Boxty on the griddle is a traditional Irish breakfast item that has stood the test of time.  There is an old Irish nursery rhyme that goes, “Boxty on the griddle, boxty on the pan.  If you can’t make boxty, you’ll never get a man.”  I like to think of it as the Irish’s version of “Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake baker’s man, bake me a cake as fast as you can.”  If there is any truth to that old saying, it must be quite a tasty dish if most Irish men want to have it for breakfast.

You might be wondering what boxty is.  Basically, it is a potato pancake that is made from both mashed potatoes and grated potatoes. 🥔 All right, but why is it so popular?  Boxty is made from ingredients that most Irish people would have in their pantry or fridge.  Things like buttermilk, flour, milk, sugar, salt and baking soda.  It is economical to make, and is filling.  But the best part is the taste.  Busy Baker 🍞and I like think it tastes similar to the filling of perogies.  If you like hash browns or traditional pancakes, you’ll be a fan of boxty.

You can make the pancakes small or large, thick or thin.  If your planning on having it for breakfast, serve it along side eggs and bacon and sliced tomatoes.  Thinking more of a supper menu?  Thin the batter, fold it half, and fill it with chopped meat and pour a savory sauce over top.

Hungry for more?  Check out these fantastic Irish recipes that will make your St. Patrick’s celebration a big hit!

Smoky Cheese, Ham, and Potato Soup: a life-changing soup with an amazing smoky flavor.

Traditional Irish Colcannon: a delicious take on mashed potatoes.

Irish Boxty Bread: a easy, no-yeast potato bread.

Boxty on the Griddle

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• Author: Brooke
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 1 six-inch pancake 1x

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Description

Boxty on the Griddle is a traditional  Irish potato pancake that is fried in butter in a skillet.  Serve this gluten free dish for St. Patrick’s Day with savory toppings like green onions, crème fraîche, mushrooms, and smoked salmon.  This easy recipe is commonly served at breakfast with bacon and eggs and is part of a full Irish fry up.

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Ingredients

For the Boxty Pancake

• 1 1/2 medium russet potatoes, peeled, grated
• 1 1/2 medium russet potatoes, peeled, and mashed
• 1/4 cup buttermilk (60 ml)
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (30g)
• sprinkle of salt
• pinch of sugar
• 2 pinches baking soda
• 1 tablespoon whole milk
• 2 tablespoons butter (27g)

For the Topping

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon sour cream or crème fraîche
• 1 teaspoon fresh chives, chopped
• sprinkle of black pepper

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Instructions

1. Rinse and peel the three potatoes, then cut one in half.  Using a box grater, grate 1 1/2 potatoes into a bowl.  Put the grated potatoes into a bowl of cold water to prevent them from discoloring.
2. Cut the remaining 1 1/2 potatoes into large cubes.  Boil the potatoes, drain, and mash.  If you already have leftover mashed potatoes, measure out 1/2 cup.
3. Put the grated potatoes in a strainer and press as much water as possible out of them with the back of a large spoon.  To get the rest of the water out the grated potatoes, place it in an old towel and twist it.  Wring the towel to squeeze out the water over the sink or a bowl.
4. Place the grated potato in a bowl.  Add the buttermilk and stir well to combine.  Doing this will also help prevent discoloration.
5. Add the flour, salt, sugar, baking soda, and milk.  Mix well.  Add more milk or buttermilk if necessary to make a thick batter.
6. Melt 1 to 2 tablespoons of butter in a 6 1/2-inch cast iron skillet.
7. Pour in the potato batter, using a spoon to spread it around the skillet so it reaches the edges.
8. Cook on medium high heat for 4 minutes on each side.
9. Serve immediately with butter, sour cream or crème fraîche, chives, and black pepper.

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Notes

• Boxty can also be made into small thick pancakes.  It is traditionally served with eggs and bacon.  It is also served in some areas of Ireland as an alternative to brown soda bread, which is part of the Ulster fry up (a full Irish breakfast).
• To make this for dinner, thin the potato batter with additional milk or buttermilk, and make it into 1/4 inch crepes that are filled with cubed meat and gravy.
• There are many variations of boxty on the griddle.  Be creative.  One could be adding grated apple and cheddar cheese to the batter.
• If you are making lots of boxty pancakes, keep the cooked ones warm in a low oven while you fry up the rest of the batter.