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Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe

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Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe is an open-faced grilled cheese. A thick slice of grain bread is topped with a savory cheese sauce made from beer, cheese, butter, mustard and broiled to bubbly perfection.
1 slice of toasted bread with melted cheese sauce garnished with chives on a board with a tomato salad
This may just be the best grilled cheese ever, but a grown-up version with beer, mustard and cheese. What’s not to love?  Cheese on toast, as we Brits call it, was one of my favorites things to eat growing up. It was also a meal when my parents were out that I could make myself.

A closeup showing the browned, bubbly melted cheese

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.

A closeup of warm cherry tomato and basil salad with red and yellow tomatoes over arugula on a white plate

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

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.

 

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.

Grain bread toasted on a baking sheet

Melt butter in a saucepan until bubbling.
A pan with melted butter
Whisk flour into the melted butter and cook for 1 minute to cook out the flour taste.
Flour being whisked into melted butter
Whisk dark ale, Worcestershire sauce and mustard powder into the flour mix.
Dark ale being whisked into the flour and butter
Add white sharp cheddar cheese and stir until completely melted and smooth.
White cheddar being stirred into the sauce
Spread the cheese sauce onto the slices of toasted bread. Broil until melted, brown and bubbly.

Cheese sauce being spread onto grain bread

 

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A slice of traditional Welsh rarebit on a wooden board with a tomato salad
5 from 5 votes
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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.

Course Entree
Cuisine British
Keyword grilledcheese,, sandwich
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
638 kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 slices whole grain bread sliced thick
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup dark ale room temperature
  • 3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 8 ounces white cheddar cheese grated

Instructions

  1. Toast the bread on both sides under broiler or toaster.

  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, stirring.

  3. Slowly whisk in the ale until there are no lumps. Whisk in 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.

  6. Spread the cheese sauce on all of the slices of bread. Broil until bubbly, browned and melted. Serve immediately

Nutrition Facts
Traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 piece)
Calories 638 Calories from Fat 459
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 51g 78%
Saturated Fat 30g 150%
Cholesterol 329mg 110%
Sodium 889mg 37%
Total Carbohydrates 16g 5%
Protein 27g 54%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Comments

  1. 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

    Reply

  2. oh sounds good! I haven’t had Welsh Rarebit but appreciate the recipe! This will be something I would love to try!!

    Reply

  3. 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!

    Reply

  4. 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!

    Reply

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