Smileys

“Smileys” (Smiley Fries in English) are fried potato snacks shaped like smiling faces, very popular among children and famous as a frozen ready meal in many countries. They are not part of traditional Italian dishes, but I can provide you with a homemade version that might resemble this idea, possibly with a more genuine and healthier touch. Let’s see a basic recipe:

Ingredients

• 4 medium-sized potatoes
• 4 tablespoons grated cheese (Parmesan, pecorino, or another of your choice)
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste (optional)
• Flour as needed for handling
• Oil for frying

Preparation

1. Wash and peel the potatoes, then boil them in salty water until they become tender.
2. Once cooked, drain them and mash them until you get a smooth puree without lumps.
3. Season with salt and, if desired, pepper. Mix in the grated cheese until the mixture becomes homogeneous.
4. Let the mashed potatoes cool for a few minutes.
5. On a work surface dusted with flour, roll out the potato puree to approximately 1-1.5 cm thick.
6. Use a round cookie cutter to cut discs from the potato puree. If you do not have a smiley face cutter, you can use a straw to make the eyes and a spoon to carve a smile.
7. Heat plenty of oil in a frying pan and fry the Smileys until they become golden and crispy.
8. Drain them on paper towels and serve hot.

Remember that frying in hot oil makes the dish less healthy, but you can also opt for baking, perhaps spraying a little oil on the Smileys before putting them in the oven, to still achieve a similar browning and crispiness to frying.

Curiosity

Smiley-shaped fries were created with the intent to make the eating experience more fun for children. Their presence as a frozen ready meal has made this playful version of fries very popular, but with the right dose of creativity, it is possible to recreate them in the kitchen, perhaps even involving the children in the preparation for a moment of sharing and fun.