Crispy Parmesan bowls are the perfect vessel for your favorite Italian pasta dishes like Cacio e Pepe or creamy carbonara. These elegant, lacy bowls aren’t just for classics – they’ll hold any pasta with flair. Golden and crunchy, they offer a delicious contrast to silky pasta and rich sauces, making every bite a delightful balance of textures. Plus, they’re as beautiful as they are tasty, eye-catching enough to make any meal feel like a special occasion.
Best of all, you can whip them up in under 10 minutes. All you need is shredded parmesan, a non-stick pan and a glass or small bowl to shape them. No artistic skills are required! The parmesan melts into a delicate lace that practically molds itself, giving you a gorgeous edible bowl with minimal effort. Follow these easy steps and you’ll have a set of parmesan bowls that look as impressive as they taste.
Let’s Make Some Crispy Parmesan Bowls!
Use a box grater or food processor, or opt for pre-shredded real parmesan, available in the deli section with other hard cheeses. For the crispiest result, keep the cheese layer thin and evenly spread in the pan. If you’re making multiple bowls, allow the pan to cool between each one. If it’s still hot, the cheese will begin to melt immediately, making it harder to create that delicate lacy pattern.
Place a glass tumbler upside down on a kitchen towel or potholder to use as a mold for your bowl. Sprinkle the shredded parmesan in a cold non-stick pan in the shape of a disc, about 8″ in diameter. Use your fingers to move the cheese around if necessary to avoid any thick spots. The exact size is not critical, but leave space or voids like the photo above. As the cheese melts it will form a thin crispy lattice ready to form into a bowl.
Turn the heat to low and wait as it will slowly melt, about 4-5 minutes. When it begins to brown and crisp lift the pan off the heat and test the edges with a silicone spatula. Keep the pan above the heat as you begin to separate the edges all around the pan. Remove it from the heat and as the pan cools it will begin to release. Use your spatula to gently separate the parmesan disc, then working quickly, drape the disc over the inverted glass bottom and gently help shape the bowl with your fingers. The cheese will harden enough to become brittle within seconds, so be careful not to break your bowl. Let it rest until it completely cools, then set aside until ready to use.
Crispy Parmesan Bowls
Crispy, edible parmesan cheese bowl
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 5
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 4–5 oz finely shredded genuine parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Place an inverted drinking glass on a kitchen towel or potholder to use as a mold
- Spread shredded parmesan in a thin layer on the bottom of a cold, non-stick pan, about 7.5-8″ in diameter
- Cook over low heat for 4-5 minutes until it becomes a golden brown
- When it begins to turn color use a silicone spatula to test the edges, and lift above the direct heat
- As the pan begins to cool, it will begin to release from the pan. Use the spatula to carefully finish separating the disc
- Work quickly. When it separates completely, lift an edge, slide it and drape the pliable cheese lattice over the bottom of the inverted glass. Use your fingers to gently form the bowl, then let it rest and cool.
- Set aside until ready to use.