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Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake made by combining raw grated potato and mashed potato into a pancake batter. Boxty is a thick, hearty potato pancake.

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

There is a traditional Irish rhyme all about boxty, foretelling the matchmaking potential of Irish girls who either did or didn’t know how to make boxty. Here’s how it goes…

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 Rhym e)

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 Irish Boxty:

Here you’ll find a quick list of what you’ll need for this recipe. Check out the printable recipe at the bottom of this post for US and Metric equivalent versions of the recipe. There you can choose the measurement system that works best for you.

mashed potatoes

grated raw potato

all-purpose flour

baking soda

salt

buttermilk

butter

Floury Irish style mashed potatoes are best for this recipe.

Directions for Irish Boxty:

Here you’ll find step-by-step photographic instructions to help you recreate this recipe successfully. There are plenty of tips included along the way.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 made with grated potato and mashed potato in the batter. 5 from 1 vote Print Pin Prep Time: 25 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 55 minutes Servings: 4 Calories: 442 kcal Author: Irish American Mom Ingredients 1 cup mashed potatoes 2 potatoes cooked and mashed

1½ cups grated raw potato 2 medium potatoes

1½ cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

⅛ teaspoon salt

1½ cups buttermilk may require less depending on moisture in potatoes

2 ounces butter Instructions 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Alternatively cook one 12 inch round pancake, or 8 to 10 small pancakes about 3 inches in diameter.

Serve hot with melted butter and a side of bacon or sausage if desired. Nutrition Facts Boxty Amount Per Serving (200 g) Calories 442 Calories from Fat 135 % Daily Value* Fat 15g 23% Saturated Fat 9g 56% Cholesterol 40mg 13% Sodium 426mg 19% Potassium 668mg 19% Carbohydrates 66g 22% Fiber 4g 17% Sugar 6g 7% Protein 11g 22% Vitamin A 503IU 10% Vitamin C 28mg 34% Calcium 127mg 13% Iron 3mg 17% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Nutrition Information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used. Tried this recipe? Mention @IrishAmericanMomBlog or tag #irishamericanmom

Now, I also make a thinner boxty pancake for stuffing with savory fillings. Here’s my recipe for creamy chicken and mushroom stuffed boxty.

Hope you enjoy these traditional Irish pancakes.

Thanks for following my recipes and ramblings.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Irish American Mom

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