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Quick and Easy Irish Boxty Recipe – (Potato Pancakes)

Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake that contains a mixture of mashed and grated potatoes. When cooked it has a unique texture that’s part pancake, part hash brown.

Unlike Corned Beef & Cabbage, Boxty, along with Colcannon, is an authentic dish made in Ireland.

Irish Boxty
A plate of Irish Boxty ready to be served.

In the 1700’s and early 1800’s, potatoes were abundant in Ireland. And making Boxty became a great way to use leftover mashed potatoes. They were traditionally made by combining the left over mashed potatoes and newly grated potatoes mixed with milk and flour.

Although there was the great potato famine that destroyed the potato crops in Ireland, boxty quickly returned when new potato crops were planted.

draining hash browns
To thaw your frozen hash browns, place them in a colander and run cold water over them.

However, since that time other ingredients have been added to the traditional recipe to give them more flavor.

In addition, there is a shortcut to making this traditional Irish dish a little easier. No, not authentic Boxty, but it will work in a pinch.

The Shortcut to Irish Boxty

When I decided that I wanted to make Boxty, I ran into one problem. I didn’t have any leftover mashed potatoes.

boxty ingredients
Once you drain and pat dry your potatoes, add them to a bowl with the other ingredients.

I had made Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes the night before, and unknowing to me, the leftovers were eaten for a late night snack.

So instead, I grabbed a bag of frozen hash browns out of the freezer and decided to make them with what I had on hand.

The first step in making shortcut Boxty is to thaw the frozen hash browns. Because I needed to make them right away, I put the frozen shredded potatoes in a colander and ran cold water over them until they became pliable.

boxty mixture
Mix all of the ingredients together until well incorporated.

Then I made sure that they were drained well and patted dry with a paper towel.

Next, put the thawed potatoes in a large bowl and add in the remaining ingredients. Mix well until everything is incorporated.

Heat a large cast iron skillet with 1/4 inch of vegetable oil. Once hot, drop 1/4 cup of packed Boxty into the oil. Using the bottom of the measuring cup, flatten the center of the potato mixture to make a pancake.

flatten the potatoes
Once you put 1/4 cup of the Boxty ingredients in the pan, use the bottom of the measuring cup to flatten the mixture into a pancake.

Cook until golden brown, approximately 3 minutes per side. Remove them with a slotted spoon and set them on paper towels to drain before serving.

Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner

And don’t think Boxty is just for breakfast. It can also be served as an appetizer or side dish at lunch or dinner!

pancake on paper towel
Remove the Boxty from the oil and place on a paper towel to drain.

They are often served with sour cream and/or applesauce. And if you have any Yum-Yum sauce, you can drizzle that on top as well!

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Yield: 8 pancakes

Shortcut Irish Boxty (Potato Pancakes) Recipe

Irish Boxty

Irish Boxty made easy using frozen shredded hash browns instead. All the flavor, without all the work!

Ingredients

  • 4 cups frozen shredded hash browns
  • 1 ⁄2 cup onion, finely chopped
  • 1 ⁄4 cup fresh parsley, minced
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 ⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • vegetable oil

Instructions

  1. Place hash browns in a strainer and rinse with cold water until thawed. Drain thoroughly; transfer to a large bowl.
  2. Add onion, parsley, milk, eggs, flour, salt and pepper and mix well.
  3. In a skillet over medium heat, heat 1/4 inches of oil. Drop batter by 1/4 cupfuls into hot oil, using the back of the measuring cup to flatten into pancakes. Fry until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Remove with a slotted spatula and drain on paper towels.
  4. Serve immediately and with sour cream or applesauce, as desired.
  5. Recipe provided by Make Your Meals

Notes

Recipe provided by Make Your Mea

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1 grams

Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g
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