Greek Cheese Filled Frico Cups Recipes

GREEK FRIED CHEESE WITH OREGANO

Steps:

• Cut the cheese into triangles that are a little more than 1/2-inch-thick. Put the flour on a large plate.
• Pour olive oil about 1/4-inch deep in a medium skillet. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until very hot, but not smoking.
• Dredge the cheese in the flour on both sides and fry, turning once, until golden brown on both sides and soft in the center, about 2 minutes per side for halloumi or 1 minute per side for a creamier feta. Drain on paper towels.
• Serve the cheese hot, sprinkled with the oregano leaves and with lemon wedges on the side.

FRICO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with silicone mat.
• Working in 2 batches, scoop 8 mounds of finely grated Parmesan or Grana Padano cheese (1 tablespoon per mound) onto mat, spreading each mound about 3" wide and spacing at least 1" apart.
• Bake cheese until light brown and melted, 5-6 minutes (check occasionally while baking so it won't turn too brown). Remove sheet from oven and let frico cool completely. (To shape frico, leave baking sheet in oven with door open; use a small offset spatula to remove frico one at a time, working quickly to shape. To form tuile-like shapes, gently roll warm frico around the handle of a wooden spoon. To form cups, press onto the bottom and up the sides of a mini muffin pan. Keep frico warm until ready to mold; it hardens quickly as it cools.)

CHEDDAR FRICO

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, toss together cheese and flour. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Sprinkle about 1 1/2 tablespoons cheese mixture into skillet to form a 4-inch round.
• Cook until cheese is starting to melt and become firm, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Using a small offset spatula, turn; continue cooking until it is firm and slightly golden, 15 to 30 seconds more.
• Immediately drape frico over a rolling pin, and let cool slightly to set the shape. Repeat with remaining cheese mixture. If skillet gets too hot and frico begin to color too quickly, remove from heat for several minutes before proceeding.

FRICO CUPS WITH HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Stir together parmesan and flour with a fork. Heat an 8- to 10-inch nonstick skillet over moderately low heat until hot. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons parmesan mixture into a 2 1/2-inch free-form round in skillet and cook until cheese is set, about 10 seconds. Loosen edge of frico with plastic spatula, then turn over and cook 5 seconds more. Immediately transfer frico to a muffin cup, lightly pressing it in, and remove from cup once crisp, about 30 seconds. Make more frico cups in same manner.
• Stir together goat cheese, cream, chives, parsley, salt, and pepper and transfer to pastry bag (if using). Tuck a mesclun leaf inside each cup, then pipe (or spoon) in herbed goat cheese to fill two thirds of each cup.

GREEK CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans.
• Mix feta cheese and eggs together in a bowl for the filling; set aside.
• Lay out 1 sheet of phyllo on a work surface and brush liberally with olive oil. Top with another sheet and brush with oil. Repeat for a total of 4 sheets, but do not brush the top of the fourth sheet. Transfer the stack of oiled sheets to one of the greased cake pans. Drape over the bottom of the pan, trying not to be too perfect about it; you want some folds and wrinkles in the phyllo.
• Spread 1/2 of the filling over the phyllo in an even layer. Fold the overhanging phyllo over the filling, again letting natural folds and wrinkles occur. Loosely lay 1 sheet of phyllo over the top, brush with oil, and use the oiled brush to pat down the sides all around the circumference of the cake pan.
• Repeat with remaining phyllo, oil, and filling to assemble the second pie.
• Bake the cheese pies in the preheated oven until the tops are a deep golden brown, 45 to 60 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.

BOUREKAKIA (GREEK STYLE CHEESE-FILLED DIAMONDS)

Steps:

• Beat together cheeses, egg yolks, and parsley until well blended and creamy.
• Lay out 3 sheets of phyllo (keeping remaining phyllo covered with plastic wrap), and lightly brush one sheet with butter using a wide pastry brush.
• Lay the second sheet on top of the first and brush with butter, and repeat with the third on top of the second.
• Spoon a 1/2 inch wide ribbon of cheese mixture along one of the long sides of the dough, and starting from that side, roll up jelly roll style, tucking in the ends as you go to encase the filling.
• Place seam side down on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Repeat, making 7 more rolls and placing them about an inch apart.
• Bake uncovered at 375°F for 15 minutes or until puffed and lightly browned.
• Let cool 15 minutes; then slice through each roll on the diagonal about 2 1/4 inches apart, making diamond shaped pieces.
• Serve immediately.

GREEK CHEESE FILLED FRICO CUPS

Steps:

• FILLING: Mix filling ingredients in a medium bowl. Microwave on high, 30 second at a time, stirring between intervals, until cheese is melted and the filling is warm throughout. Set aside.
• FRICO CUPS: Mix parmesan cheese and seasoning in a small bowl. In a large non-stick skillet on medium heat, melt the butter (or use non-stick cooking spray) to just coat the bottom of the pan.
• Sprinkle 3 thin circles of cheese in a 3" circular pattern each into the pan. Cook until they have melted and formed a light golden crust, about 3 minutes. (NOTE: If you are new to making frico cups, you may want to use a small skillet, and make one at a time).
• Carefully lift and turn the layer of cheese with a spatula and cook until lightly golden on the 2nd side, about 1/2 a minute.
• Immediately remove the frico from the pan and shape it by laying it over an inverted mini muffin tin.
• Allow to cool slightly before filling. Fill with the cheese filling and serve immediately.