Frico with potatoes and onions

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PRESENTATION

Golden-brown edges and a crispy finish make this American frico recipe stand out every time you place it on the table. With a simple potato and onion base brought to life with that cheesy potato pancake style, every slice shows off a soft inside and that told-you-so crunch outside. Nice comfort food recipe for families or friends who just want something that tastes good and feels familiar—since traditional Friuli cuisine inspires every bite, you get a reliable dish full of warmth and that rich, familiar savory flavor that’s never too fancy for weeknight cravings. The look is simple: beautiful golden layers you can almost hear crackling as you pick them up, always giving that blend of cheesy, salty goodness with the MONTASIO cheese substitute melting right in... works so well with tender potatoes and onions, it’s truly a DELICIOUS pick for home cooks. Often, busy evenings need the easy appeal of a savory snack like this—you just plate it up with a little salad or some fresh veggies and you’re set for a quick meal.

Busy families love how this American potato frico becomes that go-to meal when everyone wants something familiar, tasty, and not complicated. Great as lunch, party finger food, satisfying dinner side, or even paired with grilled meats—you just can’t go wrong because it always delivers. Serving it is easy: cut wedges for sharing or stack smaller pieces for snack boards (kids usually call dibs!). Since it’s a classic in Italian-American cooking, you get that mix of casual comfort and upscale flavor in one, which is exactly why home cooks rely on it for both everyday meals and when company comes over. Pair this potato frico with a simple green salad or slice up some tomatoes for a fresh side... a little sprinkle of herbs and a tangy dip really make it pop. So, whenever the day calls for something reliable, heartwarming, and a bit cheesy but not heavy at all, this classic brings everyone to the table—just plain great for making usually busy days a little more special.

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INGREDIENTS
Black pepper to taste
Montasio cheese 1.1 lbs (500 g) - aged or semi-aged
Potatoes 1.1 lbs (500 g) - (weight after cleaning)
Onions 7 oz (200 g) - (weight after peeling)
Fine salt to taste
Extra virgin olive oil 3 ½ tbsp (50 g)
Preparation

How to prepare Frico with potatoes and onions

To prepare the frico with potatoes and onions, peel the onions 1 and thinly slice them into rings 2; then peel the potatoes with a vegetable peeler 3 or a knife.

and grate them with a large-hole grater 4. Remove the rind from the Montasio cheese 5 and also grate it with the large-hole grater 6.

Now that the ingredients are ready, in a large pot pour 3 tablespoons of oil 7, and the onion 8. Fry for a few minutes over low heat, stirring often with a wooden spoon to prevent the onion from sticking to the bottom of the pan or burning. Then add the grated potatoes 9 and cook for about 10 minutes.

At this point, also add the grated Montasio cheese 10, salt and pepper to taste (11-12), and cook the frico for about 20 minutes over medium heat, stirring to completely melt the cheese.

When you have finished cooking and obtained a homogeneous mixture 13, turn off the heat. In a low-sided non-stick pan, pour a little oil 14, heat it slightly, and pour the mixture of potatoes, onions, and Montasio into the pan 15, trying to remove excess fat.

Spread and compact the frico in the pan 16 and cook it over high heat without stirring, like an omelette 17. As soon as it forms a crust, turn it over to the other side 18. If still present, remove the excess fat before transferring the frico with potatoes and onions to a serving plate. Then cut it into portions and accompany it with Polenta!

Storage

It is preferable to consume the frico with potatoes and onions as soon as it's made! You can store it for 1 day in the refrigerator, then reheat it as needed in a pan or in the oven.
Freezing is not recommended.

Tip

If, once cooked, the frico still has a lot of fat, before placing it on the serving plate and cutting it, drain it well, so it does not turn out excessively greasy. For this recipe, you can use half fresh Montasio and half aged. If it's difficult to find Montasio, it can be replaced with a semi-aged or aged cheese of your preference.

Also try the recipe for the Potato and Onion Crunch, made with a quick dough based on water and flour!

Curiosity

There are two versions of frico: a soft one, and a crispy one. The first resembles more of an omelette, while the second is very thin and crumbly, made with grated Latteria or Montasio cheese and cornmeal; with this malleable preparation, 'baskets' are often formed to hold, for example, polenta or cheese!

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.