Irish Rarebit Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is 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.

Variants include English rabbit, Scotch rabbit, buck rabbit, golden buck, and blushing bunny. Though there is no strong evidence that the dish originated in Welsh cuisine, it is sometimes identified with the Welsh caws pobi 'baked cheese', documented in the 1500s.

Welsh rarebit, a traditional British dish consisting of toasted bread topped with a savory cheddar cheese sauce that typically includes such ingredients as beer or ale, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne, mustard, and paprika. If an egg is served atop the dish, it is called buck rarebit.

Whereas fondue tends to lean into an Alpine cheese and white wine flavor profile, for Welsh rarebit, shredded Cheddar cheese gets whisked into a pot of simmering beer or ale.

Pronunciation. Either identically to rabbit, or as rare-bit. When used in Welsh rarebit, some insist that it be pronounced identically to rabbit, as the spelling is a corruption, while others insist that it be pronounced as rare-bit specifically to differentiate it from actual rabbit meat.

Welsh rarebit sauce typically includes butter, milk, beer, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, ground black pepper, all-purpose flour, salt, and Cheddar cheese.

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.

“The traditional rarebit is a little sloppy,” says Spiller. “It's typically a cheese sauce, like a bechamel or mornay, and you can flavor it from that point however you wish.”

A grilled cheese may also be made in a sandwich toaster, particularly in the United Kingdom where the dish is normally called a toasted cheese sandwich or cheese toastie.

Conversation. We've discontinued our Welsh Rarebit, Robert.

What is the Welsh word for rarebit? ›

The roots of Welsh Rarebit can be traced back to Wales, where it was known as "caws wedi ei bobi" in the Welsh language, which translates to "cheese that has been toasted." The origin of the name "Welsh Rarebit" is uncertain, but it's generally believed that the word rarebit is a corruption of the word rabbit.

If you don't like beer, you can replace it with milk; it will still taste great!

Wales is well known for our beer. From one of the UK's biggest family owned independent breweries, Brains, to local breweries - like Tiny Rebel Brewing Company for Cardiff and Newport. If it's not beer, it's cider.

The type of beer used in Welsh rarebit can be a contentious subject; some prefer the bold flavor of a porter, while some like the more subtle bitterness of a brown ale. Whichever you use, make sure that it is a beer you love to drink, and serve a pint alongside your rarebit and tomatoes.

Cheese on toast is basically an open-faced British version of grilled cheese, but with a generous amount of Worcestershire sauce thrown into the mix (which is what makes this dish, in my opinion!).

Familiar names are: toastie (UK), grilled cheese sandwich (US), jaffle (Australia), panini (Italy), and croque monsieur (France). The toasted sandwich is not limited to these countries, however. You will find this popular snack, lunch, or dinner in every corner of our planet.

Proper Rarebit is a tasty cheese sauce made with full flavor beer (any will do, British style ale is best), quality sharp cheddar cheese and seasonings - English dry mustard, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, etc., and then served over good toasted bread. NOT broiled. Sauce pooled around the toast.