Traditional Irish boxty are the holy grail of pancakes for potato lovers! Combining mashed and raw potato with buttermilk makes a dreamy, yet simple meal. Also called Irish potato cakes, they are often made for St. Patrick’s Day here in the US.
If you’ve never tasted an Irish boxty, you are in for a treat.
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This boxty recipe is simple and truly delicious. They really are the best ever potato pancakes, in my humble opinion!
When I visited Dublin a few years ago, I saw these on pub and restaurant menus, and couldn’t believe how expensive they were. Especially given the fact that this is one of the least expensive (but tastiest) meals you can make at home. I bet there will be no complaints from anyone, even the pickiest of your family members!
What are Irish Boxty?
An Irish boxty is a potato pancake made from mashed potatoes and grated raw potato. It’s like Irish potato bread and a hash brown/latke type pancake had a baby; what’s not to love?
Serve these Irish potato pancakes in the morning with eggs and bacon for a lovely breakfast or brunch, or add a salad for lunch. The contemporary way of serving them includes using them as one would a tortilla or flatbread. Just fill the Irish boxty and serve them like a “wrap” type entree.
My favorite way to eat them is as part of a British breakfast. However, I’ve also made miniature Irish boxty and served them as a luxurious appetizer! They’re so versatile.
Furthermore, you can add this Irish boxty recipe to your list of Irish foods to make when St. Patrick’s day arrives!
How to Make Irish Boxty
A combination or raw and cooked potato is what sets boxty apart from other types of potato pancakes or scones. Once the batter is mixed, they are cooked on a pan or griddle as normal pancakes. Just follow the step by step directions below for perfect results. This boxty recipe will give you the results you want.
Need a St. Patrick’s Day dessert idea? How about this Irish Whiskey Cake?
How to Serve Traditional Irish Boxty
Boxty are very versatile and can be served so many different savory ways. In the US, think of how biscuits and rolls are served alongside chicken and beef dishes. Here’s a great way to understand how boxty can be served. This is the boxty menu for the Boxty House restaurant in Dublin. Beware, it may make you very hungry, though!
My favorite way to serve Irish boxty is with traditional Irish breakfast fare: eggs, bacon, and if you have it, black and white pudding, etc. Don’t forget a piping hot cup of tea, too!
There’s also an old Irish saying, and correct me if I don’t have it exactly right…
“Boxty on the griddle, boxty in the pan, if you can’t make boxty, you’ll never get your man!”
Irish Bangers and Mash are another great idea for an Irish main course!
Now let’s get to the traditional Irish boxty recipe.
Irish Boxty Recipe (Irish Potato Cakes)
recipe adapted from Faith Magazine makes about 12
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
In a small bowl, place the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
Using a large mixing bowl, combine the mashed potatoes with the grated raw potato, then add the flour and mix well.
Next, slowly add the buttermilk and stir gently with a wooden spoon (do not over mix).
The mixture should be like a very firm, thick batter; almost like a dough, so add more buttermilk if needed (I just used 1 cup or 8 oz).
Heat a nonstick frying pan or cast iron pan over medium-high heat, and add a pat of butter, just before scooping out some of the boxy batter onto the pan. You are now cooking Irish potato cakes!
Flatten and shape into a nice, round pancake shape and fry until golden brown on the bottom.
Turn the boxty and continue to cook until golden brown on top, too. Turn the heat down if they are browning too quickly (remember there are raw potatoes which need to cook).
Continue to add a little butter and fry the boxty until all the batter is finished.
Serve the traditional Irish boxty hot, as desired, with or without toppings. I love them with HP Sauce!
Best Irish Boxty Recipe
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Traditional Irish Boxty: the Best Ever Potato Pancakes, with a Twist (Irish Potato Pancakes)
A wonderful and hearty Irish potato pancake recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 cups (9 oz) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp Kosher or sea salt
- 1 cup (8 oz) mashed potatoes, boiled in salted water (I prefer Idaho© potatoes)
- 1 1/2 cups (8 oz) grated, raw potato
- 1 cup buttermilk (or more if needed)
- butter for the griddle
Instructions
- In a small bowl, place the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the mashed potatoes with the grated raw potato, then add the flour and mix well.
- Slowly add the buttermilk and stir gently (do not over mix).
- The mixture should be like a very firm, thick batter; almost like a dough, so add more buttermilk if needed (I just used 1 cup/8 oz).
- Heat a griddle or nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat, and add a pat of butter, just before scooping out some of the boxty batter onto the pan.
- Flatten and shape into a nice, round pancake shape and fry until golden brown on the bottom.
- Turn and continue to cook until golden brown on top too, turning the heat down if they are browning too quickly (remember there are raw potatoes which need to cook).
- Continue to add a little butter and fry the boxty until all the batter is finished. Serve hot.
Notes
It's important not to over mix the batter for best results.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 2Amount Per Serving:Calories: 253Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 570mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 7g
All nutrition info is estimated.
Some other Irish recipes~
Traditional Irish Beef and Guinness Stew
Guinness Stout Dark Chocolate Pudding Cakes with Salted Caramel Sauce
Enjoy this traditional Irish boxty recipe?
Try this Irish Rarebit Recipe!
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[…] Check out this recipe Traditional Irish boxty are the holy grail of pancakes for potato lovers. Combining mashed and raw potato with buttermilk makes a dreamy, yet simple meal. […]
[…] If you’ve never had Irish boxty, you’re missing out! One of the best potato pancakes you’ll ever taste, they are made with both raw and cooked potato. They are served in Ireland for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and are a popular menu item in restaurants and pubs! Check it here. […]
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Your Irish Boxty looks so delicious! What a perfect addition to our traditional Irish Meal tomorrow.
[…] come as a shock to absolutely no one, but Irish cuisine is chock full of potato recipes. You have boxty which is essentially potato pancakes, farl which is a type of potato bread, and of course regular […]
[…] The Irish Boxty recipe combines both mashed and raw potato with buttermilk. These are a great choice for a fun St. Patrick’s Day breakfast. This recipe is from Christina’s Cucina. […]
I’m very impressed – I came to your site in order to learn how to make authentic tomato sauce and I see you also have a recipe for bacstaí!
I grew up eating bacstaí and still make it every once in a while. The recipe my mother passed down to me is very good, and quite different from the one here, but is honestly too much work to make all the time. You have to start a day in advanced to let boiled potato cubes dry, then you smash them on your counter with the bottom of a mug. The recipes then calls for “a handful” of flour, “some” baking powder, and “enough” salt so it can be pretty hard to teach people the recipe if they haven’t seen it made :) then it’s baked in the oven.
I’m going to give your recipe a try in addition to the other ones one St Patrick’s day for some variety. Your recipe here reminds me of some Eastern European potato pancakes I have had before which are delicious also.
Wish me luck on the pasta sauce, it will be my first time making it and I’m even going to do a homemade pasta for the first time :)
You won’t need luck on the pasta sauce, Ryan! As long as you use the right ingredients and follow the directions, it’s a breeze! Let me know how you like it and the other recipes you try! :)
[…] The Boxty is a popular potato pancake that is mainly made with mashed potatoes, grated raw potatoes, buttermilk, eggs, and flour. […]