This crispy Hairy Bikers boxty recipe is made with floury potatoes, buttermilk, chipotle paste and fresh lime juice. The result is a savoury Irish potato pancake topped with bright, spicy fried eggs and a tangy tomato dressing. It takes around 70 minutes from start to finish and serves four.
I make this for weekend brunches when I want something more filling than toast but still easy to pull together. The crispy boxty with runny eggs and that chipotle-lime kick is hard to beat.
What Is Boxty?
Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake from counties like Leitrim, Fermanagh and Donegal. The name comes from the Irish arán bocht tí, meaning “poorhouse bread.” It uses both raw grated potato and mashed potato in the same batter. That is what sets it apart from a rösti or a latke, giving it a crispy outside and a soft, fluffy centre.
Boxty with Spicy Eggs Ingredients
For the Boxty (Potato Pancakes):
- 250g floury potatoes (see instructions for preparation)
- 1 small onion, very finely chopped
- 4 tbsp finely chopped coriander (optional)
- 250g mashed potatoes, chilled
- 250g plain flour
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 250–300ml buttermilk
- Butter, for frying
- Salt
For the Spicy Eggs:
- Butter, for frying
- 4–8 eggs, depending on appetite
- 2 tsp chipotle paste or similar hot sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp red wine or sherry vinegar
- Juice of ½ lime
- 4 tomatoes, diced
- 2 spring onions, finely sliced, to garnish
- A few coriander sprigs, finely chopped, to garnish
How to Make Boxty with Spicy Eggs
- Prepare the raw potatoes: Coarsely grate the floury potatoes onto a clean tea towel. Gather the corners and squeeze tightly over a bowl to remove the excess water.
- Collect the starch: Leave the potato water in the bowl for a few minutes so the starch settles at the bottom. Carefully drain off the water and keep the thick white starch behind. Tip the grated potatoes into the bowl with the starch.
- Make the boxty batter: Add the chopped onion, coriander (if using) and the chilled mashed potatoes to the bowl. Mix everything together well.
- Combine the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the plain flour with the bicarbonate of soda and ½ teaspoon of salt. Add this flour mixture to the potato mixture and stir to combine.
- Finish the batter: Stir in 250ml of the buttermilk. Mix until just combined, keeping mixing to an absolute minimum. If the batter seems too stiff, add a splash more buttermilk. Let the batter stand for 30 minutes.
- Fry the boxty: Melt a generous amount of butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Spread half of the boxty mixture into the pan to form one large pancake. Use a knife to mark a deep cross in the centre.
- Cook until golden: Fry for 3–4 minutes until the underside is nicely browned, then carefully flip. Add a little more butter and fry the second side until golden and cooked through. Remove and place on kitchen paper to drain. Repeat with the remaining batter.
- Make the spicy tomatoes: Mix the chipotle paste (or hot sauce) with the olive oil, vinegar and lime juice. Add the diced tomatoes and toss gently to combine.
- Fry the eggs: Heat a generous knob of butter in a large frying pan until it foams. Swirl the butter around and crack the eggs into the pan. Season with salt and fry until cooked to your liking.
- Serve: Place the warm boxty onto plates. Top with the fried eggs, then spoon the spiced tomato mixture over the top. Garnish with sliced spring onions and chopped fresh coriander.
What Are the Best Tips for Making Boxty?
- Save the potato starch: The process of draining the raw potato water and keeping the settled starch is crucial. This starch acts as a natural binder and gives boxty its signature texture.
- Use chilled mashed potatoes: Make sure your mashed potatoes are completely cold before adding them. Warm mash will change the batter consistency and can make it too soft.
- Mix as little as possible: Once the wet and dry ingredients are just combined, stop. Overworking the flour develops gluten and makes the pancakes tough and chewy.
- Rest the batter for 30 minutes: This lets the flour absorb the buttermilk fully. It improves the texture and makes the pancakes easier to handle in the pan.
- Choose the right potatoes: Use a floury variety like Maris Piper or King Edward. These break down well when grated, which is exactly what you need for the raw potato component. If you enjoy other potato-based recipes, try our Hairy Bikers Dauphinoise Potatoes.
- Score the cross before flipping: Marking a deep cross in the centre of the boxty helps heat reach the middle. It also makes it easier to cut into portions once cooked.
What to Serve with This Dish
This is a complete brunch on its own, but there are plenty of ways to build on it. For a full Irish-style breakfast spread, add thick-cut bacon or sausages on the side. A simple fresh fruit salad balances the richness of the potato and the spice from the eggs.
For drinks, a Bloody Maria works brilliantly with the chipotle flavours. A mug of strong black tea or a glass of fresh orange juice are good non-alcoholic options. If you like egg dishes with a bit of heat, our Hairy Bikers Argentinian Scrambled Eggs are worth a try too.
How to Store Leftovers
Store any leftover boxty in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep the boxty and the spicy tomato topping separate. Reheat in a lightly buttered frying pan or in a low oven until warmed through.
You can also freeze cooked boxty. Let the pancakes cool completely, then stack them with a piece of baking parchment between each one. Wrap the stack tightly in cling film and place it in a freezer bag.
They keep well for up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen on a baking tray in a 180°C (160°C Fan / Gas Mark 4) oven until hot all the way through.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 serving (of 4)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Total Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Cholesterol: 186mg
- Sodium: 580mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 48g
- Dietary Fibre: 5g
- Sugars: 4g
- Protein: 16g
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different topping instead of spicy eggs? Yes, boxty works well with crispy bacon and maple syrup, smoked salmon and crème fraîche, or black pudding and a poached egg. The pancake is a versatile base for almost any savoury topping.
Can I make the boxty batter ahead of time? It is best to only rest the batter for the suggested 30 minutes. The bicarbonate of soda activates when mixed with buttermilk, so leaving it much longer than an hour means the pancakes may not rise properly.
How does the Hairy Bikers boxty compare to Donal Skehan’s? The Hairy Bikers version uses buttermilk and bicarbonate of soda for a lighter batter. Donal Skehan keeps his simpler with just milk and no raising agent, but both use the traditional raw-plus-mashed potato base.
What is the difference between boxty and potato farls? Potato farls use only mashed potato and flour, giving a denser, drier result. Boxty uses both raw grated potato and mashed potato, which creates a lighter, crispier pancake with more texture.
Do you need buttermilk for boxty? This recipe uses buttermilk, which reacts with the bicarbonate of soda for a lighter batter. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can use regular milk with a squeeze of lemon juice stirred in.
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Hairy Bikers Boxty with Spicy Eggs Recipe
Description
This Hairy Bikers boxty recipe combines crispy Irish potato pancakes made from both raw and mashed potatoes with spicy fried eggs topped with a chipotle-lime tomato dressing. Made with floury potatoes, buttermilk and fresh coriander, it is ready in around 70 minutes and serves four.
Ingredients
For the Boxty (Potato Pancakes):
For the Spicy Eggs:
Instructions
- Prepare the raw potatoes: Coarsely grate the floury potatoes onto a clean tea towel. Gather the corners and squeeze tightly over a bowl to remove the excess water. Leave the potato water to settle so the starch collects at the bottom, then drain off the water and tip the grated potatoes into the bowl with the starch.
- Make the batter: Add the onion, coriander and chilled mashed potatoes to the bowl and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk the plain flour with the bicarbonate of soda and ½ teaspoon of salt. Add the flour mixture to the potato mixture, then stir in the buttermilk, mixing as little as possible. Let the batter stand for 30 minutes.
- Fry the boxty: Melt a generous amount of butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Spread half the batter into the pan to form one large pancake and mark a deep cross in the centre. Fry for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Repeat with the remaining batter.
- Make the spicy tomatoes and eggs: Mix the chipotle paste, olive oil, vinegar and lime juice, then toss with the diced tomatoes. In a separate pan, fry the eggs in foaming butter until cooked to your liking.
- Serve: Place the warm boxty onto plates. Top with the fried eggs, spoon over the spicy tomatoes and garnish with spring onions and fresh coriander.
