Welsh Rarebit

Making Welsh Rarebit Ahead

The rarebit paste keeps 5 days refrigerated and freezes 2 months. Grill on fresh toast each time.

How to Make Welsh Rarebit

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1. Melt the butter, whisk in the flour, and cook 2 minutes over medium heat without colouring.

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2. Add the ale gradually, whisking, then the cream. Simmer 3 minutes until very thick — thicker than a normal sauce.

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3. Turn the heat to low and add the cheese a handful at a time, stirring until each addition has melted before adding more.

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4. Stir in the mustard, Worcestershire, cayenne and black pepper. The mixture should be as thick as soft butter.

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5. Take off the heat, cool for 5 minutes, then beat in the egg yolk.

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6. Cool the mixture completely — it will set to a spreadable paste. It can be refrigerated for up to 3 days at this point.

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7. Toast the bread on both sides until golden and firm.

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8. Spread the rarebit thickly right to the edges of each slice, leaving no bare crust.

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9. Grill under a high heat for 3 to 4 minutes until bubbling and blistered dark brown in patches. Finish with more Worcestershire and chives.

   Mark done Start 3 min timer

Related guide: Prep, cook and total time.

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Tips for Success

• Cool the mixture before spreading. Warm rarebit runs off the toast under the grill.
• Right to the edges. Exposed crust burns while the middle is still bubbling.
• For buck rarebit, land a poached egg on top of each finished slice.

Why the Method Is What It Is

Making a roux-based sauce rather than simply melting cheese stops the fat separating under the grill, which is what makes plain cheese on toast greasy. The ale and mustard supply acidity that cuts the fat and keeps the sauce tasting savoury rather than merely rich.

What to Put Next to It

A dressed salad with a sharp vinaigrette · A pint of the same ale · Pickled onions

Sides from the same cuisine on this site: Duck Fat Roast Potatoes, Fried Bread, Honey Roasted Carrots.

Common Substitutions & Variations

• In a sauce, full-fat crème fraîche can usually take the place of the double cream; single cream is thinner and more likely to split if it boils, so keep it below a simmer.

Questions About Welsh Rarebit

Welsh Rarebit Nutrition

Per serving, an approximate calculation from the ingredient list. Treat it as a rough guide: an ingredient listed without an amount is not counted, so the figures run low. The calories include 2 g of alcohol a serving, which is not part of the protein, carbohydrate or fat. How the figures are worked out.

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