Smiles

The “Smiles” (Smiley Fries in English) are fried potatoes in the shape of smiling faces, very popular among children and famous as a frozen ready meal in many countries. They are not among traditional Italian dishes, but I can provide you with a homemade version that recalls this idea, perhaps with a more genuine and healthy touch. Here’s a basic recipe:

Ingredients

• 4 medium-sized potatoes
• 4 tablespoons of 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 salted boiling water until tender.
2. Once cooked, drain and mash them until you obtain a smooth puree without lumps.
3. Adjust the salt and, if desired, the pepper. Incorporate 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 mashed potatoes to a thickness of about 1-1.5 cm.
6. Use a round cookie cutter to cut discs from the mashed potatoes. If you don’t 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 pan and fry the Smiles until golden and crispy.
8. Drain 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 Smiles before baking them, to achieve a similar browning and crispiness to frying.

Fun Facts

Smiley-shaped fries were created with the aim of making 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 reproduce them in the kitchen, perhaps even involving children in the preparation for a moment of sharing and fun.