If you love cheese on toast but feel it’s not quite complex enough to constitute a full meal, then Welsh Rarebit may be the recipe for you. This dish, also called Welsh Rabbit, tops crispy toast with a cheese sauce broiled until it turns a beautiful golden brown. If you crown it with a fried egg, it’s called a Golden Buck. This rich, decadent, flavorful delight is perfect for the cheese lover.
On the Ingredients:
- Worcestershire sauce is a British fermented condiment. It was invented in the 1800s by two pharmacists, supposedly trying to recreate a sauce from India. It has since become a very common ingredient in British cuisine as well as others, especially paired with meat. The sauce, which, by the way, is pronounced wooster-sheer, is made with a combination of vinegar, molasses, sugar, tamarind, anchovies, shallots, garlic, and spices. The flavor is quite unique and delicious, slightly fruity, tangy, and sweet.
- Cheddar cheese is one of the most popular varieties (it’s our number-one-selling cheese). It originated in England, in the village of Cheddar in Somerset. It’s a fairly hard cheese with a sharp flavor.
Recipe Notes and Substitutions:
How strong do you like your flavors? You can double the mustard and Worcestershire sauce for a more robust sauce. You can also sprinkle with cayenne pepper for a kick.
Welsh Rarebit (Gourmet Cheese on Toast)
6
servings10
minutes15
minutes25
minutesIf you love cheese on toast but feel it’s not quite complex enough to constitute a full meal, then Welsh Rarebit may be the recipe for you. This dish, also called Welsh Rabbit, tops crispy toast with a cheese sauce broiled until it turns a beautiful golden brown. If you crown it with a fried egg, it’s called a Golden Buck. This rich, decadent, flavorful delight is perfect for the cheese lover.
Ingredients
1 1/4 cup milk (warmed)
2 tbsp butter (extra for toast optional)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tbsp English mustard (or Dijon)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (separated)
1 egg yolk
6 slices of sourdough or other bread
Directions
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and stirring constantly, cook for one minute until browned.
- Add the milk a little at a time while stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Once all the milk is added, you should have a smooth, white béchamel sauce.
- Add 3/4 of the cheese, the mustard, and the Worcestershire sauce, and keep stirring until the cheese has melted. Remove from heat and add the egg yolk while again stirring vigorously.
- Toast the bread until nicely browned. You can butter the toast if you're feeling very decadent.
- Turn the broiler to high and arrange the toast on a baking sheet. Spoon the sauce over each piece of toast so it's generously covered and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- Broil until the top is golden brown. Check frequently, as each broiler is different, and exact times will vary. If you're making Golden Bucks, fry eggs and lay them on top of each rarebit. Serve and enjoy!
