Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe - Culinary Ginger (2024)

Jump to Recipe

Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe is an open-faced grilled cheese or cheese on toast. Toasted bread slices are topped with a savory cheese sauce made from beer, cheese, butter, mustard, then browned in the oven to golden, bubbly perfection. This may just be the tastiest grilled cheese ever!

Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe - Culinary Ginger (1)

This easy, comfort food is basically a grown-up grilled cheese made with with beer, mustard and cheese. What’s not to love?

As a kid, cheese on toast, as we Brits call it, was one of my favorites things to eat. It was also a meal when my parents were out that I could make myself. Then I met Welsh rarebit.

What is the difference between cheese on toast (grilled cheese) and Welsh rarebit?

Cheese on toast is just that, cheese melted on top of bread. A grilled cheese is cheese melted between 2 slices of bread cooked in a pan. Welsh rarebit is a toasted slice of bread topped with a cheese and beer sauce and broiled/grilled until the top is bubbly.

Why do they call it Welsh Rarebit?

In Welsh it is called Mochyn Du.The recipe is over 2 centuries old and common in Southern and Western England and the rarebit/rabbit part is the cheese sauce that is poured over toasted bread.

Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe - Culinary Ginger (2)

Welsh Rarebit origin is a little sketchy, but it is said the dish was a way to highlight the Welsh wheat bread and cheese. Some say that toasted cheese is so popular in Wales that it spread like rabbits, others say only the wealthiest of people could afford to eat rabbit, so they alternative ‘Welsh rarebit’ was born. A much more appetizing name I think and since there is no rabbit in the dish, a more befitting name.

The best bread for Welsh rarebit

A good, hearty, thick sliced bread is optimal for this recipe. A bread that can hold up to the weight of the cheese sauce and not turn soggy on you. Sourdough or grain bread are all good choices.

Welsh rarebit without beer

If you don’t want to serve beer to your kids, you can substitute the beer for milk.

Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe - Culinary Ginger (3)

What do you serve with Welsh Rarebit?

I serve this Welsh Rarebit with a side of Warm Cherry Tomato and Basil Salad. You can also serve with a simple lettuce salad or a vegetable of your choice.

National Welsh Rarebit Day

Yes, it has a National Day and falls on 3rd September every year. I don’t know why, but there seems to be a National holiday for just about any food and dish, so why not.

Welsh Rarebit Cheese

A good sharp white cheddar is best for this recipe. If you can find a Welsh cheddar, even better. A grocery store with a large cheese department will most likely have white Welsh cheddar. I found it at my Kroger store. I have also seen it Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.

Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe - Culinary Ginger (4)

Leftover cheese sauce

Sometimes when I make this, I have sauce leftover. It keeps well in a sealed container refrigerated for up to 4 days. Then you can enjoy Welsh rarebit for days.

Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe – Step by Step

Toast bread slices until browned on both sides.

Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe - Culinary Ginger (5)

Melt butter in a saucepan until bubbling.

Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe - Culinary Ginger (6)

Whisk flour into the melted butter and cook for 1 minute to cook out the flour taste.

Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe - Culinary Ginger (7)

Whisk dark ale, Worcestershire sauce and mustard powder into the flour mix.

Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe - Culinary Ginger (8)

Add white sharp cheddar cheese and stir until completely melted and smooth.

Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe - Culinary Ginger (9)

Spread the cheese sauce onto the slices of toasted bread. Broil until melted, brown and bubbly.

Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe - Culinary Ginger (10)

If you’ve tried this Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I love to hear from my readers!

Yield: 4

Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe

Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe - Culinary Ginger (11)

A thick slice of bread is topped with a savory cheese sauce made from beer, cheese, butter, mustard and broiled to bubbly perfection.

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time15 minutes

Total Time20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 slices thick bread
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup (79 ml) dark beer/ale, room temperature
  • ¾ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 2 cups/8 ounces (226 grams ) aged/mature/sharp white cheddar cheese, grated

Instructions

  1. Toast the bread on both sides.
  2. To a saucepan, add the butter over medium heat.When the butter is melted and sizzling, whisk in the flour and cook for a minute. Continue whisking until the flour is well mixed and not lumpy.
  3. Slowly pour in the ale while whisking, then the Worcestershire sauce and mustard powder. Use a spatula and stir in the cheese until it is completely melted and the sauce is smooth.
  4. Remove from the heat and transfer to a bowl to slightly cool and thicken.
  5. Preheat broiler (oven grill).
  6. Spread the cheese sauce on all of the slices of bread. Broil until bubbly and browned. Serve immediately

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per ServingCalories 409Total Fat 27gSaturated Fat 15gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 76mgSodium 564mgCarbohydrates 21gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 17g

This nutrition calculation is provided by Nutronix that is only a guideline and not intended for any particular diet.

Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe - Culinary Ginger (2024)

FAQs

Which ingredient is not typically used in Welsh rarebit? ›

What meat is in Welsh rarebit? Despite its alternative name being Welsh Rabbit,Welsh rarebit does not contain rabbit.

How do you make James Martin Welsh rarebit? ›

Put the cheese, mustard, Worcester sauce and Tabasco sauce in and stir until melted. Beat in the egg yolks and flour and gently cook for a further 2 minutes. Evenly spoon over the bread and bacon then spoon the cheese mix all over and bake for 5 minutes until golden and bubbly.

What's the difference between Welsh rarebit and cheese on toast? ›

Cheese on toast is just that, cheese melted on top of bread. A grilled cheese is cheese melted between 2 slices of bread cooked in a pan. Welsh rarebit is a toasted slice of bread topped with a cheese and beer sauce and broiled/grilled until the top is bubbly.

What is a substitute for beer in Welsh rarebit? ›

If you don't like beer, you can replace it with milk; it will still taste great! This traditional Welsh rarebit recipe is comfort food at its best.

What is another name for Welsh rarebit? ›

The origins of the name are unknown, though the earliest recorded use is 1725 as "Welsh rabbit" (possibly ironic or jocular as the dish contains no rabbit); the earliest documented use of "Welsh rarebit" is in 1781. Variants include English rabbit, Scotch rabbit, buck rabbit, golden buck, and blushing bunny.

What is an elegant rarebit? ›

An indulgent twist on the more traditional Welsh Rarebit. This savoury treat is expertly made by combining our West Country Farmhouse Cheddar with Worcestershire sauce, mustard, a whole egg and a drop of Fortnum's Ale with dry-cured bacon. A favourite in our restaurants.

What are the ingredients in Stouffer's Welsh rarebit? ›

SKIM MILK, CHEDDAR CHEESE (CULTURED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES, ANNATTO COLOR), WATER, CREAM, BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, SOYBEAN OIL, 2% OR LESS OF WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE (VINEGAR, MOLASSES, WATER, TAMARIND, NATURAL FLAVOR, SUGAR, SALT, CARAMEL COLOR, ONION, GARLIC), MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, SALT, SPICES, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, PAPRIKA, ...

What country is Welsh rarebit from? ›

Welsh rarebit, a traditional British dish consisting of toasted bread topped with a savory cheddar cheese sauce that typically includes such ingredients as beer or ale, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne, mustard, and paprika.

Is rarebit pronounced rabbit? ›

In the UK the 'rarebit' is pronounced similar to the word 'rabbit' with a hard 't' at the end and the emphasis on the first syllable. In the USA the word is pronounced more like the word 'rare' with 'bit' on the end but also with slightly more emphasis on the first syllable.

What is the national dish of the Welsh? ›

Cawl. Dating back to the 14th century, cawl, also known as 'lobscows' in areas of North Wales, is a hearty stew of lamb and seasonal vegetables that is considered to be the national dish of Wales. Usually accompanied by slabs of fresh bread, it's the perfect meal to warm up during a frosty Welsh winter.

What is rarebit sauce made of? ›

Welsh rarebit sauce typically includes butter, milk, beer, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, ground black pepper, all-purpose flour, salt, and Cheddar cheese.

What do the British call cheese on toast? ›

The classy classic toasted sandwich with cheese is called a toastie in the UK. Toasties in Great Britain can have a variety of cheese on them, but often most common are cheddar-like cheeses.

What is the Welsh word for beer? ›

CWRW (pronounced 'Koo-ru'), meaning beer in Welsh, is an international award-winner.

What is a Welsh rarebit in France? ›

"Le Welsh" (Welsh rarebit or rabbit) is a dish often found on the menus of brasseries in the North, especially near the coast. This old substitute dish originated in Wales and, according to the "legend", came to the Opal Coast during the 1st World War.

Does Welsh rarebit have alcohol in it? ›

A proper Welsh rarebit, in my books, must be made by sizzling together butter and flour, and then slowly adding beer until a thick, gloopy sauce forms. Then handfuls of mature cheddar are added, and the whole thing is spiked with hot mustard and a good splash of Worcestershire sauce.

What makes Welsh rarebit? ›

Like fondue, it all starts with a cheese sauce. Whereas fondue tends to lean into an Alpine cheese and white wine flavor profile, for Welsh rarebit, shredded Cheddar cheese gets whisked into a pot of simmering beer or ale. Sometimes milk is also used.

What is Welsh cheese made of? ›

Indeed, Wales has a long-standing tradition for producing delicious, high-quality cheeses. The earliest varieties resembled the now famous Caerphilly, but they were made from goat and sheep's milks and immersed in brine. Later, in the 17th and 18th centuries, cow's milk became the cheese-making ingredient of choice.

Top Articles
fangirling about sonny and cher (+ a recipe)
My Mother's Southern Kitchen: Recipes and Reminiscences
Paris 2024: Kellie Harrington has 'no more mountains' as double Olympic champion retires
True Statement About A Crown Dependency Crossword
Iron Drop Cafe
Gt Transfer Equivalency
Bros Movie Wiki
Nj Scratch Off Remaining Prizes
Leeks — A Dirty Little Secret (Ingredient)
RBT Exam: What to Expect
Busted Barren County Ky
Trac Cbna
Star Wars: Héros de la Galaxie - le guide des meilleurs personnages en 2024 - Le Blog Allo Paradise
Is Grande Internet Down In My Area
Swgoh Turn Meter Reduction Teams
E22 Ultipro Desktop Version
91 East Freeway Accident Today 2022
Loft Stores Near Me
Craigslist Pet Phoenix
Aldi Bruce B Downs
Icivics The Electoral Process Answer Key
Minnick Funeral Home West Point Nebraska
Sandals Travel Agent Login
Discord Nuker Bot Invite
Mikayla Campinos: Unveiling The Truth Behind The Leaked Content
13301 South Orange Blossom Trail
Cowboy Pozisyon
Expression Home XP-452 | Grand public | Imprimantes jet d'encre | Imprimantes | Produits | Epson France
35 Boba Tea & Rolled Ice Cream Of Wesley Chapel
Gr86 Forums
Suspect may have staked out Trump's golf course for 12 hours before the apparent assassination attempt
Ippa 番号
Bimmerpost version for Porsche forum?
SOC 100 ONL Syllabus
Craigslist Jobs Brownsville Tx
The TBM 930 Is Another Daher Masterpiece
Keir Starmer looks to Italy on how to stop migrant boats
Questions answered? Ducks say so in rivalry rout
Callie Gullickson Eye Patches
Courses In Touch
Costco Gas Foster City
Watch Chainsaw Man English Sub/Dub online Free on HiAnime.to
What is a lifetime maximum benefit? | healthinsurance.org
Terrell Buckley Net Worth
Jackerman Mothers Warmth Part 3
Rovert Wrestling
Electric Toothbrush Feature Crossword
Craigslist Pets Lewiston Idaho
Deviantart Rwby
Lagrone Funeral Chapel & Crematory Obituaries
Pauline Frommer's Paris 2007 (Pauline Frommer Guides) - SILO.PUB
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Aracelis Kilback

Last Updated:

Views: 5896

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aracelis Kilback

Birthday: 1994-11-22

Address: Apt. 895 30151 Green Plain, Lake Mariela, RI 98141

Phone: +5992291857476

Job: Legal Officer

Hobby: LARPing, role-playing games, Slacklining, Reading, Inline skating, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Dance

Introduction: My name is Aracelis Kilback, I am a nice, gentle, agreeable, joyous, attractive, combative, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.