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 – Herbivoracious and 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
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.
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 
I will be trying this one VERY soon. MMMMMMM…
Sending good thoughts to your father-in-law.
So sorry to hear about Scott’s Dad-I am sure it is hard for you -best wishes to you and your family
I am definitely trying it, even if it will be filed under guilty pleasures, and I like to add roasted red peppers to mine.
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.
He’s a genius! Best wishes to you and your family. xo
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.foodporn.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.
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!
Mmm, gooey cheese and crispy cheese in the same sandwich… yummy!
LMAO, best post of the year with the lyrics redo!
I’m Rick James *****!
I just had my lunch but this made me hungry again. It really looks appetizing!
“Happy Cooking”
This looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing
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?)!
I also love reading Herbivoracious’ blog. But I have yet to encounter this recipe. This is great for someone who loves cheese!!!!!
Oh my! I love a good grilled cheese but have never seen this!! Definitely to try soon!
The way the cheese has melted into the bread looks incredibly appetising.
This sounds AHMAZING. Do you think it would mail well?? 😉
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.
OMG. Fried cheese on bread. I love you and Herbivoracious.
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.
This is BRILLIANT.
And dinner, btw.
Great post! I tried a few recipes from Herbivoracious, it all came out delicious. Michael is a great cook/blogger.
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.
You and I are SO made from the same cloth.
I want thiiiiiiis!