Halfway between finger food and street food, the supplì al telefono is the Romans’ favorite fried food, which they may eat on the go or while sitting down at a trattoria at the start of a meal.  

Supplì is a breaded, deep-fried rice croquette with an elongated shape traditionally filled with mozzarella, rice pre-simmered in a tomato-based sauce, and ragù. They’re known as supplì “on the phone” due to the stringy fiordilatte that creates a thread when the crunchy rice ball is broken in two.