanied by a glass red wine, or with polenta. You will need a small non-stick frying pan with a lid to make this dish.