A boxty is a griddle or pan cake make out of potato, flour and milk. They can be made more cake like and served as pancakes or they can be more crepe like and folded around a filling which can be sweet or savory. A very versatile thing, a boxty is. Since today is Shrove Tuesday and St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, I thought a chicken and mushroom stuffed boxty would be fun to serve up for lunch.
My first encounter with a boxty was in an Irish pub in Annapolis, Maryland. Their version was more pancake like and filled with a mix of pepper, onions, mushrooms and a sharp cheddar cheese. I’ve since had them stuffed with steak and another version with seafood.
The recipe I used as inspiration today comes from Taste of Home. It has a chicken and mushroom filling flavored with bacon, onion and thyme. An easy pan gravy pulls it all together.
I struggled with the recipe from Taste of Home as written, although I’ve seen others with similar proportions. After making adjustments, our second batch yielded pancake like boxties. You could add another tablespoon or two of milk or water to the batter if you’d prefer a thinner boxty. The finished boxty should be crispy on the outside and tender, rather than pasty, inside.
The recipe calls for both fresh, grated potato and mashed potatoes. You can use leftover mashed potatoes or make them by cooking two medium potatoes and mashing. In all, you’ll need 3 medium potatoes.
If you have a griddle or two skillets use them so you can make several boxties as once. Otherwise, you can hold the finished boxties in a warm oven until ready to fill and serve.
There’s no set amounts for the filling ingredients, feel free to add a little more of this, a little less of that to accommodate what you have on hand. I made the filling first and covered it with a lid while preparing the boxties. It’s easy enough to heat it back up if necessary.
Ingredients
For the boxties
- 1 medium potato peeled, grated and rinsed
- 1 cup mashed potatoes (from 2 medium potatoes)
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup flour
- salt and pepper to taste
For the filling
- 2 strips bacon diced
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms (I bought a pack)
- 1/2 medium onion peeled and sliced thinly
- 1 carrot peeled and sliced thinly
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups cooked chicken cut into cubes
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- olive oil
- chopped parsley for garnish
- 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese for garnish
Instructions
Make the filling first
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet until almost crisp. Remove to a paper towel lined plate.
- Saute the onions and carrots in the drippings, adding a little more oil if needed. When the onions and carrots have softened, add the mushrooms. Stir will to coat them in the oil.
- When the vegetables are cooked to your likings, sprinkle flour over everything. Stir to coat. Continue to cook for a few minutes to cook off the flour, then add a half cup of milk. Return the bacon to the skillet and season with thyme, salt and pepper.
- Add the chicken and the rest of the milk. Turn the heat to low and allow the sauce to thicken while the chicken heats through. Cover with a lid and remove from the heat.
- At this point the filling can be stored in the fridge if working ahead. Reheat before filling the boxties.
Make the boxties
- Make sure the grated potato has been rinsed and drained well.
- Measure the flour, mashed potatoes, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Stir in the grated potato and mix well. Stir in the milk. The batter should be about the consistency of pancake batter.
- Heat a small amount of oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Use a ladle to pour some batter into the skillet (mine holds 1/2 cup). Work quickly and use the bottom of the ladle to spread the batter out. Lower the heat if necessary to prevent the boxty from cooking too quickly.
- When the top had started to dry and the edges have color, flip the boxty and cook the other side.
- Remove the boxty to a paper towel lined plate to hold while cooking the rest.
- To fill: arrange the boxty on a plate, place a large spoonful of filling on one side and top with cheese and parsley as desired. Fold the other side over top.
This recipe made 6 plate sized boxties and was plenty for lunch or a light dinner.
My son referred to the chicken and mushroom stuffed boxty as an Irish quesadilla, and there’s a lot of similarity. Alter the seasonings slightly and any of your favorite fajita fillings would work with a boxty. What would be your favorite?
My husband and I recently ate at an Irish pub in Jacksonville, Florida. We tried the boxties and fell in love with them. Since it’s St. Patrick’s Day I thought I’d try my hand at making them. Thanks for the post.
Please let me know how they turn out 🙂 Every batch seems to be a little different.
Looks and tastes lovely! Thanjs a million
Glad you like it, Alan 🙂
Thank you for joining the Cunning Ladies’ Friday Party # 1. Love that recipe.
I’ve never had boxty before but I’m going to give it a go, Lydia. Your beautiful dish has inspired me! That looks so delicious!
Hi! I am hosting my first ever Cunning Ladies’ Friday Party in my blog. I would love for you to join us and add this beautiful post there. Love your pictures! http://easytocookmeals.com/cunning-ladies-friday-party/
Thanks for the invitation 🙂 I’m on my way!
This looks delish! I’ve been trying to think of other things to do with my ground meat (a variety of chicken, beef or turkey) and I’m tired of meatballs and spaghetti. I think this will be on the menu tonight. Thanks for linking up to Countdown in Style.
I wouldn’t have thought of using ground meat. Thanks, April!
Can I not use it? I don’t have any chicken right now.
I don’t see why not! Let me know how it turns out 🙂
Thanks for linking this to What’d You Do This Weekend. I’d never heard the term “boxty” before, but it sounds like a hearty crepe to me. I’d love it.
Have a great week,
Linda
A hearty crepe is a good way to describe it. 🙂
I love the stuffed boxty! it looks so tasty. Great photos.
I’ve never seen them filled before, but it sounds fantastic.
I had them in a pub and looked for a similar recipe. I like the filling over rice or broad noodles, too.
Yummy! Thanks for sharing at Whatever Wednesday on Thank You Honey! Hope you have a fabulous week!
This looks fantastic Lydia, what a great dinner idea, so different and delicious! I think I will have to try these boxty’s!
I have never heard of or tried a Boxty before. It sounds delicious and I can’t wait to give it a try. Seen on Much Ado About Monday.
I hope you give it try and enjoy it. Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to comment 🙂
YUM! I’ve got this one pinned and am going to give it a try this week.
I hope your family enjoys it.
This looks so yummy! I can only imagine a yummy potato crepe right now with meat! Honestly, this is making me crave a crepe with chocolate spread inside! Yum! Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe with us at Countdown in Style. Don’t forget to stop by Friday to see if you are featured! xo
mmmm Nutella!
I am never heard of a boxty before, but they certainly look delicious and would definitely be a hit around my house. Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines
Thanks for sharing on Four Seasons Blog Hop
I’ve never heard of boxty! I do love chicken and mushrooms though!! Thanks for linking up to SNF 🙂
A little more sauce and the filling would be great over rice, too. Thanks for dropping by, Chelsea 🙂
This has me drooling. I love anything that’s crepe like. I would love for you to share at Bacon Time linky, if you have not already.
We are on the same wavelenght. I am so excited that you brought the other version of boxty to Foodie Friday.
I’m always surprised at the variations in the simplest of dishes 🙂 Thanks for coming by and taking the time to comment.
Never tried boxty but it looks promising!
Coming from All Things Thursday Blog Hop! Come-by my blog and say hi! Thank you!
We liked it. It makes a nice change 🙂 Thanks for dropping by!
Yumm!! It looks so good. Just stopping by from the Jenny Evolution link up! You should check out my cookie fruit cups. So easy and so yummy! -Audra @ keepinupwiththejahns.blogspot.com
Hi Audra, thanks for dropping in. I’ll give your fruit cups a look.
I had not heard of boxty, but sounds delish.
I spotted it on the menu at our favorite pub and eyed it a few times before I tried it. I’d like to try a more crepe like boxty too.
Thank you for linking up at Tasty Tuesdays! Your post has been pinned to my Recipes from Tasty Tuesday board. I can’t wait to see what you link up next week!
Have a terrific weekend!
Cathy
APeekIntoMyParadise.com
#TastyTuesdays
I have never had boxty before. When we out out for Irish food I cook it at home, I tend to lean towards the heavier lamb stews, shepherd’s pie, and fish and chips. I think I’d really like this. I’m pinning for latter.
We almost always get fish and chips or something with corned beef when we’re in a pub. I actually looked at the boxty on the menu a few times before giving it a try. I hope you and your family like it, Nicky. Thanks for coming by 🙂
Looks and sounds wonderful! It is a little known dish that deserves more attention, and I can’t wait to try out your recipe.
I hope you like it, let me know how it turns out 🙂
I’ve never had boxty before, but this sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing:)
I hope you give it a try. Thanks for coming by 🙂