Irish Mashed Potatoes (Champ Recipe) (2024)

Published | Julia Frey (Vikalinka)

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These Irish mashed potatoes, flavoured with tender green onions and butter aka Champ, are a welcome addition to your standard mash recipe! Serve with our delicious Onion Gravy!

This exceptionally creamy mash goes so well with our Catherine Wheel Sausage recipe or Irish Beef Stew flavoured with Guinness.

Irish Mashed Potatoes (Champ Recipe) (1)

While Colcannon is a well known Irish recipe, Champ remains relatively obscure outside of Ireland. It’s time we change that because this flavourful mash recipe needs to be explored.

I lean towards potatoes for a side dish on most days of the week. I don’t always follow up on my instinct simply because I realise that my family wasn’t raised on potatoes alone like I was. They crave variety a lot more than I do!

Need for variety is what keeps me researching various ways potatoes could be prepared. It goes without saying that the Irish quite possibly have more than a thousand recipes featuring the beloved spud! Well… them and the Russians!

Mashed Potato Recipes

No matter how developed my taste buds become I will never stop liking creamy mashed potatoes. There is something incredibly soothing and satisfying in a buttery mash!

I have to warm you I like mine with a lot of butter and a little bit of milk. This doesn’t mean I am opposed to other flavours in my mashed potatoes. I do love to experiment with flavours!

This Herb and Garlic Mash is made with roasted garlic and fresh parsley and dill. It’s a reader favourite! If you want to change things up, use a combination of sweet potatoes and swede (rutabaga in the US).

If you want to feel organised and not rushed, try my make-ahead recipe for Baked Mashed Potatoes. I layer them with caramelised onions and mushrooms but you can keep this casserole plain!

Looking for mashed potatoes in a completely different form? And maybe for breakfast? Then lets look again to the Irish, and these satisfying Potato Farls!

My newest obsession is a creamy mash mixed with tender green onions, also known as Champ in Ireland. Green onions go by a few names. Whether you call them scallions, spring onions or green onions, make sure you are using the green parts for most flavour!

Irish Mashed Potatoes (Champ Recipe) (2)

Recipe Tips and Notes

  • As with all mashed potato recipes, make sure to choose the right kind of potato. What you are looking for is starchy or floury potatoes such as Yukon Gold or Russet in the US or Maris Piper, King Edward, Vivaldi and Desiree in the UK.
  • Infuse the milk with the green onion flavour. First bring the milk to a boil, then let the onions steep until needed. Uber flavour!
  • Peel and cut the potatoes in similar-sized pieces, so they all cook within the same amount of time.
  • Boil them in salted water. It’s never too early to introduce flavour to the dish. Salt is essential!
  • Once you drain your potatoes, allow them to steam dry. This little step help to achieve that desirable fluffy texture we all love.
  • Mash while the potatoes are still hot, very hot for the best texture. Some people like to use a hand mixer but I prefer a traditional potato masher or a ricer. Stay away from a food processor if you are not after a pot of glue!
  • Don’t be stingy with the butter. Mashed potatoes = lots of butter. Otherwise there is no point.
  • Always taste at the end and season with salt. Potatoes love salt!
Irish Mashed Potatoes (Champ Recipe) (3)

Serving Suggestions

These mashed potatoes will compliment just about any main dish but here are our favourites.

Serve them with this Ribeye Steak, Pork Loin Steaks with Creamy Mushroom Sauce or our famous Chicken Supreme.

Mashed potatoes of any sort are also brilliant at soaking up gravy, as everyone who has had a turkey dinner knows well. My classic Homemade Gravy is perfect, or go with Red Onion Gravy for something a little more complex.

Storage and leftovers

You can keep leftover champ in the fridge for 4-5 days, and frozen for up to 3 months. If defrosting, it’s best to let the potatoes completely thaw in the fridge for one day before using.

No need to let leftover mashed potatoes go to waste! Leftovers can be warmed in a microwave, but I’m partial to pan frying with a little oil or butter over medium-high heat. Delicious with fried eggs for breakfast!

They also work beautifully as the base for salmon cakes, allowing you to turn champ into something completely new and different.

More potato side dish recipes

  • Parmesan Crusted Potatoes
  • Oven Fried Potatoes with Mushrooms and Onions
  • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese
  • Hasselback Potatoes with Gremolata

Irish Mashed Potatoes (Champ Recipe) (4)

Irish Mashed Potatoes (Champ Recipe)

Julia Frey of Vikalinka

These Irish mashed potatoes, flavoured with tender green onions and butter aka Champ, are a welcome addition to your standard mash recipe!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Irish

Servings 6

Calories 278 kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 medium potatoes see notes on types of potatoes
  • 50ml/1/4 cup whole milk
  • 6-8 green onions green parts only
  • 100g/1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Add sliced green onions to milk and bring to a boil at low heat, take off the heat and let the green onions infuse the milk.

  • Boil the peeled and quartered potatoes in salted water until very tender. Drain the potatoes and let them steam dry for 2-3 minutes, pour in hot milk with the onions and mash well, add butter and salt and white pepper to taste.

Notes

Use starchy or floury potatoes such as Yukon Gold or Russet in the US or Maris Piper, King Edward, Vivaldi and Desiree in the UK.

Nutrition

Calories: 278kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 5gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 433mgPotassium: 1017mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 565IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 2mg

Keyword champ recipe

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Side dishes

  • Irish Potato Farls
  • Miso Butter Roasted Cabbage Wedges
  • Baked Potato Toppings
  • Winter Salad with Red Cabbage, Kale and Pomegranate

About Julia Frey (Vikalinka)

Julia Frey is a London based recipe developer and photographer. Julia founded Vikalinka in 2012 with the main mission to provide her readers with delicious and accessible everyday recipes, which could be enjoyed by everyone.
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Irish Mashed Potatoes (Champ Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What does champ mean in Ireland? ›

Champ (brúitín in Irish) is an Irish dish of mashed potatoes with scallions, butter and milk. Champ. Alternative names. Poundies.

What's the difference between colcannon and champ? ›

Colcannon is made with cabbage or kale while champ is made by flavoring milk with green onions, then mixing them into mashed potatoes. To finish the dish off, it's mixed with melted butter.

What is champ mash made of? ›

Champ is a traditional Irish recipe which we make using our finest home grown potatoes, gently steam cooking and mashing them to perfection before adding freshly chopped spring onion for flavour. Raw Ingredients: Potato (91%), Milk, Butter (Milk), Spring Onion (3%), Salt, White Pepper.

What's the difference between mash and champ? ›

Champ is smooth mashed potatoes with spring onions finely chopped and combined. Colcannon is similar but the mash is rougher and cabbage is combined with it. It is normally made with green spring cabbage, but also can have spring onions.

What is Mickey slang for in Ireland? ›

Mickey/Mick—In Ireland, the term “Mickey” or “Mick” can be used to refer to a person's private parts, particularly in a light-hearted or joking manner. However, it's important to note that this usage can be seen as vulgar or offensive in some situations.

What is the national dish in Ireland? ›

Irish Stew is a thick, hearty dish of mutton, potatoes, and onions and undisputedly the national dish of Ireland. Within the dish are many of the ingredients synonymous with the island, potatoes being one of the most recognized.

Is colcannon the same as bubble and squeak? ›

He comments that although the basic ingredients of bubble and squeak and colcannon are similar, the two are very different dishes, the former being traditionally made from left-overs and fried to give a brown crust, and the latter "a completely separate dish of potato, spring onion and cabbage, served almost as creamed ...

Why is colcannon important in Ireland? ›

Colcannon is a hearty dish that has been eaten on Halloween night for years. Traditionally, a ring was hidden in the dish, and whoever was to find it would be likely to marry in the upcoming year! Colcannon was even paired with a little poem: Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?

What is Pandy in Ireland? ›

The word "Pandy's" origin is a slang Irish term for a mashed potato dish... Read more.

What is the origin of the Irish champ? ›

Champ became popular in Ireland as a simple yet nutritious food that people could afford during the times of famine and political upheavals. The basic idea behind the champ was a simple and delicious dish that could be easily made using the ingredients that are available in all seasons.

Can you reheat champ? ›

Mash can be made in advance and reheated in a microwave or in a saucepan. If it's done in the microwave it will need stirring a few times; on the hob, you need to continuously stir it to stop it burning on the bottom of the pan. A non-stick pan would be best for this. Make sure the mash is hot before serving.

Why put a raw egg in mashed potatoes? ›

Adding egg yolks to a pot of mashed potatoes is an easy, dairy-free texture and taste upgrade that doesn't require any special techniques. The yolks harbor all the flavorful fats and emulsifying components and will thus effectively unify the fat and water in potatoes, translating to a smoother, uniformly creamy pot.

Why do restaurant mashed potatoes taste better? ›

Instead of regular milk, pro chefs generally use a generous helping of buttermilk and plenty of half-and-half or (even better) heavy cream in their potatoes. If you think the bartenders up front are pouring heavy, they've got nothing on the cooks in the back who are in charge of the mashed potatoes.

Why are Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes so good? ›

Made with fresh real potatoes, butter, and milk, Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes tastes like homemade. We put extra care into making our mashed potatoes rich and creamy to deliver that homemade flavor you expect.

What does champ mean in slang? ›

Very well, very successfully, as in He got through that audition like a champ. This expression, in which champ is short for champion, alludes to the winner of a sporting competition. [ Slang; c. 1960]

What does it mean to call someone champ? ›

A champ is someone who wins a contest or a prize. The winner of an elementary school fifty-yard dash is a champ. Champ is shorthand for champion — in other words, a winner or a victor. You might describe your favorite football team as a bunch of champs after they win the World Series.

What does champ mean in British slang? ›

/tʃæmp/ uk. /tʃæmp/ informal for champion. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Winners & losers.

What does champ mean slur? ›

Not knowing that “champ”, in prison slang, is a grotesque sexual slur that means anything but “champion”. The gritty, breathtaking scene is part of an engrossing sub-plot that bring home the brutality of life behind bars in the third and final season of the star-studded homegrown show, which launches today on Foxtel.

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