Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Usually, the kitchen is loud….or should I say “lively” – the boys are running through with their Nerf guns, old-school Madonna playing on Pandora, me singing, “borderline….feels like I’m going to lose my mind…you just keep on pushing my love….” and Coco at my feet, waiting for me to drop a morsel of food as I fling my arms trying to dance my Madonna.
Yeah, that’s usually the scene.
Last week, I was alone in the house during the day – the kids were at school and Scott was in New York to be with his very ill dad – my kitchen was very quiet. I liked it that way, I had forgotten how the sounds of cooking can be soothing.
the “pop” as my sharp knife breaks and pierces the skin of a taut, ripe tomato.
chorus of scratching as I grate parmesan cheese.
gentle tzzzzssssss of bubbling butter in a pan.
if you can hear with your eyes, the sucking and drawing up of hot melted butter into the spongy pores of the bread.
fllllueeaappp as the face of the sandwich falls back on the pan after you flip it.
zzzahhhhhhhh as grated parmesan relaxes, melts and spreads out.
(smile) thanks for listening….
This recipe is from my friend, Michael Natkin, who happens to have one of the most happy smiles I’ve ever encountered. Michael runs Herbivoracious blog, which is all about vegetarian recipes. His very first book is just out –Herbivoraciousand I’m so giddy proud of him.
Of all the recipes, I chose Super Frico – only because after seeing that recipe name, I couldn’t stop singing, “She’s a super frico, super frico.She’s super-frico, yow”
Come on! Be a dork and sing with me!
That sandwich is pretty kinky
It’s a super frico
The kind of lunch you read about
In foodie magazines
That cheese is pretty wild now
It’s a super frico
I really love to taste it
Every time we meet
She’s all right, she’s all right
That sandwich all right with me, yeah
Super Frico, baby
Make your standard grilled cheese sandwich (I like adding tomato to mine)
Remove the sandwich and sprinkle in your grated parmesan cheese, roughly in the same size as the sandwich.
Once it gets a little bubbly and melty, put your grilled cheese on top.
Press with a ginormous spatula to weld the cheese to the sandwich.
Lovely.
SuperFrico Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe
Recipe from Herbivoracious Cookbook by Michael Natkin. Michael says, "Everyone knows the best part of a grilled cheese sandwich (not to mention lasagna, gratin, mac & cheese, ...) are the bits where the cheese gets brown and crispy. So one night I said to myself, why can't there be more crispy? What happens if I just make a frico (cheese crisp) right there in the skillet and weld it to my already delicious grilled cheese? Would this not be a fine extension of an already superb late-night supper?
The answer was a resounding yes, so much so that I don’t make grilled cheese any other way now. It only takes a minute or two more than the standard sandwich, but the extra dimension of texture takes it to a whole new level."
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Servings 1
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 slices bread
- 2 slices provolone cheese (or other cheese of your choice)
- 2 slices tomato
- 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (use large holes of box grater)
Instructions
Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat with the butter. When the butter is melted. Lightly moisten both pieces of bread in the butter. Top one slice of bread with the provolone and tomato and cover with the other slice of bread. Cook until golden brown on both sides, flipping a couple of times.
When the basic grilled cheese is done, remove it from the pan. Turn the heat to medium. If the pan seems very dry, melt a touch more butter in it. Sprinkle the Parmigiano in the still-hot skillet, in a shape roughly the same as the sandwich.
Now watch closely, as the cheese melts. You'll see the fat start to cook out and the cheese begin to brown and crisp. When it has just begun to brown, put the sandwich back on top and press down with a large spatula to weld the frico to the bread. Let cook for one more minute then serve.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Stuff from the store
Need a cheese grater? I love this one.
I’m a big fan of fat spatulas…this one is nonstick.
Best Parmegiano Reggiano – big love for Whole Foods, the only company I know who has “crack parties“
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comment section! I always appreciate your feedback and I know other readers do, too!
Stay in touch with me in our Facebook group, on Pinterest or follow me on Instagram! Sign up for my email list, too where we chat all things recipes, tips, giveaways, and more!
Gabrielle on 5/14/12 at 1:14 pm
I will be trying this one VERY soon. MMMMMMM…
Sending good thoughts to your father-in-law.
Reply
Pat Croft on 5/5/12 at 8:05 am
So sorry to hear about Scott’s Dad-I am sure it is hard for you -best wishes to you and your family
Reply
Joyce on 5/2/12 at 1:10 pm
I am definitely trying it, even if it will be filed under guilty pleasures, and I like to add roasted red peppers to mine.
Reply
Nancy on 5/1/12 at 6:29 pm
Oooh la la, it’s definitely “the kind you don’t bring home to Mother. . .” Unless you happen to be my kid, in which case PLEASE bring one (or two) home to Mother!
I love your description of your usual kitchen vibe–replace Madonna with The Clash and you are in my house. Do you also wish for a stunt-double to handle homework time? 🙂
Wonderful recipe, wonderful read. Now it’s off to that kitchen madness, time to Rock the Casbah, or Taco the Casbah as the case may be.Reply
Heidi on 5/1/12 at 2:12 am
He’s a genius! Best wishes to you and your family. xo
Reply
Hillary on 5/1/12 at 1:37 am
Hello Jaden,
Thanks for the super frico grilled cheese sandwich recipe.
I’ll create one for sure, my kids are gonna like it 🙂
If you don’t mind, can I submit your super frico grilled cheese sandwich recipe photo in http://www.foodp*rn.net ?
It’s a food photography site full of all DIY food pictures from members around the world. Or perhaps you’d like to submit by yourself? Let me know when you did, so I can share it.Reply
Lana on 4/29/12 at 2:24 am
I am hoping to meet Michael this Tuesday here in LA! So excited! Frico is one of my indulgences – I would gladly barter my kids for cheese, especially crispy, fragrant, nutty cheese:)
My oldest daughter deliberately puts too much cheese on her hot sandwiches to scrape off the melting excess:)
This is a grilled cheese to my taste:)
I love, love, love your onomatopoeia!Reply
Row on 4/29/12 at 12:33 am
Mmm, gooey cheese and crispy cheese in the same sandwich… yummy!
Reply
Chris on 4/28/12 at 6:12 pm
LMAO, best post of the year with the lyrics redo!
I’m Rick James *****!
Reply
Karriann on 4/28/12 at 12:42 pm
I just had my lunch but this made me hungry again. It really looks appetizing!
“Happy Cooking”
Reply
rick on 4/27/12 at 10:13 am
This looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing
Reply
Julia {The Roasted Root} on 4/26/12 at 9:11 pm
Beaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaautiful technique with the melted crispy cheese stuck to the grilled cheese. I LOVE crispy cheese. LOVE it! Alright, you’ve got me craving a grilled cheese sandwich and now I have the super freak song stuck in my head (you know…the one from Little Miss Sunshine?)!
Reply
LePetitBohemian on 4/26/12 at 8:24 pm
I also love reading Herbivoracious’ blog. But I have yet to encounter this recipe. This is great for someone who loves cheese!!!!!
Reply
joey on 4/26/12 at 8:59 am
Oh my! I love a good grilled cheese but have never seen this!! Definitely to try soon!
Reply
Igloo on 4/26/12 at 8:24 am
The way the cheese has melted into the bread looks incredibly appetising.
Reply
Jessica on 4/26/12 at 12:03 am
This sounds AHMAZING. Do you think it would mail well?? 😉
Reply
Christine on 4/25/12 at 11:39 pm
A local pub does something quite similar to this, but with white cheddar and bleu cheese inside, then the parmigiano outside. Whenever I have the right cheeses on hand and some good bread, it’s irresistible. So much awesome, so fast.
Reply
Sarah @ The Cyclist's Wife on 4/25/12 at 5:18 pm
OMG. Fried cheese on bread. I love you and Herbivoracious.
Reply
Kathy - Panini Happy on 4/25/12 at 3:30 pm
So happy for Michael and his new book! That super frico sandwich was one of the first posts of his that I ever read on Herbivoracious – so awesome.
Reply
Babette on 4/25/12 at 3:09 pm
This is BRILLIANT.
And dinner, btw.Reply
Marina@Picnic at Marina on 4/25/12 at 3:08 pm
Great post! I tried a few recipes from Herbivoracious, it all came out delicious. Michael is a great cook/blogger.
Reply
Kim in MD on 4/25/12 at 2:29 pm
Oh my…this looks AMAZING, Jaden! I love frico and grilled cheese. Combining the two together is genius! 🙂
I’m so sorry to hear that Scott’s dad is ill. I will keep him and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Reply
Bev Weidner on 4/25/12 at 2:05 pm
You and I are SO made from the same cloth.
I want thiiiiiiis!
Reply
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
- 15 Foods You Should Learn How to Cook by 30: Part 1 | All Honesty - […] 1 Grilled Cheese Steamy Kitchen Make 1,000 grilled cheeses. Make them when you are half asleep. Make them when…
- Grilled Cheddar Cheese Sandwich Recipe | Leite's Culinaria - [...] SuperFrico Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Steamy Kitchen [...]
- The Basic: Grilled Cheese « Mastering College Cooking - [...] For anyone who has used a stove, toaster oven, panini maker, or iron probably has had the thought cross…
- Herbivoracious in the News » Harvard Common Press - [...] Jaden Hair of Steamy Kitchen reviews Herbivoracious and Michael’s recipe for Super Frico Grilled Cheese [...]
