Boxty and colcannon: what they are and how to order

Boxty is a pan-fried potato pancake and colcannon is mashed potato mixed with cabbage or kale. Both are Irish potato dishes that turn up on menus, usually as a main or a side, and they are easy to confuse if you have never had them. This guide explains the difference and what to look for.

What boxty is

Boxty is made from potato, grated raw, and mashed potato, mixed with flour and a liquid such as buttermilk, then cooked on a pan or griddle. The result is a pancake that is crisp at the edges and soft inside, a little like a thick potato cake.

You will see it served flat, like a pancake, or rolled and filled. A filled boxty may hold meat, fish, mushrooms or vegetables in a sauce. A plain one is often served with a fry or alongside a main.

What colcannon is

Colcannon is mashed potato with cabbage or kale, butter, milk or cream and often spring onion. It is soft and green-flecked, richer than plain mash, and usually served as a side. Some cooks put a well of melted butter in the middle of the mound.

It is often linked with autumn and with Halloween, but you may find it all year round.

How they differ

Boxty is a pancake with a firm, cooked surface, and it holds a filling. Colcannon is a soft mash. If you want something to cut and fill, order boxty. If you want a comforting side, order colcannon.

What to look for in a good boxty

A good boxty is golden and crisp at the edge, not greasy, and soft but not raw in the middle. It should taste of potato, not just flour. If the pancake is heavy and pasty, it has too much flour or has been cooked too quickly on the outside.

If it comes filled, check that the filling has its own flavour and the sauce does not drown the pancake.

What to look for in good colcannon

Look for a smooth, buttery mash with visible green through it. The cabbage or kale should be cooked until soft but should still taste of itself. It should be hot, well seasoned and not watery. If the green is grey and the potato is stiff, it has been sitting.

When you see them on a menu

Boxty usually appears as a main or a brunch dish, and colcannon as a side or a comfort plate. They are also good for a first taste of Irish potato cooking, because both are straightforward and both are served in the same simple way in most places.

If a menu names a dish "boxty" but describes it as a bread or loaf, that is a different style that some regions make, so ask. The word covers a few related things, and the kitchen can tell you which one is on the plate.

Allergies and dietary needs

Boxty contains wheat flour, and colcannon contains dairy. Some versions contain bacon. If you have an allergy or follow a diet, ask the place about the ingredients. A vegetarian can often find a filled boxty with mushrooms or vegetables, but ask whether the pancake or sauce uses meat stock.

How they appear on menus

Boxty is more often a main course or a brunch dish. Colcannon is more often a side, though some places serve it as a starter or with a sausage. If a menu names a boxty, check what it is filled with.

Choosing between the two

If you are new to Irish potato cooking, order colcannon as a side to a main you already like and see what you think. If you want a main that is a little different, order a filled boxty and ask what is in it. Share one of each with a friend if the portions are large, because both are filling.

What to do if the dish is not what you expected

Names drift between kitchens. A boxty may arrive rolled, flat or as a loaf, and colcannon may arrive as a mound, a cake or a soup. If you are not sure what you will get, ask the server to describe it in a sentence. They will be glad you did, and you will be glad you checked.

Finding them on Mosey

Dishes that diners photograph can have their own page on Mosey, with photos from separate visits. If you are curious, look at the pictures before you go to see how the place makes it.