Irish Boxty Potato Pancakes (Printable)

Crispy outside, tender inside boxty pancakes with scallions offer a savory, fresh twist for breakfast or side dishes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Potatoes

01 - 1 lb starchy potatoes, peeled (about 3 medium)
02 - ½ lb waxy potatoes, peeled (about 2 medium)

→ Dairy

03 - ½ cup whole milk
04 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
05 - 1 large egg

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

06 - 4 scallions, finely sliced

→ Dry Ingredients

07 - ½ cup all-purpose flour
08 - 1 tsp baking powder
09 - ¾ tsp salt
10 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper

→ For Frying

11 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter or vegetable oil

# How to Make It:

01 - Grate the starchy potatoes on a box grater. Place in a clean towel and squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
02 - Boil the waxy potatoes in salted water until tender, about 10–12 minutes. Drain and mash until smooth.
03 - In a large bowl, combine the grated raw potatoes, mashed potatoes, milk, melted butter, and egg. Mix until well combined.
04 - Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to form a thick batter.
05 - Fold in the sliced scallions until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
06 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add a tablespoon of butter or oil.
07 - Drop ¼-cup portions of batter into the pan, flattening each to about ½ inch thick.
08 - Cook for 3–4 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy. Repeat with remaining batter, adding more butter or oil as needed.
09 - Serve hot, garnished with extra scallions if desired.

# Expert Hacks:

01 -
  • The dual potato technique creates the most incredible texture contrast you will ever experience in a pancake
  • These come together faster than you think and disappear even faster from the plate
  • Scallions add a fresh pop that cuts through the richness perfectly
02 -
  • Squeezing every last drop of moisture from the raw potatoes is absolutely critical, skip this and they will be soggy instead of crispy
  • Let the batter rest for 10 minutes before cooking, this hydrates the flour and prevents the pancakes from absorbing too much fat
03 -
  • Clean your box grater immediately after use, raw potato residue becomes surprisingly stubborn once it dries
  • If the batter seems too thick, add milk one tablespoon at a time until it reaches a thick but scoopable consistency