Homemade Smile Fries are a beloved side dish by both children and adults, easy to make but sure to impress.
Smile Fries are truly delightful, adored by kids and a real satisfaction for moms who can always be sure to serve something absolutely good, genuine, and made with natural ingredients to their children.
I must say that in my house they are always a big hit, fried or baked, they are always welcomed. Also, I have to tell you that I get help from my nephews, they decide whether to make them happy or sad; my nephews decide the expression of the faces.
However, even my husband and others love them a lot. What a big celebration when they are ready on the table.
The preparation is very simple and also quite quick, but the result is truly beautiful.
Making potato faces is very simple and will certainly give you great satisfaction.
One of those recipes that will impress the little ones, making them really happy to eat a side dish different from the usual.
Use old potatoes and since the dough needs to be firm enough to form smiles, I recommend boiling the potatoes whole and with their skins, so they don’t absorb water and don’t need too much flour.
Let’s see together how to prepare them and some useful tips for a truly perfect result.
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Rest time: 20 Minutes
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4/6
- Cooking methods: Boiling, Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All Seasons
- Energy 141.55 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 18.58 (g) of which sugars 0.97 (g)
- Proteins 2.77 (g)
- Fat 6.50 (g) of which saturated 1.13 (g)of which unsaturated 4.99 (g)
- Fibers 1.54 (g)
- Sodium 195.26 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 60 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Homemade Smile Fries
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1.3 lbs potatoes (old)
- 2 tbsp breadcrumbs
- 1 pinch salt
- to taste peanut oil (for frying)
Tools
- Pot
- Pan
- Potato Masher
- Parchment Paper
- Slotted Spoon
- Paper Towels
- Cookie Cutter
- Bowl
- Rolling Pin
Steps for Homemade Smile Fries
To prepare the potato faces, start with the main ingredient of this recipe, which is the potatoes.
Wash the potato skins well and boil them in plenty of well-salted hot water for about 40 minutes.
(Times may vary depending on the size of the potatoes).
Try to choose potatoes that are more or less the same size so that the cooking is even and all the potatoes are cooked at the same time.
(It’s better to use old potatoes as they are less watery).
Once ready, peel and mash the potatoes using a suitable tool. Do this operation immediately to make it less laborious.
When you’ve obtained a perfect puree, you can add an egg, the flour, and the breadcrumbs. Adjust with salt in the desired quantities, and at this point, you can start kneading everything together.
(The amount of flour or breadcrumbs may vary depending on the type of potato used, whether more or less compact).
Adjust the quantities based on this, therefore, keeping in mind that you need to obtain a compact dough and no longer sticky.
Roll out our dough between two sheets of parchment paper to a thickness of about a quarter of an inch.
Cut out discs approximately 2 inches in diameter.
Use a straw or a nozzle to create the eyes.
(Here I sometimes get help from my nephews; they have a lot of fun).
Use a spoon, as shown in the picture, to create the smile.
Continue this way until you have created all your potato faces.
Once done, place your faces on a tray and put them in the freezer for about 20 minutes before frying.
(This way the faces will maintain their shape)
Fry in hot vegetable oil for about 3/4 minutes.
As soon as they start to brown, just remove them from the oil and place them on a plate with some paper towels so they lose all the excess oil.
Smile fries can also be baked in the oven at 392°F for about 15/20 minutes in fan-mode.
(On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, brush with some oil, using a brush and bake).
Adjust with salt on top and at that point, you can serve them with ketchup or a sauce of your choice.
Enjoy your meal.
Tips
Smile fries can be frozen: just arrange them on a tray and once frozen, store them in a bag.
Once frozen, they can be stored for several weeks in an airtight container and can be cooked at any time.
There’s no need to thaw when needed, just fry them immediately. Or bake in the oven as described in the recipe, no need to thaw here either.
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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Do I have to fry them?
Smile fries can be baked in the oven at 392°F for about 15/20 minutes in fan-mode.
(On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, brush with some oil, using a brush and bake).
