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Smiley | Traditional Offal Dish From South Africa | TasteAtlas
Smiley | Traditional Offal Dish From South Africa | TasteAtlas
Smiley | Traditional Offal Dish From South Africa | TasteAtlas
Smiley | Traditional Offal Dish From South Africa | TasteAtlas

Smiley

Smiley is a traditional dish featuring sheep's head as the key ingredient. The sheep heads are actually butcher's leftovers which are broiled (usually in large drums), and the fur is then singed with metal rods, while the animal's lips pull back to reveal a grotesque smile, hence the name smiley.


The head is served with a bit of salt, and the meat can easily be ripped off with your hands because it's so tender. It is said that the tongue, eyes, cheeks, and brains are the most flavorful parts of smiley. The head is typically served whole, but it can also be cut up and used in stews.