Ides of March Refrigerator Challenge – Maine Potato Boxty
Sure, these are a traditional Irish food and you can wait until St. Patrick Day and wash these fluffy potato pancakes down with a Guinness.
But , honestly, most Mainers have Maine potatoes in their refrigerators right now along with green spring onions …or at least an old onion with greens on top. Splurge on some buttermilk and you basically have it made.
Boxty are traditional potato pancakes, a dish most closely associated with the Northern Midlands of Ireland and my recipe of preference contain potatoes both grated raw and boiled/mashed. I season mine with fresh cracked pepper and sea salt. That’s it. Otherwise its potato , flour eggs and buttermilk mixed with the mashed and grated potato to form a patty then fried in oil. Crispy on the outside and fluffy interior, that’s what you’re after. Makes a wonderful side dish, or make them thin and use them like a wrap. My favorite may be to create tiny, bite sized ones and top with sour cream or creme fraiche and caviar or smoked salmon like a blini appetizer! Nice with a glass of Cremant!
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups AP flour
- 1tsp. Baking powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 cup mashed Maine potato
- 1 1/2 cups grated raw potato
- 1 cup buttermilk
- Butter or oil to fry ( I prefer avocado oil)
METHOD
Sift all dry ingredients in one bowl.
In another, mix mashed and grated potato.
Add the dry ingredients.
Gently add the buttermilk, taking care not to over stir, which toughens the mixture.
You’ll want a stiff batter, almost a dough. Add more buttermilk if the mixture seems too stiff.
Using a cast iron griddle , pre-heat the pan. The pan should be hot but not smoking Add some oil, then a dollop of batter, flattening slightly.
Cook until golden brown using a moderate heat (needed to cook the dough through without burning), then flip only once.
Transfer to a warm plate and keep warm ,covered in the oven ,until all dough has been fried.
These delicious pancakes can be just as welcome at breakfast or as a side dish for dinner!
Because they are so quick to make, I sometimes enjoy them as a fast lunch with a green salad.
SERVES 4 TO 6
