Description
Traditional Irish Potato Boxty is a comforting and hearty potato pancake made with a mixture of grated and mashed potatoes combined with flour, milk, and egg, then pan-fried to golden perfection. This recipe delivers crispy edges with a soft, tender middle, seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and fresh chives, perfect for a classic Irish breakfast or a savory side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes and Dairy
- 2 pounds Russet potatoes (peeled, may substitute Yukon Gold, about 4 large)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup half and half
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 egg (large)
Dry Ingredients
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
Seasonings and Others
- 2 Tbsp chives (finely chopped)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Canola oil, for cooking
Instructions
- Prepare Potatoes: Peel the potatoes and grate them finely. Place the grated potatoes in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much moisture as possible to prevent soggy boxty.
- Make Potato Batter: In a large bowl, combine the grated potatoes with the sour cream, chives, whole milk, half and half, egg, flour, and baking powder. Season generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly to create a batter with a consistency thick enough to hold together but still scoopable.
- Heat Cooking Fat: In a large skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat and add a small amount of canola oil to prevent the butter from burning.
- Cook Boxty: Spoon about 1/4 cup of the potato batter into the skillet for each boxty, flattening slightly with the back of the spoon to create round pancakes. Cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Drain and Serve: Remove cooked boxty from the skillet and drain on paper towels briefly to remove excess oil. Serve hot, garnished with additional chives or sour cream if desired.
Notes
- Using a combination of grated and mashed potatoes is traditional; this recipe uses only grated for ease but can be adapted.
- Be sure to squeeze out excess moisture from the potatoes to avoid watery batter, which can cause boxty to fall apart.
- Cooking on medium heat ensures the boxty cooks through without burning.
- Canola oil helps increase the smoke point and prevents butter from burning during cooking.
- Boxty can be enjoyed as a breakfast item or as a side dish with meats and stews.
