Champ (brúitín in Irish) or Poundies by a few, is an Irish dish, made by combining mashed potatoes and chopped scallions or spring onions with butter and cream, salt and pepper. It is a simple and inexpensive recipe to make. Champ is also very similar to another Irish dish, colcannon, which uses kale or cabbage in place of scallions or spring onions.
I love a good simple potato recipe. This is simple at its very most excellent. literally, the recipe calls for four main ingredients and salt and pepper. How can you wrong with simple yet traditional for your celebration this St Patrick’s Day?
As most of you know, I have an Irish husband, what a mix we are him being Irish with me being German and Italian. Makes for some exciting days, to say the least at the Patch. However, I enjoy making his favorite traditional foods leading up to St Patrick’s Day. This recipe is one of them.
In the past, Champ was served and enjoyed by Northern Country – Irish purists solely as the main course (not as a side dish) in most countryside homes with a knob of creamy butter. I don’t know about you. I don’t think I would mind the main course of these delicious potatoes at all.
Ingredients needed for Champ
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Eight ounces of half and half cream
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3/4 of a cup thinly sliced scallions or spring onions
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Two pounds of small whole potatoes
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Four tablespoons of unsalted butter + extra for serving
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Kosher salt, to taste
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fresh ground pepper, to taste

Champ – brúitín- poundies
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of half and half cream
- ¾ cup thinly sliced scallions or spring onions
- 2 pounds small whole potatoes
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter + extra for serving
- kosher salt to taste
- fresh ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the scallions aka spring onions and the half and half cream in a small pan and heat to Heavy simmer. Take off the heat, allow half and half cream and scallions to infuse flavors together.
- Boil the small whole potatoes in their skins for 30 mins, or until tender. Drain and peel off the skins. Put the potatoes back in the pan, cover with a tight-fitting lid and allow to heat on warm for a few moments.
- Remove the potatoes from the heat and mash the potatoes with the butter until you achieve a smoother texture and no lumps remain.
- Reheat the milk and the spring onions that have been infusing, then gradually beat this into the potatoes, mixing well. Season at this time to taste.
- Serve in separate bowls with creamy butter and enjoy
Nutrition
Other suggested Irish recipes to Try
- Dublin Lawyer is a wonderfully rich and flavorful Lobster recipe that our family considers amazingly decadent Dublin Lawyer combines butter-sauteed lobster meat with Irish Whiskey and rich heavy cream.
- Shepherd’s PieIf you’re in the mood for a flavorful, hearty, savory comfort-food classic recipe, this Shepherd’s Pie – Cottage Pie is going to hit the spot, dead on at dinner. Made with lean ground lamb or beef, fresh organic veggies, and topped with delicious garlic cheddar mashed potatoes, then baked to perfection.
- Delicious Boxty – arán bocht tí recipe stays true to my family’s recipe for Boxty. Containing grated potatoes, leftover champ, flour, baking soda, chopped parsley, egg, and buttermilk with a simple seasoning of kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper.
8 Comments
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March 2, 2021 at 12:49 pm[…] Champ (brúitín in Irish) or Poundies by a few, is an Irish dish, made by combining mashed potatoes and chopped scallions or spring onions with butter and cream, salt and pepper. It is a simple and inexpensive recipe to make. […]
CC
March 12, 2016 at 11:46 amSounds like my cup of tea!!! LOVE!
Joanne T Ferguson
May 10, 2015 at 2:02 amI had never heard of this recipe before Heidy and thank you for allowing me to learn something new! Pinned and shared!
Hadia
February 27, 2015 at 10:26 amWill definitely give this dish a try, Heidy! I am pretty sure the scallions gave the dish a further depth of flavor! Love it!! Pinned
thehungrymum
February 26, 2015 at 1:54 amhave not heard of this Irish dish but wow it looks good. I love mash 🙂
Heidy L. McCallum
February 26, 2015 at 7:03 pmIt’s delicious my husband loves Champ
marybellebuono
February 25, 2015 at 7:41 pmOh wow, this sounds wonderful, sure gives those taters some extra flavor for sure.
I too am Italian, mothers side and German Fathers side ..I do cook more Italian since my hubby is Italian . Really don’t know much about German food but love all good food..
thank you for sharing CIAO
Heidy L. McCallum
February 26, 2015 at 7:04 pmThank you Mary Belle <3 — love that name one of my grandmothers best friends had the same name.