Welsh Rarebit
A mustardy, beery-optional cheese sauce grilled over toast — cheese on toast's older, wiser sibling.
Ingredients
- 2 slices Country bread
- 150 g Cheddar cheese
- 15 g Butter
- 1 tbsp Flour
- 100 ml Milk
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- ¼ tsp Black pepper (optional)
Method
- Grate the cheddar cheese coarsely so it melts quickly.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until foaming.
- Stir the flour into the butter and cook to a smooth paste, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in the milk a little at a time until you have a thick, smooth sauce.
- Take the pan off the heat and beat in the grated cheese, mustard, and pepper until glossy.
- Stir the Worcestershire sauce into the cheese mixture for a savoury kick. (optional)
- Toast the bread slices on one side only under a hot grill until golden, about 2 minutes.
- Spread the cheese sauce thickly over the untoasted side of the bread.
- Grill the topped slices until the sauce is blistered and bronze, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Serve the rarebit bubbling hot, with more Worcestershire on the table.
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About Welsh Rarebit
Welsh rarebit is a British classic that's often mistaken for plain cheese on toast, but it's something more considered — a proper savory cheese sauce, spiked with mustard and Worcestershire, spread thick over toast and grilled until bubbling. The sauce starts from a butter-and-flour roux loosened with milk, which is what lets it grill into a molten, glossy blanket rather than the oily separation of cheese melted straight. It has old roots as a hearty snack or light supper, the kind of thing served in pubs and tearooms.
The flavor is sharp and grown-up: mature cheddar's tang deepened by the funk of Worcestershire, the bite of Dijon, and a good crack of black pepper, with a splash of ale often stirred in for extra savoriness. Toasting the bread on one side only is a nice touch — the untoasted side gives the sauce something to sink into while the crust stays crisp under the grill. The result is rich, mustardy, and comforting, the top blistered and browned. It makes a satisfying lunch on its own or a warm counterpoint to a cold pint or a bowl of soup.
Welsh Rarebit: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Welsh Rarebit?
A serving has about 490 calories — 23g protein, 23.4g carbs, 34.2g fat, 1g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Welsh Rarebit gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Country bread, Flour. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for those ingredients to make it gluten-free.
Is Welsh Rarebit dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Cheddar cheese, Butter, Milk. Swapping those for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Welsh Rarebit?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out worcestershire sauce, black pepper — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Welsh Rarebit make?
This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.