While doing research for the upcoming event at the Merchant’s house, I came across an interesting account of how Irish immigrants in the mid-century cooked potatoes:
“We have all wondered why our Irish servants persist in bringing half-boiled potatoes to the table, notwithstanding our repeated orders to the contrary. Dr. James Johnson, in his tour in Ireland, discovered that it was almost a universal custom among the poor of the country, to only half boil their potatoes, leaving the center so hard, that it is called the bone of the potato.” (Breakfast, Dinner and Tea, Viewed Classically, Poetically, and Practically, 1859)
“…I have since read further descriptions of ‘potatoes with a bone’ as early as 1812. The preference developed in hard times, for the undercooked potato was harder to digest, and seemed to stop hunger for a longer time.” (The American History Cookbook, Mark H. Zanger, 2003)
Essentially, the Irish way of making a potato is grossly under cook them. In addition to Zanger’s theory that the raw potatoes staved off hunger, it seems even more logical that by boiling the potatoes for half the time, they were also using half the fuel for their fires. It seems the Irish developed a taste for the half-raw potatoes, and brought the tradition with them to America. Irish women were often hired as cooks for American households; potatoes with the bone in did not go over well with their mistresses. The appropriate way of preparing vegetables in the 19th century was to boil them to a mush–up to three hours for fresh veggies.
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Potatoes with the Bone In
Modern Recipe from The American History Cookbook by Mark Zanger
1. Peel potatoes.
2. Put whole potatoes in a pot with water to cover by one inch and one tablespoon salt.
3. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer with lid off or ajar.
4. After 15 minutes, begin testing by pushing a fork into the center of a potato. When it goes in halfway and meets a hard part, the “bone,” the potatoes are ready.
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Zanger suggests this would have been eaten with a cup of milk; a meal I’m familiar with from my Tenement Diet days. A starch and some protein will fill you up.
Rating: D. It’s actually not as bad as I expected them to be; but it tastes pretty “green.” Like a raw potato.
Fear not, however. There will be plenty cooked food to eat tonight as well. I have four perfect cider cakes and a pot of spiced carrot soup for the event tonight, as well as some mid-19th century co*cktails up my sleeve.
FAQs
Essentially, the Irish way of making a potato is grossly under cook them. In addition to Zanger's theory that the raw potatoes staved off hunger, it seems even more logical that by boiling the potatoes for half the time, they were also using half the fuel for their fires.
Why did the Irish eat so many potatoes? ›
Why were potatoes so important to Ireland? The potato plant was hardy, nutritious, calorie-dense, and easy to grow in Irish soil. By the time of the famine, nearly half of Ireland's population relied almost exclusively on potatoes for their diet, and the other half ate potatoes frequently.
Why do you think so many Irish recipes have got potatoes in them? ›
Since Ireland has an ideal environment for potato growth, taters became a staple crop for the Irish in the 1700s, per World Potato Congress. These tubers were so reliable and abundant, they came to be seen as a social safety net for hunger. Ireland's booming population depended on them.
What is the origin of the potato? ›
Where is the potato originally from? The potato is native to the Peruvian-Bolivian Andes. It was cultivated in South America by the Incas as early as 1,800 years ago. The Spaniards who colonized South America introduced potatoes into Europe during the second half of the 16th century.
How did the Irish cook potatoes? ›
James Johnson, in his tour in Ireland, discovered that it was almost a universal custom among the poor of that country, to only half boil their potatoes, leaving the centre so hard, that it is called the bone of the potato…and custom has so reconciled the poor Irishman's stomach to this food, that even the children ...
Why didn't the Irish eat fish during the potato famine? ›
Fishing and the Famine
The question is often asked, why didn't the Irish eat more fish during the Famine? A lot of energy is required to work as a fisherman. Because people were starving they did not have the energy that would be required to go fishing, haul up nets and drag the boats ashore.
What did the Irish eat before the potato famine? ›
Until the arrival of the potato in the 16th century, grains such as oats, wheat and barley, cooked either as porridge or bread, formed the staple of the Irish diet. The most common form of bread consisted of flatbread made from ground oats.
Why was the Irish potato famine so devastating? ›
The proximate cause of the famine was the infection of potato crops by blight (Phytophthora infestans) throughout Europe during the 1840s. Blight infection caused 100,000 deaths outside Ireland and influenced much of the unrest that culminated in European Revolutions of 1848.
Was the Irish potato famine preventable? ›
he Irish Potato Famine is known as one of the most disastrous and preventable events in history, caused not just by a simple potato blight, but also by other factors influencing the policies set forth to induce aid by the bourgeois State.
What are Irish potatoes called? ›
Solanum tuberosum (Irish Potato, Irish Potatoes, Pomme de Terre, Potato, Potatoes, White Potato, White Potatoes) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.
Based on a comparison of 165 countries in 2021, China ranked the highest in potato consumption with 66,437 kt followed by India and USA. On the other end of the scale was South Sudan with 1.00 kt, Central African Republic with 1.00 kt and Guinea Bissau with 2.00 kt.
Are potatoes a fruit or vegetable? ›
The Bottom Line. A potato is definitely a vegetable. Because it's considered a starchy vegetable, it's nutritionally different from other types of veggies — but that doesn't mean it's bad.
Are potatoes German or Irish? ›
But the potato, like the Catholic Church, is an import to Eire—potatoes are actually Peruvian, from thousands of years back, and didn't make their way to Irish soil until the late 1600s.
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.
What did the Irish eat instead of potatoes? ›
Just like today, porridge was the perfect meal for those cold, rainy days. Fruits and Vegetables: While the potato wasn't around just yet, there were plenty of other root vegetables to choose from. The Irish diet included onions, garlic, radish, cabbage, and carrots.
Why did the potatoes turn black in Ireland? ›
While the potato wasn't native to Ireland, it was able to be cultivated using a raised bed and drainage system. The Irish famine began to take shape in 1845. A fungus, carried on ships from North America to England found their way to Dublin. The fungus caused potato leaves to turn black on the vines and rot.
Did the British cause the Irish potato famine? ›
Far from being a natural disaster, many Irish were convinced that the famine was a direct outgrowth of British colonial policies. In support of this contention, they noted that during the famine's worst years, many Anglo-Irish estates continued to export grain and livestock to England.
Why was the potato famine so devastating to Ireland? ›
Because the tenant farmers of Ireland—then ruled as a colony of Great Britain—relied heavily on the potato as a source of food, the infestation had a catastrophic impact on Ireland and its population.
Why did Irish people eat half raw potatoes? ›
In addition to Zanger's theory that the raw potatoes staved off hunger, it seems even more logical that by boiling the potatoes for half the time, they were also using half the fuel for their fires. It seems the Irish developed a taste for the half-raw potatoes, and brought the tradition with them to America.
What is the significance of Irish potatoes? ›
Consuming potassium-rich foods like Irish potatoes can help reduce the risk of hypertension and lower the chances of heart disease and stroke. Immune System Support: Irish potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, which is known for its immune-boosting properties.
