Better to Fry Cheese Chips
It’s very hard to go wrong with friko , aka cheese chips, in other words , a bunch of grated cheese that has been fried in a pan so it looks like you’re eating something more delicious than a bunch of grated cheese. It’s a pretty perfect snack, and I didn’t think it could be improved until my friend Danielle sent me a man on TikTok who makes “crispy jalapeno pepperoni cheese.”
The man’s name is Kevin Ashton and he is delighted. I rarely visit TikTok unless someone sends me a specific video, but luckily Daniel sends me Kevin’s video quite often.
Kevin’s technique is simple but ingenious: he places some cheese on a silicone baking sheet, then sprinkles with chopped pepperoni, diced jalapenos, ground parmesan and tagine on top. He puts it all in a deep fryer until it turns golden brown, then eats it. I envy his brain – it’s really something my brain had to come up with – but thank him for bringing his ideas to life.
Even if you don’t have a deep fat fryer, you still need to put food in the friko. I make mine in a non-stick skillet, which is very simple. Simply put some cheese ( preferably pre-shredded ) into a skillet over medium heat, remembering to leave gaps between the pieces to create a crispy lace web. Then add your “stuff”. I went with pieces of bacon and finely chopped green onions. Fatty meats like Kevin’s pepperoni work especially well, as the fat they release helps brown the cheese.
When the cheese is golden brown, remove from the pan and transfer to a plate to brown. I cooked and ate a lot of freeco and found the wooden chopsticks to be easy to remove. Repeat until you run out of cheese and then buy more cheese.