Mary Berry Welsh Rarebit Recipes

WELSH RAREBIT

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a pan, stir in the flour, and let this cook together until it smells biscuity but is not browning. Add the mustard powder and cayenne pepper, stir in the Worcestershire sauce and the Guinness, then gently melt in the cheese. When it's all of one consistency, remove from the heat, pour out into a shallow container, and allow to set. It will keep happily in the fridge for a couple of weeks in this state. Take each piece of bread and toast on both sides. Allow to cool just a little, then cover one side with the rarebit mixture to about 1cm thick - if you find that it doesn't spread with ease, press it on with your fingers. Put on a baking sheet and place under the grill until golden and bubbling - grilling to just beyond your comfort threshold, to allow the flour to cook out. When it comes to eating, irrigation channels are essential: make a gentle criss-cross pattern on your hot rarebit with a knife, creating the perfect flood plain for the Worcestershire sauce.

MUSHROOM RAREBIT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F.
• Place the mushrooms on an oven tray (stem sides up) and sprinkle them with oil and seasonings. Put the garlic cloves on the tray. Cook them in the oven until they are tender.
• Whisk the milk and flour together then bring them to the boil in a saucepan, continually whisking.
• Peel the garlic, crush and add to the milk and flour mixture, together with the mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce (to make a vegetarian version of this recipe, be sure to use Worcestershire sauce that does not contain anchovies), cheese, breadcrumbs, Guinness and ground pepper. Mix with a wooden spoon until all the ingredients are well combined and the the cheese has melted.
• Turn the heat off and add the egg and the egg yolk. Beat vigorously and then spoon a generous amount of the mixture onto the mushrooms.
• Grill until the mushrooms are golden and bubbling.
• Serve as an entrée to a main course, or as a side dish.

REAL WELSH RAREBIT

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat; blend in the flour, salt, pepper, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and hot pepper sauce; continue cooking and stirring until the mixture is smooth and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; gradually stir in the milk; return to heat and stir continually until the mixture comes to a boil. Slowly pour in the beer; cook 1 minute more while still stirring. Melt the Cheddar cheese into the mixture in small portions until completely incorporated. Remove from heat.

WELSH RAREBIT

Steps:

• Put the cheese, butter, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, flour and pepper into a saucepan.
• Mix well and then add the beer, Guiness or milk to moisten. Do not make it too wet!!
• Stir over a gentle heat until all is melted, and when it is a thickish paste, stop stirring, and swivel it around the saucepan, which it will do quite easily.
• Leave to cool a little, and meanwhile toast the bread on one side only.
• Spread the rarebit over the untoasted side and brown under a hot grill.
• This mixture can be made and kept in the refrigerator for several days if required. Sweet white wine can be used instead of beer and gives a good flavour.
• (From www.welshholidaycottages.com)

WELSH RAREBIT

Steps:

• In a small saucepan gently warm the ale, set aside. Take another small saucepan and over a medium heat melt the butter until it begins to foam, tip in the flour and stir everything together, cooking for 1 min. Whisk in the warm ale in several additions to create a thick sauce then whisk through the cheese to create a thick paste. Stir the mustard, Worcestershire and chives through the sauce.
• Heat a grill to its highest setting. Place the slices of bread on a flat baking sheet and grill on one side until golden brown. Flip the bread over and spread each one with the cheese mixture. Place back under the grill and cook for a further 1-2 mins or until golden brown and bubbling, serve immediately.

WELSH RABBIT

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Spread one side of bread slices with 2 tablespoons butter (total), then arrange slices, buttered sides up, on a baking sheet. Broil 4 to 6 inches from heat until golden brown, 1 to 4 minutes.
• Melt remaining tablespoon butter in a 1-quart heavy saucepan over low heat, then add flour and cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Add beer and milk in a stream, whisking, then whisk in mustard, pepper, and cheese. Bring to a simmer over moderately low heat, whisking, then simmer, whisking, until smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat and immediately whisk in yolk. Serve cheese sauce on toast.