Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe

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.
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.
Serving suggestion
I serve this Welsh Rarebit with a side of Warm Cherry Tomato & Basil Salad.
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.
The bread
A good, hearty grain 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.
The cheese
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. Just spread the sauce onto toasted bread and broil until browned, melted and bubbly.
Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe – Step by Step
Toast grain bread until browned on both sides.




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Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe

A thick slice of grain bread is topped with a savory cheese sauce made from beer, cheese, butter, mustard and broiled to bubbly perfection.
Ingredients
- 4 slices whole grain bread, sliced thick
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup (79 ml) dark ale, room temperature
- 3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 8 ounces (226 g) white cheddar cheese, grated
Instructions
- Toast the bread on both sides under broiler or toaster.
- 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.
- 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.
- Remove from the heat and transfer to a bowl to slightly cool and thicken.
- Preheat broiler (oven grill).
- Spread the cheese sauce on all of the slices of bread. Broil until bubbly and browned. Serve immediately
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1 sliceAmount Per Serving Calories 638Saturated Fat 30gCholesterol 329mgSodium 889mgCarbohydrates 16gProtein 27g
35 Comments on “Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe”
Was wondering what could be substituted for Worcestershire sauce due to allergies.
Soy sauce adds a similar, savory taste as Worcestershire sauce or tamari if you have a wheat allergy.
Mochyn du means ‘black pig’
I can’t wait to make this. So upset when Stouffer’s stopped making it. My husband & I just love it for a quick delish meal! Thank you so much.
Well the good news is, homemade is so much better. Enjoy 🙂
I recall having this at a wine bar in Sydney Australia. Your recipe brought back that memory. Thank you!
Aww, thank you for sharing
Im going to try this recipe myself. Im sooo sad that Stouffers has discontinued their frozen version which was delicious and a staple in my house for many years! Yummmmmm!
I hope you enjoy the recipe. Let me know if you have any questions.
Are you sure they discontinued this?, I was told that it was in Costa Mesa where house for Albertsons by the manager in the Santa Ana store. I live by Disneyland and it is not an upscale demographic. I haven’t had a chance to check out the Albertsons stores in maybe Yoruba Linda, Irvine etc… ,I miss it too!
I’m 85 now,, but, 79-80 years ago I remember my Dad making
Kidney beans and cheese to put over toast for Sunday night supper. Delicious, Now, I can try this recipe TO PUT OVER TOAST, COOKED BACCON, SECTIONED HARD BOILED EGG, BITE SIZED GREEN PEPPER, raw,sliced tomato, and garnished with thinly sliced green onion! A very tasty lunch or light supper.
I remember eating Welsh rarebit that had eggs and stirred in with the cheese and it was delicious do you have a recipe for that??kathy
You can mix in an egg with this recipe, it will work perfectly. All the egg does is change the consistency of the sauce. Let me know if you have any more questions and enjoy 🙂
I have used puff pastry and added seafood and then topped with LOTSof the cheesy/yummy sauce. Be still my beating heart
A custom version, I’m intrigued.
This recipe is perfect! Rarebit isn’t something you can really find stateside, but I love it so much. Finally decided to try it at home and it turned out so well. Absolutely delicious.
I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe, it’s one of my favorites too.
This delicious and sexy lunch or dinner was first introduced to me as a child in the 1960s. It was featured on the Dick Van Dyke Show and that’s where possibly the bad dream scenario began as a comedy plot. It actually made us all want to try it. Turns out we all loved it.
This is great to hear, thank you for sharing. My husband said this was his favorite episode.
My mom would make up Stoffers Welch Rarebit for us. Mmmmmmm, being stuck home because of covid 19, I was watching an old Gomer Pyle rerun. He was eating Welch Rarebit. So I decided to look for a recipe for it! But is it true you can get strange dreams after eating it?
I was just watching that episode too, and it made me want to look up a recipe for Welsh rarebit! But I have never heard anything about it causing bad dreams before.
I think it’s probably an old wives tale 🙂
I made Welsh rarebit years ago. I would add tuna and vegetables to the cheese sauce for a great dinner. Very good flavor and a family favorite.
This is all good to know, thank you for sharing 🙂
This is grown-up open-faced grilled cheese. I had this once in UK and this is very good. I didn’t have mustard powder so I subbed a teaspoon of yellow mustard. A lovely comforting meal served with thick sliced grilled tomatoes.
This sounds like a delicious meal. I love grilled tomatoes.
I’ve always loved the idea of Welsh Rabbit. Cheese and bread and beer, great combo. So simple, yet so good! Thanks Janette. Pinned and Stumbled
You can’t go wrong with cheese, beer and bread 🙂
Sounds so good! Thanks for sharing
I always used to think this was an entree dish with rabbit. I’m glad to know I wasn’t completely off in that crazy kid notion! This sounds amazing. My fiance might even consider this a full meal because of the beer and cheese!
Thank you Luci 🙂
I remember reading about Welsh Rarebit in a book when I was young – and I just had to have it! Great photos – and thanks for triggering a childhood memory!
Awww
oh sounds good! I haven’t had Welsh Rarebit but appreciate the recipe! This will be something I would love to try!!
Thank you, it’s such an easy recipe with so much flavor. Thanks for stopping by.