Boxty Irish Pancakes: An Easy And Tasty Irish Potato Side Dish Recipe! (2024)

by Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com · Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe

Boxty Irish pancakes are a delicious and traditional staple of Irish cuisine full of hearty texture and rich flavors. These savory pancakes are made with grated raw potatoes and mashed potatoes, flour, baking soda, and buttermilk, resulting in a delightfully crispy exterior and a fluffy center.

Serve them alongside some scrambled eggs and crispy bacon or breakfast sausage. Enjoy!

Boxty Irish Pancakes: An Easy And Tasty Irish Potato Side Dish Recipe! (1)
Jump to:
  • 🌎 Origin
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪 How To Make Boxty Irish Pancakes
  • ❓ FAQ
  • 😋 More Delicious Irish Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Reviews

Boxty Irish pancakes are an incredibly easy and versatile potato dish that can be served in many different ways!

These pancakes are the perfect way to transform your leftover mashed potatoes.

They can be served plain or with a variety of toppings such as bacon, sausage, and eggs for a satisfying Irish breakfast, or even as a side dish for lunch or dinner!

🌎 Origin

Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake that is commonly associated with the northwestern region of Ireland, particularly in counties Cavan, Leitrim, and Longford.

The name "boxty" comes from the Irish phrase "arán bocht tí", which means "poor-house bread".

The origins of boxty can be traced back to the 18th century when potatoes became a staple crop in Ireland.

Boxty was a way for farmers to use their surplus potatoes to create a filling and nutritious dish that could be stored for several days. It was especially popular during the winter months when fresh food was scarce.

🥘 Ingredients

All you need is some raw Russet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and a handful of simple ingredients to make this easy potato dish that is full of delicious flavor.

Some boxty recipes will omit the egg and use the starch of the potato water, but I highly recommend using the egg to help bind the ingredients together.

  • Russet Potatoes - 2cups ofRusset potatoes(peeled and grated).
  • Mashed Potatoes - 2cups ofmashed potatoes(Russet potatoes or any other starchy variety).
  • All-Purpose Flour - 1cup ofall-purpose flour.
  • Baking Soda - 1teaspoon ofbaking soda.
  • Salt - ½teaspoon ofsalt(to taste).
  • Buttermilk - ½cup ofbuttermilk(or whole milk).
  • Egg - 1largeegg(beaten at room temperature).
  • Butter - 1 tablespoon of butter(or olive oil for frying).

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

Boxty Irish Pancakes: An Easy And Tasty Irish Potato Side Dish Recipe! (2)

🔪 How To Make Boxty Irish Pancakes

Don't be intimated if you've never made potato pancakes before because this recipe is completely beginner-friendly.

To begin, take out a cast iron skillet, measuring utensils, a few mixing bowls, and a silicone spatula set.

This recipe will make around 8 servings! You can always scale up if you need to, just make sure to not overcrowd your pan when you go to fry the pancakes.

  1. Prep. Start by peeling and grating the 2 cups of raw potatoes. Place the grated potatoes in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze the excess moisture.
  2. Mix. In a separate bowl, mix the 2 cups of mashed cooked potatoes, 1 cup of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Add in the grated potatoes and mix well.
  3. Whisk. Whisk the ½ cup buttermilk and 1 large beaten egg in another bowl.
  4. Stir. Add the milk and egg mixture to the potato mixture and stir until well combined.
  5. Heat. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and melt a tablespoon of butter or oil.
  6. Fry boxty. Scoop a ¼ cup of the potato mixture onto the frying pan and flatten it to about ¼ inch thickness. Cook the boxty for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy.
  7. Repeat. Repeat until all of the potato mixture has been used, adding more butter or oil to the pan as needed.
  8. Serve. Serve hot with your favorite toppings, such as sour cream, green onions, or cheese.
Boxty Irish Pancakes: An Easy And Tasty Irish Potato Side Dish Recipe! (3)

💭 Tips & Notes

  • Removing Moisture: Thoroughly squeeze out the moisture from the grated potatoes to ensure the boxty stays together and doesn't become too soggy.
  • Choosing the Right Pan: Cook the boxty in a non-stick or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet to avoid sticking.
  • Keeping Boxty Warm: Place cooked boxty in a low-heated oven to keep them warm while preparing the rest.
  • Adjusting Texture: For extra crispiness, consider adding a little more flour to the batter.
  • Customizing Your Boxty: Get creative with toppings and fillings like bacon, sausage, or cheese. You can try different types of toppings like taco or pancake toppings.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Reheating

Reheat your leftovers on a baking sheet for 10-15 minutes in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C). Alternatively, you can reheat them on the stovetop over medium heat in some cooking oil (or butter) for 3-5 minutes on each side or until heated through and crispy.

>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<

❓ FAQ

Can I Make These Irish Pancakes In Advance?

Absolutely! You can make them a few days in advance if you store them in an airtight container in the fridge. All you need to do is reheat them in some butter (or cooking oil) for a few minutes on each side before you are ready to serve!

Can These Be Frozen?

Yes! Once the pancakes completely cool off, you can store them in a heavy-duty plastic storage bag for up to 3 months. Let them thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat the pancakes on a frying pan with some butter or in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.

Can I Make Boxty Irish Pancakes Without An Egg?

Technically, yes. Some boxty recipes will leave the egg out; however, I highly recommend including it. Adding an egg to the batter is primarily to help bind the ingredients together and create a slightly fluffier and more cohesive pancake. The protein in the egg helps to hold the mixture together while also adding a bit of richness and flavor to the finished pancakes! For more information, check out my article on why you should add an egg to mashed potatoes!

Boxty Irish Pancakes: An Easy And Tasty Irish Potato Side Dish Recipe! (4)

😋 More Delicious Irish Recipes

  • Irish Soda Bread - This delicious and easy traditional Irish soda bread recipe only requires 4 ingredients to make!
  • Irish Lamb Stew - This tasty stew full of tender lamb meat and vegetables is perfect to serve for St. Patrick's Day dinner!
  • Irish Nachos - Everything you love about nachos is made on top of layered potato slices!
  • Irish Potato Candy - These fun and unique candies look like potatoes but are full of creamy coconut and cinnamon flavor!
  • Dublin Coddle - Dublin coddle is a comforting stew that is loaded with sausage, bacon, and potatoes!
  • Irish Apple Cake - Enjoy this easy and flavorful cake in the morning with a cup of coffee or after dinner with a tasty vanilla custard sauce!

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Stay in touch with me through social media@Pinterest,Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Subscribe to the newsletter today (no spam, I promise)! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

📖 Recipe Card

Boxty Irish Pancakes: An Easy And Tasty Irish Potato Side Dish Recipe! (5)

Print Recipe Leave A Comment

Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!

5 from 6 reviews

Boxty Irish Pancakes

Boxty Irish pancakes are a delicious and traditional staple of Irish cuisine full of hearty texture and rich flavors. These savory pancakes are made with grated raw potatoes and mashed potatoes, flour, baking soda, and buttermilk, resulting in a delightfully crispy exterior and a fluffy center.

Author | Angela

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 158kcal

Prep 15 minutes minutes

Cooking 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 cups russet potatoes (peeled and grated)
  • 2 cups mashed potatoes (Russet potatoes, or any other starchy variety)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt (to taste)
  • ½ cup buttermilk (or whole milk)
  • 1 large egg (beaten, at room temperature)
  • butter (or olive oil for frying)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions

  • Start by peeling and grating the raw potatoes. Place the grated potatoes in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out the excess moisture.

  • In a separate bowl, mix the mashed cooked potatoes, flour, baking soda, and salt. Add in the grated potatoes and mix well.

  • In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and beaten egg.

  • Add the milk and egg mixture to the potato mixture and stir until well combined.

  • Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and melt a tablespoon of butter or oil.

  • Scoop a ¼ cup of the potato mixture onto the frying pan and flatten it to about ¼ inch thickness. Cook the boxty for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy.

  • Repeat until all of the potato mixture has been used, adding more butter or oil to the pan as needed.

  • Serve hot with your favorite toppings, such as sour cream, green onions, or cheese.

Notes

  • Use starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon gold, which have a high starch content and low moisture content, making them ideal for mashing and grating.
  • Grate the raw potatoes finely and use a clean cloth or cheesecloth to squeeze out as much water as possible.
  • You can use different ingredients like herbs, spices, cheese, green onions, or chives as optional add-ins if you'd like!
  • Don't overcrowd the pan, cook the boxty in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan, as this can cause the boxty to stick together and become mushy.
  • To store: If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • To reheat: Reheat your leftover boxty Irish potatoes on a baking sheet for 10-15 minutes in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C). Alternatively, you can reheat them on the stove top over medium heat in some cooking oil for 3-5 minutes on each side, or until heated through and crispy.

Nutrition

Calories: 158kcal (8%) | Carbohydrates: 32g (11%) | Protein: 5g (10%) | Fat: 1g (2%) | Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 25mg (8%) | Sodium: 325mg (14%) | Potassium: 367mg (10%) | Fiber: 2g (8%) | Sugar: 2g (2%) | Vitamin A: 61IU (1%) | Vitamin C: 14mg (17%) | Calcium: 32mg (3%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)

Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!

best boxty Irish potatoes, Boxty Irish Potatoes, boxty Irish potatoes ingredients, Breakfast Ideas, breakfast potatoes, potato recipes

Course Breakfast, Potato Dishes, Side Dish

Cuisine Irish

Boxty Irish Pancakes: An Easy And Tasty Irish Potato Side Dish Recipe! (6)

Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

bakeitwithlove.com/about/

More Side Dishes

  • What To Serve With Pot Roast
  • Easy Cookout Food Ideas: Best Dishes To Bring To A Cookout
  • Best Add-Ins To Upgrade Macaroni And Cheese
  • What To Serve With Chicken Wings

Reader Interactions

Comments

No Comments

Thanks for coming! Let me know what you think:

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Boxty Irish Pancakes: An Easy And Tasty Irish Potato Side Dish Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

What does boxty mean in Irish? ›

'Boxty' originates in the 1700s and may get its name from the Irish 'arán bocht tí', meaning 'poor house bread', due to its humble ingredients, making it a staple in Irish households where potatoes were relied upon to survive. It is a simple potato pancake using mashed and/or grated potatoes.

How to eat Irish boxty? ›

Serve your Boxty with:
  1. Poached Eggs and Crispy Bacon.
  2. Poached Smoked Haddock and parsley sauce.
  3. Smoked Salmon and Sour Cream.
  4. Smoked Bacon and Melted Cheese.

What is the difference between boxty and potato? ›

'What makes boxty different to other potato breads is you grate the raw potato and extract the moisture out of it and add that back into it with some mash…if it's all mash, it's not boxty, definitely not. ' Pádraic Óg explains.

What is a fun fact about boxty? ›

The most noticeable difference between boxty and other fried potato dishes is its smooth, fine-grained consistency. An old Irish rhyme is: "Boxty on the griddle; boxty on the pan. If you can't make boxty, you'll never get a man!" As the interest in Irish cuisine has increased, so the popularity of boxty has risen.

What is potato slang for in Irish? ›

Spuds. We can't talk about Irish slang without mentioning potatoes! “Spuds” is another word for potatoes.

What is the national dish in Ireland? ›

Irish Stew is a thick, hearty dish of mutton, potatoes, and onions and undisputedly the national dish of Ireland.

How do you pronounce boxty in English? ›

How is the noun boxty pronounced?
  1. British English. /ˈbɒksti/ BOCK-stee.
  2. U.S. English. /ˈbɑksti/ BAHK-stee.
  3. Irish English. /ˈbɑksti/

Can you eat the skin of Irish potatoes? ›

Did you know that the skin of the Irish potato is nutritious? It is true; the potato skins you peel off contain nutrients below it and are useful in preserving nutrients that would otherwise be stripped when potatoes are cooked. Potato peels protect the nutrients contained in potatoes from escaping.

What's the difference between a boxty and a farl? ›

Irish potato cakes: Irish potato cakes are typically made from mashed potato, and flour or baking soda, and are usually fried. It differs from boxty as boxty is made of raw potatoes whereas potato cake is made from cooked potatoes.

What is the best Irish potato? ›

Traditionally Irish people like a “floury” potato with medium-high dry matter. Most of our popular varieties are above 20% dry matter. These other varieties are mainly white skinned potatoes, the most popular being Maritiema, Cultra, Navan, Nectar and Electra.

What are potatoes called in Ireland? ›

The Irish language is very descriptive the common word for potato in Irish is práta (pl. prátaí), hence the origin of Praties for Potatoes, There are literally 50 Irish words and descriptive phrases relating to the potato.

What did the Irish eat instead of potatoes? ›

Until the arrival of the potato in the 16th century, grains such as oats, wheat and barley, cooked either as porridge or bread, formed the staple of the Irish diet. The most common form of bread consisted of flatbread made from ground oats.

What do you eat with boxty? ›

For breakfast, pair your boxty with bacon and poached eggs, or bacon and melted cheese, or with butter, smoked salmon and crème fresh (via The Telegraph). For lunch, maybe try eating it with some sausage, or topped with chili, or Irish beef and Guinness stew, or hearty chicken noodle soup (via Delishably).

Why is it called boxty? ›

Some say that the name boxty derives from the Irish language name of arán bocht tí, with the literal meaning of poor house bread. Others say it comes from the word bacstaí – to bake. Its origin dates back to before the famine times.

How did the Irish eat so many potatoes? ›

The Irish often used the good land to grow things like wheat and corn that they would sell to pay their rent. This left the farmers with a small piece of land to grow their own food. Potatoes took up very little space and were very nutritious. One acre of potatoes could feed a family of four for a year.

What is a boxty at Irish 31? ›

Originating in the north midlands of Ireland, the Boxty was once nothing more than a traditional Irish potato cake. Until, that is, Irish 31 came up with three versions of this 'peasant dish' that will make you wonder where these little potato balls have been all of your life!

How do you say mashed potatoes in Irish? ›

English–Irish Dictionary (de Bhaldraithe): Potato-mash. Potato-mash, brúitín m (prátaí). Mashed potatoes, brúitín m. Mashed potatoes, brúitín m, prátaí brúite.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Aracelis Kilback

Last Updated:

Views: 6828

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aracelis Kilback

Birthday: 1994-11-22

Address: Apt. 895 30151 Green Plain, Lake Mariela, RI 98141

Phone: +5992291857476

Job: Legal Officer

Hobby: LARPing, role-playing games, Slacklining, Reading, Inline skating, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Dance

Introduction: My name is Aracelis Kilback, I am a nice, gentle, agreeable, joyous, attractive, combative, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.