Welsh rarebit with egg is a superior version of cheese on toast with Worcester Sauce. I've made this welsh rarebit recipe without beer as there are loads of recipes out there made with the traditional beer, but it's also possible to leave it out and still have a great tasting rarebit. Ready in under 10 minutes, enjoy as a breakfast, lunch, or hearty snack.
Welsh rarebit is a traditional Welsh dish that can be traced back to the 1700s. Although the word 'rarebit' is a corruption of the word 'rabbit', it doesn't contain any meat. Rarebit is a cheese sauce mixture poured over toasted bread. There are various versions of the cheese mixture and you can also add a variety of toppings. Welsh rarebit used to be known as 'Caws Pobi', which is Welsh for toasted cheese. For more egg based lunch or snack recipes, try my Easy Quiche Recipe or Crustless Quiche.
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Ingredients
Gather all your ingredients together first as this is a simple recipe that's super quick to make.
- Cheese. You should use a strong-tasting cheese such as a mature or sharp cheddar. A cornish rarebit would use a traditional cornish cheddar. It's best to grate or shred the cheese yourself rather than buy pre-grated cheese. This is because cheese that is already grated doesn't melt as well.
- Bread. Use any bread but I like a nice sourdough that I can cut into thick slices.
- Worcestershire Sauce. This adds a lot of flavour. Traditional Worcestershire Sauce is not suitable for vegetarians as it contains anchovies, but you can buy vegetarian and vegan versions.
- English Mustard. This is a strong tasting mustard, but you could use other mustards such as Dijon mustard if you prefer.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Lightly toast the bread on both sides until just brown.
In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, creme fraiche, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.
Stir in the grated cheese and any other ingredients you want to add (see Toppings ideas).
Spread the toast with chutney (optional).
Spread the egg and cheese sauce mixture right up to the edges of the toast and grill for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and bubbling.
Hint: You can make the cheese mixture in advance and keep it in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Buck Rarebit
If you want to take your Welsh Rarebit to the next level, Buck Rarebit is what you're looking for. Add a poached or fried egg to the top of your welsh rarebit!
Welsh Rarebit Variations
There are many local varieties of Welsh Rarebit. To be truly local, you should use a local cheddar. Cornish rarebit uses local cornish cheddar. These all vary slightly in taste due to the differing grazing environments of the local cows where the cheeses are made. You can buy cheddar in various strengths from mild to extra mature. A mature or extra mature cheddar works best.
People ask if you need to butter the bread first. It's up to you. I find the cheesy mixture is rich enough and you don't need the extra moisture of the butter to soften the bread.
Topping Ideas
You can add loads of different ingredients to this recipe. I like to always spread the toast with a sweet chutney before adding the rarebit mixture. You will need to fry or saute any veg before adding them to the mixture. Vegetables that go well are:- Spring onions, leeks, red onion, red peppers, mushrooms, spinach, and sliced tomatoes. For an extra spicy version, add a few drops of Tabasco Sauce.
Serving Ideas
Serve Welsh Rarebit with egg just as it is, or with a nice green salad. It's best enjoyed hot when the cheese has just melted and is nice and gooey, but you can also eat it cold.
Sustainability
A Welsh Rarebit is a great opportunity for using up leftover vegetables. As the bread is toasted and then covered with a nice thick sauce, it's also a good way to use up bread that is slightly stale or past its best.
Storage
You can store the rarebit cheesy mixture in the fridge for 3 - 4 days. Rarebit can be enjoyed hot or cold. If you want to reheat it, cover the top with foil and place it in a hot oven for around 5 minutes. You could also reheat it (uncovered) in a microwave for around 30 seconds.
How to Video
📖 Recipe
Welsh Rarebit with egg and no beer
Ingredients
- 4 slices bread 2cm thick, good quality, organic
- 2 egg yolks free-range, organic
- 100 g creme fraiche organic
- 1 teaspoon english mustard organic
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce organic
- 150 g mature cheddar cheese grated, organic. Similar strong flavoured hard cheese will do.
Instructions
- Lightly toast the bread until just brown.4 slices bread
- In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, creme fraiche, mustard and worcestershire sauce.2 egg yolks, 100 g creme fraiche, 1 teaspoon english mustard, 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- Stir in the grated cheese and any other ingredients you want to add (see Toppings ideas).150 g mature cheddar cheese
- Spread the toast with chutney (optional)
- Spread the egg and cheese mixture right up to the edges of the toast and grill for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and bubbling.
- Enjoy hot or leave to cool and store in the fridge overnight.
Notes
Ingredient Notes
- Cheese. You should use a strong-tasting cheese such as a mature or sharp cheddar. A cornish rarebit would use a traditional cornish cheddar. It's best to grate or shred the cheese yourself rather than buy pre-grated cheese. This is because cheese that is already grated doesn't melt as well.
- Bread. Use any bread but I like a nice sourdough that I can cut into thick slices.
- Worcestershire Sauce. This adds a lot of flavour. Traditional Worcestershire Sauce is not suitable for vegetarians as it contains anchovies, but you can buy vegetarian and vegan versions.
- English Mustard. This is a strong tasting mustard, but you could use other mustards such as Dijon mustard if you prefer.
Buck Rarebit
If you want to take your Welsh Rarebit to the next level, Buck Rarebit is what you're looking for. Add a poached or fried egg to the top of your welsh rarebit!Variations
There are many local varieties of Welsh Rarebit. To be truly local, you should use a local cheddar. Cornish rarebit uses local cornish cheddar. A mature or extra mature cheddar works best.Toppings
You can add loads of different ingredients to this recipe. I like to always spread the toast with a sweet chutney before adding the rarebit mixture. You will need to fry or saute any veg before adding them to the mixture. Vegetables that go well are:- Spring onions, leeks, red onion, red peppers, mushrooms, spinach, and sliced tomatoes. For an extra spicy version, add a few drops of Tabasco Sauce.Storage & Reheating
Store the rarebit cheesy mixture in the fridge for 3 - 4 days. Rarebit can be enjoyed hot or cold. If you want to reheat it, cover the top with foil and place it in a hot oven for around 5 minutes. You could also reheat it (uncovered) in a microwave for around 30 seconds.Nutrition per serving
The Nutritional Values are computer generated estimates based on industry standards and are provided as a helpful guide only.
For more great ideas for packed lunches, click here
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