Boxty – Irish Potato Pancakes

Boxty on the griddle,

Boxty in the pan,

If you can’t make boxty,

You’ll never get a man.

Boxty on the griddle,

Boxty in the pan,

The wee one in the middle,

That’s the one for Mary Anne.

(Traditional Irish Rhyme)

St. Brigid’s Day is February 1st.  To celebrate this much loved saint from early Christian times, boxty was served on her feast day.

This traditional potato pancake dish, with its origins in the northern counties of Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim and Monaghan, is sometimes called stamp.

There are many variations on boxty recipes, some calling for only grated potato and a “fistful” of flour, others use mashed potatoes and others use a significant amount of flour.  I use the basic recipe from the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Cork, but I do add a few extra steps like squeezing the excess starch out of the grated potatoes.

Here’s my version, inspired by Ireland’s advocate of fresh, simple cooking, Darina Allen.

Ingredients For Boxty

Grated Potato

First grate two potatoes.  Next I like to remove the excess liquid and starch.  To do this place a cloth or cheese cloth over a bowl.  Toss the grated potato onto the cloth.

Squeezing Excess Starch From Grated Potatoes

Roll the cloth around the potatoes and use your hands to squeeze tightly.  Fluid and starch will ooze out into the bowl below. Discard this liquid.

Mashed Potato & Grated Potato In Mixing Bowl

Add the mashed potato into a mixing or batter bowl.  I usually have left-over mashed potato, but if you don’t just boil about 2 medium potatoes and mash.

Toss in the squeezed and grated potato, then mix the two types of spud together.

Sieving Flour & Baking Soda & Salt

Sieve the flour, baking soda, and salt into the mixing bowl with the potatoes.

Buttermilk For Boxty Batter

Add a cup of buttermilk initially and combine with all the dry ingredients.

Boxty Batter

Add enough buttermilk to make a thick batter. I find I use the full 1 and 1/2 cups of buttermilk.  I always think the batter resembles rice pudding when it is just the right consistency.

Butter Melting In Pan

Melt the butter in a large skillet.  This recipe makes one large pancake in a 12- inch round pan, two 8-inch diameter cakes, or 8 to 10 small ones of about 3 inches diameter.

I like to use butter rather than oil to cook boxty.  Butter adds a lovely flavor and helps the pancake cook slowly and evenly.

Boxty Batter In The Pan

Pour the mixture into the pan.  The pancake should be between 1/2 and 1 inch high.  Fry the pancake over low heat for 12 to 15 minutes on each side.  Low and slow is the key to good boxty.  If cooked too quickly the grated potato retains a raw texture and taste.

Boxty Cooked On One Side

Flip the pancake when it’s golden and crispy on the first side.  Continue to cook for another 12 to 15 minutes on the second side.  If you decide to make smaller pancakes, it will probably only take 10 minutes to cook on each side.

Remove from the pan and cut into four quarters (called farls) or eight triangular pieces.

Boxty Cut In Farls

Serve boxty with melted butter, honey or a side of bacon or sausage.

Small Boxty Potato Pancakes

My little girl loves boxty slathered in raspberry jam.  There are endless choices of toppings and accompaniments.

Here is the printable recipe.

Boxty – Irish Potato Pancakes

Print recipe

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Serves	4
Prep time	25 minutes
Cook time	30 minutes
Total time	55 minutes
Meal type	Lunch, Main Dish
Region	Irish

Ingredients

• 1 cup mashed potatoes (2 potatoes cooked and mashed)
• 1 and 1/2 cup grated raw potato (2 medium potatoes)
• 1 and 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 to 1 and 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2oz butter

Directions

Step 1	Peel and cut the potatoes for the mash into quarters. Cover with water in a medium saucepan, and bring to the boil. Reduce heat, cover with the lid and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until the potatoes are fork tender. Drain and mash.
Step 2	Grate the other potatoes. Place a cheesecloth over a bowl and add the grated potatoes. Gather the cheesecloth in a ball. Over the bowl, squeeze the excess fluid and starch from the grated potatoes. Discard the fluid.
Step 3	In a large mixing bowl combine the mashed potato and grated potato. Sift the flour, salt and baking soda into the bowl. Combine well with the potatoes.
Step 4	Add one cup of buttermilk to the potato/flour mixture and stir well to form a thick batter. Add additional buttermilk, up to 1/2 cup if the mixture is too thick.
Step 5	Melt the butter in an 8 inch round saute pan. Pour half the mixture into the pan. The pancake should be close to one inch high. Cook on each side over low heat until brown and crispy. This takes 12 to 15 minutes per side.
Step 6	Alternatively cook one 12 inch round pancake, or 8 to 10 small pancakes about 3 inches in diameter
Step 7	Serve hot with melted butter and a side of bacon or sausage if desired.

Hope you enjoy these traditional Irish pancakes.

Slan agus beannacht leat!

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

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