A frico, known in America as a cheese crisp, is an Italian food, typical of Friuli

Friuli

Friuli is an area of northeastern Italy with its own particular cultural and historical identity. It comprises the major part of the autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, i.e. the province of Udine, Pordenone, Gorizia, excluding Trieste...

, which consists of a wafer of shredded cheese

Cheese

Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....

 with a bit of flour

Flour

Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...

, baked or fried until crisp. Common cheeses include Parmesan, Mozzarella

Mozzarella

Mozzarella is an Italian Traditional Speciality Guaranteed food product. The term is used for several kinds of Italian cheeses that are made using spinning and then cutting :...

, or Montasio

Montasio

Montasio is a cheese made from cow's milk, produced in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto regions of northeastern Italy.It was awarded a protected designation of origin in 1986.-External links:**...

. Frico is often used as garnish for soups or stews.

Fricos are not difficult to make and can be shaped into baskets or bowls which can make for a way of serving foods or salads that aren't too moist.