Perfect Welsh Rarebit (2024)

ByBecca Heyes

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Total time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 2

4.75 from 12 votes

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A traditional British recipe, this perfect Welsh rarebit is the ultimate quick and easy lunch – made with a gooey cheese sauce, and grilled to perfection on crispy bread.

Perfect Welsh Rarebit (1)

If there was ever a recipe that wholly embodies the name of this website, ‘easy cheesy vegetarian’, it’s Welsh rarebit – and since I’m half Welsh, I thought it was fitting that I share this recipe. It’s such a simple one, but if you’re a fan of gooey cheese, it’s really rather spectacular, and makes a perfect easy lunch.

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Is Welsh rarebit the same as cheese on toast?

We Brits are known for our ‘does what it says on the tin’ kind of recipes, and cheese on toast is one of our best.

It’s cheese.
On toast.

You really don’t need a recipe for it.

But Welsh rarebit isn’t quite the same as a standard cheese on toast. It’s a little more interesting – and a lot more delicious – because it uses a gooey cheese sauce, rather than plain slices of cheese.

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What is Welsh rarebit?

There are a million stories about how Welsh rarebit came about, where it got its bizarre name from (it’s also sometimes known as ‘Welsh rabbit’ – don’t worry, no rabbits were harmed in the making of this dish), and even whether it’s truly Welsh or not.

But wherever it came from, it’s an incredible dish that deserves to be shared.

Welsh rarebit begins with a super thick cheese sauce, smeared over a crispy piece of toast, and grilled until it’s golden brown on top.

It only takes a few minutes more than regular cheese on toast, and it’s totally worth the extra effort.

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How to make perfect Welsh rarebit

There are all sorts of different recipes for Welsh rarebit.

Some use beer, some don’t.
Some use real mustard, and others use mustard powder, or even no mustard at all.
Some recipes use Welsh cheese and others just use cheddar…

Nobody can really agree on just one Welsh rarebit recipe.

So this is just my version!

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Step 1: Make a thick white sauce

I begin with a really simple béchamel sauce (white sauce). You can find step-by-step instructions for how to make a white sauce here, but it’s essentially just flour cooked in butter, with some milk added.

You can swap a little of the milk out for some beer, if you want some real indulgence.

You need to make the sauce quite a bit thicker than you would if you were making, say, macaroni cheese – otherwise, it will all drip straight off the bread and you’ll end up with a big mess. A tasty mess, but a mess nonetheless.

Instead, the sauce should be thick and spreadable – more of a paste, really.

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Step 2: Add cheese and mustard

Of course, you can’t have Welsh rarebit without plenty of cheese.

Choose a good quality cheese with plenty of flavour. I went for an extra mature cheddar, but a Welsh cheese like Caerphilly would be fitting too!

I also added a dollop of mustard and plenty of black pepper.

Stir it well until the cheese has melted into the sauce and it’s all thick and gooey.

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Step 3: Spread it on toast, and grill

You can use any type of bread for Welsh rarebit, but I like to use something a bit more special than a mass-produced white loaf. This time I used some slices from a nice crusty bloomer loaf.

I like to pre-toast the bread, so it gets crispy on the underside. Then, spread the thick cheese sauce on top.

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Pop the tray under the grill (broiler) for a few minutes until the cheese sauce is bubbly and hot, with crispy golden brown patches on top.

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All that’s left to do is eat!

How to serve Welsh rarebit

In my eyes, Welsh rarebit is definitely a British lunch dish, so I don’t tend to do anything fancy with it.

Just a bit of salad on the side is perfect – perhaps some lettuce, tomatoes, or cucumber.

A lot of people splash their Welsh rarebit with a few drips of Worcestershire sauce just before serving. The issue is that Worcestershire sauce isn’t actually vegetarian – but Henderson’s relish is a good vegan substitute. It’s a pretty specialist ingredient, but you can find it online if needed (Amazon US / Amazon UK).

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More Authentic British Recipes

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Perfect Welsh Rarebit

A traditional British recipe, this perfect Welsh rarebit is the ultimate quick and easy lunch – made with a gooey cheese sauce, and grilled to perfection on crispy bread.

If you’ve cooked this recipe, don’t forget to leave a star rating!

4.75 from 12 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 2

Calories: 472kcal

Author: Becca Heyes

Ingredients

  • 4 slices good quality crusty bread
  • 1 Tbsp (~ 15g) butter
  • 1 Tbsp plain flour
  • 120 ml (~ 1/2 cup) milk (or you can swap a little of the liquid for beer if you like)
  • 75 g mature cheddar cheese, grated (~ 3/4 cup when grated)
  • 1 tsp mustard (I used Dijon)
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • Begin by laying the slices of bread on a baking tray, and placing them under the grill (broiler), set to a medium-high heat. Cook for a couple of minutes until one side of the bread is golden brown and crispy. Then, turn each slice over and remove from the grill.

  • Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan, and add the flour. Mix well for 30 seconds, then add half of the milk. Stir well until the sauce is smooth, then add the remaining milk and mix again. The mixture should thicken up into a smooth, thick paste.

  • Add the grated cheese, mustard, and black pepper. Cook for another minute or two, stirring constantly, until the cheese has melted and the mixture is smooth.

  • Spoon the sauce onto the untoasted side of each piece of bread, gently pushing it to the edges with the back of the spoon (don't worry if it spills over the edges a bit!).

  • Place back under the grill (broiler) for about 5 more minutes, until the cheese sauce is just beginning to brown. Serve immediately.

Notes

For a richer flavour, you can replace a little of the milk with a splash of beer (light or dark, depending on how strong you want the flavour to be). As this is such a simple recipe, make sure you use a good quality bread and a flavourful mature cheese.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Perfect Welsh Rarebit

Amount Per Serving (2 slices)

Calories 472Calories from Fat 206

% Daily Value*

Fat 22.9g35%

Saturated Fat 13.2g66%

Cholesterol 61mg20%

Sodium 730mg30%

Potassium 179mg5%

Carbohydrates 47.1g16%

Fiber 2.5g10%

Sugar 3.7g4%

Protein 19.1g38%

Calcium 415mg42%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.

Tried this Recipe? Give it a star rating!Star ratings really help support the site – thank you!

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Becca Heyes

Vegetarian Food Blogger

Becca Heyes has been a vegetarian food blogger, recipe developer and cheese eater extraordinaire since 2011. She's been a vegetarian for significantly longer, after having stopped eating meat out of pure stubbornness at the tender age of 9. She spends her life testing recipes, sharing them with fellow veggie-lovers, and trying to think of new ways to say 'cheesy'.

Leave a Reply

  1. When I was 12 years old ( 47 yrs ago ) in Buffalo NY, I had my very first Home Economics class. The very first dish that we made was Welsh Rarebit! The teacher brought the beer and I remember thinking how absolutely wicked !!! It was so delicious!!! Thank you for taking me on a trip to memory lane! I plan to use your recipe very soon !Perfect Welsh Rarebit (13)

    Reply

    1. Haha how strange to cook a recipe with beer for 12 year olds! Glad I could take you back down memory lane :D

      Reply

  2. My Grannie would pour the sauce over salad shrimp on toast. So good! I’ll try your recipe and add the shrimp!

    Reply

    1. Enjoy!

      Reply

  3. A proper Welsh Rarebit always contains beer not milk in the sauce, and it has to be a bitter beer, not lager or cider. Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce and a sprinkle of smoked paprika for a more piquant flavour. Experiment with adding strong cheeses like Stilton too.

    Reply

    1. does it feel good to be the Arbiter of Rarebit?? the author clearly states there is no one recipe and that people have been free to make it how they please for as long as its been around. you dont get to decide how a “proper welsh rarebit” is. you’re not the king of the universe! the unmitigated gall to come onto this woman’s page and mansplain about her own recipe. grow up. its time to understand your true place in the world, and it’s not “master and knower of all”. time for you to have a seat.

      Reply

  4. Loved this as a kid on Saltines or toasted white bread. It came in a can to heat up!

    Reply

    1. Oh wow I’ve never heard of that!

      Reply

  5. Perfect for two. I made it using sourdough English muffin bread and Cheddar cheese. It was yummy. Will definitely make it again.Perfect Welsh Rarebit (14)

    Reply

    1. Sounds great!

      Reply

  6. Thank you, Becca. I haven’t made Welsh Rarebit for years, but might try this for lunch very soon. I’ll have to veganise the milk and cheese, though.

    Reply

    1. Should be easy enough to veganise :)

      Reply

  7. Only 30g cheese? Seems very small quantity. I love Rarebit, but have never made it with beer, always milk.
    Will try it though.

    Reply

Perfect Welsh Rarebit (2024)

FAQs

What is the best beer to use in Welsh rarebit? ›

A lighter ale would work nicely, as would a brown ale. I've also seen recipes that use darker porter beers. Often eaten as a main course or high tea, Welsh rarebit makes a light, yet filling meal when served alongside a nice green salad.

Is Welsh rarebit just cheese on toast? ›

Is welsh rarebit just cheese on toast? No! Cheese on toast is made by grilling slices of pure cheese on toasted bread whereas welsh rarebit is a grilled cheese based sauce made from cheese, flour, beer and often added egg.

What is the Welsh rarebit sleepwalking? ›

Read allIn folk tradition, Welsh rarebit is believed to cause nightmares. But when a new restaurant opens near the base and both Pyle and the sergeant indulge in the dish, it's sleepwalking that the simple meal of toast and cheese sauce induces in both men--sleepwalking, and changes in personality.

Did Stouffers discontinue Welsh rarebit? ›

We've discontinued our Welsh Rarebit, Robert. We're glad you enjoyed it though and will take note that you'd like to see it back!

What can I use instead of beer in Welsh rarebit? ›

You can use your favorite local beer, mustard, and any strong Cheddar cheese in this recipe. 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.

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 is 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 makes Welsh rarebit? ›

Ingredients
  1. 350g Mature Cheddar, grated.
  2. 1 large egg, lightly beaten.
  3. 2 tbsp beer (preferably stout) or milk.
  4. 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce.
  5. 1 tsp English mustard.
  6. pinch cayenne pepper.
  7. 12 thick slices white bread, preferably from a bloomer loaf.

What is Welsh rarebit served with? ›

Whatever its origins, the dish is today a staple of British fare and a common pub food, often paired with a pint of beer or ale.

What is another name for Welsh rarebit? ›

The original 18th-century name of the dish was the jocular "Welsh rabbit", which was later reinterpreted as "rarebit", as the dish contains no rabbit. Variants include English rabbit, Scotch rabbit, buck rabbit, golden buck, and blushing bunny.

What is Kentish rarebit? ›

Kentish Rarebit was a popular snack with fruit pickers in Kent's orchards. You can make this simple dish yourself by mixing cheese and sliced apple, layering on bread and popping it under the grill.

What is the difference between Welsh rarebit and hot brown? ›

The Hot Brown itself is considered a subspecies of the Welsh rarebit, a creation that was first recorded in the early 1700s. As the name implies, this sandwich is of Welsh origin, consisting of melted cheese poured over toast.

What company makes Welsh rarebit? ›

This Stouffer's Welsh Rarebit microwave dish includes creamy cheese sauce made with 100% real cheddar cheese.

Does Welsh rarebit freeze? ›

Keep refrigerated once opened. While this product can be frozen up to 3 months, we advise that it will change the quality/texture.

Who bought out Stouffer's? ›

Stouffer's is a brand of frozen prepared foods currently owned by Nestlé.

What kind of beer is good for beer cheese? ›

Fruity wheat beers pair especially well with cheese! Dark Beers: Stouts and porters also make a great beer cheese sauce, but are best paired with a sharp, funky cheese that can stand up to their strong, rich flavors. Super-hoppy IPAs: If you love this style of beer, go for it.

What beer should I put in beer cheese? ›

I used Fat Tire because that what I had on hand, but Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light, and Miller Lite are all good options. No need to use anything fancy! What brands of cheese do you recommend? For the Cheddar, you can use a good supermarket brand, like Cabot or Tillamook.

What types of beer are best for beer bread? ›

Lighter beers, such as lagers, ales and pilsners, will give your bread a lighter color, and mild taste that just about everyone loves. Darker beers like stouts and porters make a darker-colored loaf and have a stronger beer flavor. Hoppy beers like IPAs will give your bread a more bitter taste.

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