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You are here: Home / Cooking / All Recipes / Boxty – Irish Potato Pancakes

Boxty – Irish Potato Pancakes

January 31, 2012 by Irish American Mom 40 Comments

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

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)

 

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

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mashed potatoes (2 potatoes cooked and mashed)
  • 1 and 1/2 cups grated raw potato (2 potatoes)
  • 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 to 1 and 1/2 cups buttermilk
  • 2 oz butter
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’s the printable recipe.

Boxty – Irish Potato Pancakes

Print recipe
  • Print with main photo
  • Print text only
Boxty – Irish Potato Pancakes
Serves4
Prep time25 minutes
Cook time30 minutes
Total time55 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 1Peel 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 2Grate 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 3In 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 4Add 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 5Melt 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 6Alternatively cook one 12 inch round pancake, or 8 to 10 small pancakes about 3 inches in diameter
Step 7Serve hot with melted butter and a side of bacon or sausage if desired.
Powered by GetMeCooking

Hope you enjoy these traditional Irish pancakes.

 

Slan agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

For Pinterest fans, here’s a pin frinedly image of this recipe.

Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake made with mashed and grated raw potato

And if you would like to check out more of my Irish recipes and cooking here’s a link for my complete recipe index.

Traditional Irish foods are simple and wholesome, but other favorites include curries.

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Bread, Muffins, Pancakes and Scones, Cooking, The Spud Saga Tagged With: All Recipes, Boxty, Cooking, Irish Food and Cooking, Irish Potato Pancakes, Irish Recipes, Potato Lover's Recipes, The Irish Spud, Traditional Irish Food

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Comments

  1. Grammy says

    February 1, 2012 at 9:57 am

    Oh yum!

    Reply
  2. Julie @ Outtakes on the Outskirts says

    February 4, 2012 at 9:39 pm

    I have a lot of potatoes from my garden this year that I need to use before they spoil. This looks like it’ll do the trick!

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      February 5, 2012 at 2:09 pm

      Julie – You can even toss in some fresh herbs to the pancake mixture to add even more flavor. Enjoy your boxty.

      Mairead

      Reply
      • Jennifer Williams says

        March 19, 2017 at 7:59 pm

        Is this a good opportunity to use “the blend?”

        Reply
  3. Éamon says

    October 13, 2012 at 10:46 am

    Great stuff here, Mairead! My friends have been after me for years to compile a cookbook of all my ‘Irish Treats’ they like me to make for them—I can just direct them here!

    BTW, I’ll thin the boxty batter out on occasion to make crepes. I’ll add some herbs to softened cream cheese and let it set for an hour or two to let the herbs and cheese mingle, then spread the herbed cheese onto the boxty. Lay thin slices of smoked salmon on it, roll it up and slice into two inch logs. Absolutely perfect for starters!

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      October 13, 2012 at 7:11 pm

      Éamon – Thanks so much for stopping by my corner of the world wide web and for checking out my recipes. I have many more to share – just need to find time to photograph as I cook, then write them up. I am planning on cooking some colcannon next week in preparation for Halloween. Please do let your friends know about my site. It’s lovely to find new readers.

      I love your recommendation for creating boxty crepes. I too like to create a thinner pancake and fill them with a savory mushroom and chicken sauce, but your smoked salmon and herbed cheese roll-ups sound delicious. They definitely would make great appetizers – perfect finger food for a St. Patrick’s Day get-together.

      Thanks again and please check out my site whenever you get a chance.
      All the best,
      Mairead

      Reply
    • Gary LeBlanc says

      November 15, 2013 at 8:05 am

      Yesssss!!! …. this is what I was surfing the net for…. some creative ideas for boxty – potato pancakes. My Acadian Cafe in Truro Nova Scotia Canada provides the food for a pub right next door, in the same building. We’ve created a theme night every Wednesday “Whiskey Wednesdays” and this is the perfect match for an appetizer dish for a Whiskey and Irish Patty Special. Potato Pancakes is a traditional Acadian dish and I’m thrilled to learn that it is a traditional Irish one as well. Now I’m pumped: I really wanted to do an appetizer with potato pancakes and now, thanks to this post, I know exactly what to do. Thank you so much!!!!

      Reply
      • Irish American Mom says

        November 15, 2013 at 6:16 pm

        Gary – I’m so glad you found the recipe and inspiration you needed right here on my blog. Good luck with your new potato pancake appetizer for “Whiskey Wednesdays”.
        Mairéad

        Reply
  4. John says

    February 2, 2013 at 5:13 am

    I’m sure they taste as good as they look. My mother used to make them a long time ago.
    It appears so simple and very well explained I must have a go.
    Thanks
    John

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      February 2, 2013 at 7:40 am

      John – Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope these turn out as good as your mother’s.
      All the best,
      Mairead

      Reply
  5. Allison Hogan says

    July 27, 2013 at 10:55 am

    About the rhyme. I know it’s just me personally, but I would change the line that goes, “If you can’t make Boxty then you’ll never get a man.” to “If you can’t make Boxty then oh well, try again.” or “-oh well, it’s not ‘the end’.” (like, it’s not the end of the world). Again, it’s just me personally. I’m sure there’s history of this rhyme that I don’t know about.

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      July 31, 2013 at 5:15 pm

      Allison – I think your version of the rhyme is far more appropriate for today. This ditty written over 150 years ago, when getting a man was the most important goal for poorer women of the era. I think old rhymes like these can tell us a lot about how people lived, and what their focus was in life. I like your ending – “oh well, it’s not the end”. And if poor Mary Ann could not get a man, I hope she knew it was not the end.
      Thanks so much for a nice twist on an old rhyme.
      Mairéad

      Reply
      • EllenFitz says

        January 31, 2015 at 2:32 pm

        So true. I also remember doing a clapping/rhyme game with my mother when I was little. The words were “Clap hands, clap hands, ’til Daddy gets home. Daddy has money and Mommy has none.” How things have change but this was certainly reflective of times gone by when my mother learned it from hers and so on.

        Reply
        • Irish American Mom says

          January 31, 2015 at 5:42 pm

          Hi Ellen – You brought back some lovely childhood memories for me with your little rhyme. We used to say a version of the “clap hands” rhyme too. Here’s how our verse went:

          “Clap handies, clap handies till Daddy comes home,
          With sweets in his pocket for baby alone.
          None for bold _____, and none for bold _______ ,
          All for good little baby alone.”

          Where I put the lines, we would insert the names of those we didn’t want to get any sweets. We would also call out our own name rather than using the term baby for the lucky recipient of Daddy’s sweets. This rhyme is probably one reason why I have such a sweet tooth.
          All the best,
          Mairéad

          Reply
  6. Allison Hogan says

    July 27, 2013 at 10:57 am

    I wonder if I could use sweet potatoes. That would be interesting.

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      July 31, 2013 at 5:11 pm

      Allison – I have never tried this recipe with sweet potatoes. Let us know if you give it a try and how they turn out.
      All the best,
      Mairéad

      Reply
  7. Nancy says

    August 16, 2013 at 11:00 am

    I remember loving boxy cakes in Ireland & we actually have left over mashed potatoes ~ a rare event in our home ~ so I promised to make them tonight. No problem except: what to serve with them? Green salad & what? Protein? Any suggestions gratefully appreciated. Thanks so much.
    Nancy

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      August 16, 2013 at 5:40 pm

      Nancy – I like to serve potato cakes with salmon or fish. I also like them with pork or lamb chops. Sorry if I am a little late with my response. I have been away with no internet access, so I have been unable to keep up with blog comments. Thanks so much for stopping by.
      All the best,
      Mairéad

      Reply
  8. Gary LeBlanc says

    November 15, 2013 at 7:50 am

    I live in Nova Scotia Canada and am of Acadian decent. Potato pancakes are a traditional dish of the Acadian culture and we make them almost identically to this recipe. They are so mmmmm.mmmmm good!! Somewhere in history, our paths must have crossed. Growing up, my mom had the best remedy for getting all us kids up in the morning for school; the smell of potato pancakes frying on the stove. It worked every time.

    Potato pancakes is a piece of soul food in Acadie. Another soul-food acadian dish that uses this same technique of dehydrated potato is a dish called Rappie Pie. Now I’m wondering if there is an Irish equivalent to this dish.

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      November 15, 2013 at 6:24 pm

      Gary – I believe there is a strong link between Ireland and Nova Scotia, and I have heard the Irish settled in Halifax, Sydney and pockets of rural Cape Breton. There may even be some parts where Gaelic is still spoken.
      I had never heard of Rappie Pie before so I did a quick google search. I’m unaware of a similar Irish recipe with grated potatoes, but we do make an amazing onion cake with sliced potatoes and onions. I must make one for my blog someday soon.
      Thanks so much for stopping by my website.
      Best wishes,
      Mairéad

      Reply
  9. Martha says

    December 8, 2013 at 11:30 am

    Love your site. Am quite “homesick” for Ireland, not from there, but ancestors were. I’ve been there twice, just returned Oct. 25. Had boxty in Killarney restaurant, filled (like a crepe) with ratatouille. So delicious!!!

    Yes, many Irish (and Scottish) descendants in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. They have yearly Celtic Colours Festival early Oct. There is Gaelic college there, St. Ann’s.

    Martha

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      December 9, 2013 at 5:17 am

      Hi Martha – I’m so happy you found my site and to hear you enjoy visiting Ireland as much as I do. It’s lovely to hear Gaelic culture is alive and well in Nova Scotia.
      Best wishes,
      Mairead

      Reply
  10. liz says

    December 27, 2013 at 8:53 pm

    My mother from Cavan made Boxty on Christmas Eve here on Long Island. She has passed and I never got her recipe. I know she never used mashed potatoes, would you happen to have a recipe?
    Liz

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      December 30, 2013 at 5:46 pm

      Liz – I’m so glad you found my site and this recipe. If you scroll up a little in the post there is a square which outlines the section for the printable recipe. In the top right corner of the square there is a little tab called ‘Print recipe’. If you click on this tab you’ll be able to print out step-by-step instructions for making this boxty recipe.
      Hope you enjoy it.
      Best wishes,
      Mairéad

      Reply
  11. cuppy says

    March 17, 2014 at 8:31 pm

    I’m so so glad for this line right here: ” If cooked too quickly the grated potato retains a raw texture and taste.” Thank you for great, detailed instructions. I made a double batch because I was worried I’d misstep somewhere, and sure enough, I missed the part where it said to go low and slow. First ones were ruined, but the next set look and taste perfect. Thank you for a great recipe!

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      March 18, 2014 at 5:41 pm

      I’m delighted you mastered the art of cooking Boxty. It takes a few tries to determine the right cooking temperature, to ensure they cook thoroughly without burning. I hope you had a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day.
      Best wishes,
      Mairead

      Reply
  12. Maddy says

    October 11, 2014 at 7:56 am

    omg this is perfect for my project on ireland……… thank you so much!!!

    Reply
  13. Kevin says

    March 15, 2015 at 2:38 pm

    Thanks Mairead for the boxty recipe. I make the boxtys to serve lamb stew over. Delicious!

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      March 15, 2015 at 4:05 pm

      Kevin – I love your tip for serving lamb stew over Boxty. Best wishes and happy St. Patrick’s Day.
      Mairead

      Reply
  14. Mary Lou Stilwell says

    October 3, 2015 at 6:05 pm

    Hello again, Mairead. How does the boxty recipe differ from your recipe for Irish Potato Cakes/? They seem rather similar or am I missing something?

    Thanks for these fantastic recipes. I am about to run out of printer paper!!!

    Mary Lou

    Reply
  15. Trudy says

    November 6, 2015 at 10:58 pm

    Mairéad,

    My husband and I just tried making the boxty pancake – it was a total and complete disaster! We cooked it in a cast iron pan on a low heat until the sides were tan. When we tried to turn it over – it fell all apart and was raw (even thou it had been cooking for almost 30 minutes). Any suggestions as to what went wrong or what to do so it turns out. Thank you

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      November 7, 2015 at 3:09 pm

      Hi Trudy – So sorry to hear of your boxty disaster. But trust me. boxty is hard to cook, and very hard to turn. You may have put too much batter in the pan making it too thick and heavy for turning. Also, it has to be fully dry on the upper side before you try to turn it. You may need to turn your heat up a little bit. I cook with a gas stove so it heats pretty quickly, but an electric burner may require a higher setting. I was also wondering if you live at high altitude. When I visit my friend in Denver I’m always amazed at how much longer it takes to cook anything on her stove top. I’ve never tried making boxty in Denver, but I can just imagine it would take a long time to cook. I don’t know if I have solved this boxty cooking dilemma, but wishing you better success next time.
      Best wishes,
      Mairéad

      Reply
  16. Robert says

    November 28, 2015 at 5:09 pm

    Hi Mairéad,
    My grandmother was Irish and when I was a child my family often had Sunday breakfast with her. There were only a few times she made “potato pancakes” but I remember loving them. It’s been 15 years since she passed away and I’d never had another boxty that reminded me of hers until I tried your recipe today (with leftover Thanksgiving mashed potatoes–which were appropriately a bit dry). It was delicious and it transported me back to my childhood! Thank you for the great recipe.

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      November 28, 2015 at 5:54 pm

      Hi Robert – Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment to give my boxty recipe your seal of approval. I’m delighted to hear this taste of Ireland brought back happy childhood memories for you. Being considered on a par with your grandmother’s boxty is high praise indeed. Thanks so much, and enjoy the rest of this holiday weekend.
      Take care,
      Mairéad

      Reply
  17. Serenity says

    January 28, 2016 at 10:45 pm

    I am taking an intercultural communication class and a great way to get to know a people is through their traditional dishes. Over the course of the semester we each have to bring some sort of dish or drink and talk about it and the culture it comes from. I myself am of Irish, German, and French descent. I would love to introduce my classmates to the deliciousness that is boxty, but I have to feed about 14 people. Any advice for doubling the recipe?

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      January 29, 2016 at 7:20 pm

      Hi Serenity – Doubling the ingredients for a bigger batch is no problem, until it comes to cooking all that boxty. Since these pancakes need to cook for quite a while to make sure they are fully cooked through, you may need to get 3 or 4 pans going at the same time. Best of luck with your Boxty introduction for your classmates.
      Mairéad

      Reply
  18. Uisce úr says

    February 2, 2018 at 9:58 am

    Oh yes. Boxty, bacon and black pudding!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Traditional Irish Breakfast says:
    March 5, 2013 at 7:00 am

    […] boiled potatoes and fry them in a mixture of pure butter and the meat drippings.  Or prepare boxty, an Irish potato pancake, ahead of time. If you are serving beans, put them in a pan to […]

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