Tantalisingly Cheesy Recipes to Enjoy on Welsh Rarebit Day 2020
Today is Welsh Rarebit Day 2020, and in celebration of the classic Welsh dish we have compiled a list of cheesy recipes to get your taste buds tingling.
A popular dish served in Welsh taverns for centuries, Welsh Rarebit originates as far back as the 1500s, where covering toast in cheese and mustard became popular in Wales, particularly the South. The Rarebit name is thought to derive from the 1700s where eccentric names were given to everyday dishes, such as Toad in the Hole. In this case, rarebit was thought to have been called ‘Rabbit’ and later evolved to Rarebit.
History lesson aside, Welsh Rarebit is deep rooted in British culture and has a whole day dedicated to it each year- September 3rd. So, in celebration of this today, here’s a list of tasty rarebit recipes to tantalise your taste buds.
Traditional Welsh Rarebit
Cheese on toast was recently voted the nations’ favourite snack, but the traditional Welsh rarebit definitely turns this up a notch. Best served on a thick slice of crusty bloomer bread, the original rarebit recipe includes a tad of beer and mustard to get that rich cheesy flavour which complements the cheese.
Here, we have a recipe from award-winning cheese shop owner, Steve Parker’s latest book ‘British Cheese on Toast, Over 100 Recipes’.
Ingredients:
- 60g mature Cheddar cheese of your choice, grated
- 2 teaspoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon English mustard
- 2 teaspoons of your favourite dark beer
- 1 thick slice of crusty white bloomer or farmhouse bread
Method:
- Preheat the grill to medium-high.
- In a small bowl, mix the cheese, butter, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and beer together to a rough paste.
- Toast the bread on both sides and then place on a small baking tray.
- Spread the cheese mixture on one side of the toast.
- Place under the preheated grill until the cheesy topping is bubbling and starting to brown.
Buck Rarebit
The Buck Rarebit recipe is very similar to the traditional one above, just with the addition of a poached egg on top when serving.
To get the perfect poached egg:
- Boil some water in a saucepan on a high heat (or in the kettle first).
- Crack an egg into a shallow cup or small bowl.
- When the water is bubbling, stir the water in the sauce pan to create a natural well in the water, and then gently tip the egg from the bowl into this (ensuring you tip it as close as you can to the water without burning yourself).
- Turn the hob temperature down to low.
- To get the perfect runny yolk cook for 3 minutes.
Welsh Lamb Burgers Topped With Welsh Rarebit
Provided to us by PGI Welsh Lamb, this recipe combines two Traditional Welsh Classics, turning it in to a perfect filling meal, great served with chips and salad.
This recipe serves 4 people, takes 15 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking.
Ingredients:
- 450g lean PGI Welsh Lamb mince
- Salt and pepper
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 tsp English mustard
- For the Welsh rarebit:
- 2 tsp English mustard
- 100g mature cheddar cheese, grated
- 2-3 tbsp beer
Method
- Put the lamb mince, seasoning, onion and mustard into a large bowl. Mix together thoroughly.
- Divide the mixture into four and shape into burgers. Line the grill pan with foil and place burgers under a pre-heated grill and cook for about 12 minutes until golden and cooked through.
- Make the Welsh rarebit: mix together the mustard, cheese and beer.
- During the last 1-2 minutes of cooking place the rarebit in a mound on top of the burgers and allow to melt and ooze over the burger. Collect any juices in the bottom of the grill pan and spoon over the burgers.
- Serve with chunky fries and seasonal salad or slaw.
Stilton & Red Onion Chutney Rarebit Bites
This recipe from Cropwell Bishop Creamery, part of the The Stilton Cheese Makers Association, is great for serving as an appetiser or a starter.
The below recipe makes 16 and takes just 15 minutes to make!
Ingredients:
- 300g Cropwell Bishop Blue Stilton, crumbled
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 tablespoon wholegrain mustard
- 1 tablespoon crème fraiche
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 8 small slices sourdough or walnut bread, halved
- 3 tablespoons caramelised red onion chutney
- Fresh watercress leaves, to garnish
Method:
- In a small bowl, beat together all the rarebit ingredients.
- Place the bread on a baking tray and lightly toast on both sides, under a pre-heated hot grill.
- Spread each slice of bread with a little of the chutney, then pile the rarebit on top.
- Grill for 3-5 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Serve immediately garnished with watercress.
Blushing Bunny Rarebit
Blushing Bunny is Welsh Rarebit blended with tomato soup. The dish is very quick to make and is perfect for a warming meal during the upcoming colder months.
The below recipe serves 6 and takes about 15 minutes to make:
Ingredients:
- Can of Tomato Soup
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons plain flour
- tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 60ml Milk
- 128g Grated Cheddar Cheese
Method:
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium-high heat.
- Add the flour and stir until the mixture becomes a pasty roux.
- Stir in the milk, followed by tomato soup, stirring constantly.
- Add Worcestershire sauce and cheese.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
Rarebit With Additional Toppings
Of course, Welsh Rarebit can be enjoyed anyway you like, and taking example from the Bucks Rarebit, anything can be added to such a versatile dish.
Some of our favourites include adding leek, for a traditional Welsh match made in heaven, caramelised onion, or sweet cherry tomatoes.
If you are adding in leeks, make sure they are chopped finely and following the traditional recipe, add them to the saucepan after adding the butter. Sweat the leeks for 3 minutes and then add in the flour and the rest of the ingredients from the traditional rarebit recipe.
We certainly can’t wait to try some of these delicious cheesy recipes and we hope you take some inspiration from them too.
Happy Welsh Rarebit Day 2020!
