Welsh Rarebit
If you've got porter or dark ale, double cream and mature cheddar, grated, you're most of the way to this vegetarian: about 70 minutes of cooking across 7 steps. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 7 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for grill / broiler and saucepan. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (5)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Melt the butter in a small heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, stir in the flour and cook the resulting roux for about 1 minute until it smells faintly nutty but has not coloured.
- Pour in the porter a little at a time, whisking constantly, then add the cream and let the mixture bubble gently for 2 minutes until it thickens to a smooth paste.
- Lower the heat and add the grated cheddar a handful at a time, stirring until each addition has melted before adding the next, then beat in the dijon mustard and worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper.
- Take the pan off the heat, let it cool for a minute, then beat in the egg yolk so the sauce becomes glossy and thick; set it aside while you prepare the bread.
- Toast the bread slices on both sides under a hot grill until golden and crisp so the base stays firm under the topping.
- Spread the warm cheese mixture thickly and right to the edges of each slice, then return them to the grill for 3 to 4 minutes until bubbling, blistered and deep golden brown.
- Rest the rarebit for a minute so the topping sets slightly, then serve hot with an extra dash of worcestershire sauce if you like.
You'll use: Grill / broiler · Saucepan · Pan · Whisk
Ingredient substitutions
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
- Double Cream
- heavy cream · whipping cream
Tips & common questions
How long does Welsh Rarebit take to make?
About 70 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 11 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of butter?
Try olive oil (¾ the amount). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Welsh Rarebit vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Welsh Rarebit is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Jielbeaumadier welsh 2010.jpg by Jiel Beaumadier, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.