I’ve loved potatoes ever since I was young. And growing up, my school cafeteria had all types, from potato mash with gravy to jacket potatoes. But my favorites were Potato Smileys! I’ve recreated them from my childhood – they’re crispy, fried, golden-brown happy faces, and they go wonderfully with homemade curry ketchup. Use a straw for eyes and draw a smile with a knife, then enjoy. Just like I did as a kid – nothing tastes better than nostalgia!
For the curry ketchup sauce: Heat a small skillet with the olive oil over medium heat and cook the onions until translucent and fragrant, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute until lightly golden.
Add the curry powder and toast another 30 seconds or so until fragrant. Add the tomato paste and cook until deeper red and caramelized, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the pepper, salt and garam masala and toast for another few seconds.
Add the maple syrup, white wine vinegar and 1/4 cup water and leave to cook until bubbling, about a minute.
Transfer into a blender, add 1/4 cup water and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Makes 1/2 cup.
For the potato smileys: Place your potatoes in cold salted water in a large sauce pan. Bring to a boil and cook until they are tender but not mush, and just falling off the tip of a knife, 10 to 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes and leave to cool. When cool enough to handle, grate the potatoes.
Mix the grated potatoes, cornstarch, garlic powder and sweet paprika in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and mix well until it forms a dough. Roll into twenty-four 1-ounce balls (about 30 grams) of the potato mix. Shape the balls into chunky rounds that are about 3/4 inch thick.
Use a paper straw or something small and circular to make the eye holes and then a knife to carve the smile. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment and leave in the fridge for an hour to set.
Heat 2 inches of oil in large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven to 375 degrees F (180 degrees C).
Deep-fry the potato smileys in batches until golden brown and crispy, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain on a plate lined with a paper towel or a baking sheet with a wire rack and then dig in! Serve with the curry ketchup sauce.
Tools You May Need
Tools You May Need
Price and stock may change after publish date, and we may make money off
these links.
By entering your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use
and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
Food Network and
its affiliates
may use your email address to provide updates, ads, and offers.
To withdraw your consent or learn more about your rights, see the
Privacy Policy.