St Patricks Day: foods for feasting Part 1

Every year it seems St Patrick's Day becomes a bigger and bigger global event. And every year it seems more people want to 'do something' to join in the fun. At home in Dublin when I was growing up St Patricks Day meant morning Mass, lovely St Patrick's Day badges, shamrock and a 24 hour dispensation from not-eating-sweets-for -Lent (although I think that was a family invention, we were good at finding loopholes from any restrictions. I don't think everyone else broke their Lenten fast). Foodwise we had something nice but there wasn't a particular 'St Patrick's Day dish' unlike Hallowe'en with its Barm Brac and apple games. It was like an extra 'Sunday' for the Irish, with a parade thrown in.

However, it seems as if more than just Irish now want to join in with the fun and I get asked on a yearly basis for some recipes that can be made to celebrate the day. There are many traditional Irish dishes and so I've planned to post this in time for St Patrick's Day.This potato dish can, of course, be made at any time of the year but it is a very good way to start the day in question. Especially if that day may, at some stage, contain some Irish 'liquid refreshments'. And true to the Irish love of words there's a wee ditty that is connected with it. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you... Boxty.

“Boxty on the griddle,
Boxty in the pan,
If you never eat your Boxty
You’ll never get your man”
Trad. little dittie

Well, don't say you haven't been warned!

Boxty

Serves 4

450 grams Potatoes (approx 3 - 4 medium potatoes)
110 grams Plain flour
1 tsp Baking soda
150 ml Milk
1 Egg
Salt & pepper

Peel and grate the raw potatoes into a clean cloth. Twist the cloth to extract as much liquid as possible. Place the grated potato in a bowl. Add the salt, pepper, baking soda and flour. Mix with the egg and add just enough milk to make a batter that will drop from a spoon.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a hot griddle or heavy based frying pan. Cook over a moderate heat for 3-4 minutes on each side.

Serve the Boxty with butter and honey, a fruity chutney, a tart apple sauce or some fried bacon.