This Underrated Irish Potato Dish Is Perfect For St. Patrick's Day (And It's So Easy To Make)

When you think of Irish food on St. Patrick's Day, visions of corned beef, cabbage, soda bread, and  green beer may appear. But there's another comfort food that's the perfect accompaniment while you participate in the rite of passage that is drinking beers on St. Patrick's Day. Meet boxty, a traditional Irish potato pancake dish. Boxty was born from necessity in northwest Ireland, when not much else was around. Potatoes were the backbone of the Irish diet for centuries, and families had no choice but to become masters at cooking them in every imaginable form.

Boxty bears a resemblance to latkes, the potato pancakes symbolically eaten on Hanukkah. But boxty combines both grated raw potato and mashed potato in the same batter. The grated potato brings crispy edges while the mashed potato adds body and fluffiness. Stir in flour, salt, and milk, and you've got a thick batter ready for the pan. As it cooks, the outside turns golden and crisp while the inside stays soft and tender, making for a delightful contrast of textures. As with any olden recipe, they say each family has their own version of boxty. It can be pan-fried, griddled, or even baked in loaf form.

If you're lucky enough to ever visit Dublin, the famous Gallagher's Boxty House has an entire menu dedicated to the dish, served as pancakes, dumplings, bread, or fries. Unlike many traditional holiday dishes, this one is easy. No special equipment or obscure ingredients are needed. If you have potatoes, flour, and a skillet, you're halfway there. The key tips are simple: squeeze excess moisture from the grated potatoes so the batter isn't watery. Don't overcrowd the pan. And give the pancakes time to develop a proper crust before flipping.

Somewhat obviously, boxty is best paired with an Irish beer. Like potatoes, beer is deeply woven into life in Ireland, where the pubs serve as social hubs and community gathering spaces as much as drinking spots. Though, you might be surprised to learn that Ireland isn't the biggest beer-drinking country. That honor is given to the lager-loving people of the Czech Republic. 

Thought boxty is served year-round, it's often eaten on St. Brigid's Day, one of the nation's three patron saints. Brigid herself is closely linked to dairying and cattle in Irish folklore, so the celebratory foods often symbolize abundance and renewal. Because the day marks the beginning of the ancient Celtic spring, dairy in all its forms shows up in the celebratory feasts. And what better way to enjoy Irish butter and milk than to make a few stacks of boxty?