Samantha’s recipe corner

Every issue, picture editor Samantha Nott brings you a recipe from the past. This month it’s a delightfully simple potato pancake hailing from Ireland

A cross between a rosti, a pancake and a hash brown, a boxty is a griddled or fried cake made from potatoes – a staple crop in Ireland since the 18th century. Boxty’s name is thought to originate from arán bocht tí, the Irish for ‘poor house bread’.

Because they are so simple, boxties come in many different shapes and sizes and can be served in all sorts of ways.

They make a perfect hearty side for sausages, or can be made into a tortilla-style wrap and stuffed with fillings. Dip them in apple sauce or drizzle them with maple syrup and load with bacon for a delicious and filling breakfast.

INGREDIENTS

250g raw potatoes, peeled and grated 250g cold mashed potato 200g plain flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tbsp melted butter Salt and pepper 100ml milk 1 tbsp olive oil

METHOD

Squeeze the raw grated potato in a tea towel to get rid of any excess starch or water.

In a bowl, mix together the grated and mashed potatoes.

Add the flour and melted butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Heat the oil in a griddle or non-stick frying pan.

Add the egg and enough milk to make thick batter that will drop from a spoon. Scoop spoonfuls of the boxty batter on to the hot griddle pan one by one. Cook for four minutes on each side or until cooked through and golden brown.

Remove from the pan and leave to drain on kitchen paper before serving warm.

VERDICT

“Buttery, rich and incredibly versatile”

Difficulty: 2/10 Time: 1.5 hours total

Recipe sourced from recipes.wikia.com