Welsh Rarebit Bites
TIME/SERVINGS
Total: 15 mins
Active: 10 mins
Makes: 20 servings as an hors d'oeuvre
By Aida Mollenkamp
This dish was originally known as Welsh rabbit, for reasons that aren’t exactly clear but most agree were intended to imply rudeness to the Welsh. During the late 18th century, derogatory terms such as rabbit became frowned upon in polite company and the name evolved into rarebit, meaning a choice morsel. Today, rarebit has come to mean tasty morsels of bread covered in a mustardy cheese sauce. It is often served on larger pieces of bread, but here we use toasted baguette slices, making this an ideal passed hors d’oeuvre at your next cocktail party.
Game plan: We found it was easier to spread the cheese sauce after it had cooled completely, so if you have time, make the sauce up to 4 days ahead, cover, and refrigerate for easier spreading.
For a slacker solution, don’t toast the baguette slices before you top them with cheese sauce.
This recipe was featured as part of our Valentine’s Day story, as well as in Drinks Around the World.
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/4 stick)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 8 ounces aged farmhouse cheddar, finely chopped
- 3/4 cup porter or stout beer, such as Guinness
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard powder, such as Colman’s
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 sweet baguette, cut into 1/4-inch slices and toasted
- Combine butter and flour in a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until toasted and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add cheese, beer, Worcestershire, mustard, and paprika and cook, stirring constantly, until cheese is melted and smooth, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. (If you’re making the cheese sauce ahead of time, transfer the mixture to a heatproof container and let it cool to room temperature. Refrigerate in a covered container up to 4 days.)
- When ready to finish, heat the broiler to high and arrange a rack in the lower third of the oven. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside. Arrange toasted baguette slices on the baking sheet and spread 2 teaspoons of the cheese mixture on each slice.
- Place under the broiler and cook, watching carefully, until cheese mixture is bubbling and browned, about 1 to 2 minutes. Serve immediately.
Beverage pairing: Brasserie Dupont Foret Organic Saison Ale, Belgium. A dry white wine would be nice with these bites, but they’re perfect for a beer since there’s beer in the sauce. This organic Belgian ale is alive with the complex flavors of a flowering summer meadow, and its combination of brightness and richness makes it a lusty companion for the rarebit.
COMMENTS | ADD YOUR OWN
One imagines this would work rather well with soda bread...
Anyone tried that variant?
MMMMMMMMMMMM. sounds YUMMY!
'sounds great -- but what is a "sweet baguette"?
I'm siding with Fowler on this one: "The etymologist is aware ... that 'Welsh rabbit' is amusing and right, and 'Welsh rarebit' is stupid and wrong"; i.e., I'm going to continue pronouncing "rarebit," "rabbit." That said, this looks yummy, although since Sharwood's no longer manufactures vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, I've had to make do with Henderson's Relish and the English love affair with saccharine. Cheshire would be a nice substitute for the cheddar, too. Good cold-weather fare!
I remember my cousin telling me the story of how he got ripped off by Stouffer's because after heating up the frozen Welsh "rabbit" entree, he could find absolutely nothing but cheese sauce in the pan. I told him to check the spelling on the box.
Welsh Rarebit was a common item on fancy restaurant menus in the 1960's.
Some crisp chopped bacon bits sprinkled on top of rarebit is a nice touch.
And back then(in the 1960's) served on white bread toast points.
My grandmother would always serve her "rabbits' with a slice of tomato - - I love the sound of this appetiser and think I will try with small slices of tomato under the sauce before broiling!
My grandmother would always serve her "rabbits' with a slice of tomato - - I love the sound of this appetiser and think I will try with small slices of tomato under the sauce before broiling!