Spammish Rarebit Recipes

TRADITIONAL WELSH RAREBIT

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan oven low heat. Add flour and whisk for 2 to 3 minutes, being careful not to brown the flour. Whisk in Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, and pepper until very smooth. Whisk in beer. Pour in heavy cream and whisk until smooth. Add Cheddar cheese gradually, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth, about 5 minutes.
• Remove cheese sauce from the heat and let cool, about 5 minutes. Whisk in egg yolks.
• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Toast bread slices on 1 side. Arrange on a baking sheet with the untoasted side facing up. Spoon cheese sauce over the untoasted side.
• Place under the preheated broil until bubbling and golden, 2 to 3 minutes.

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.

RAREBIT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large sauce pot, bring the beer and milk to a simmer (180 degrees F).
• While you are bringing the milk and beer to a simmer, in a separate sauce pot, melt the butter and bacon fat. Once melted, add the onions and sweat until translucent. Add the flour to make the roux, making sure you stir continually so it gets nice and toasty, but doesn't burn to the bottom of the pot. De-glaze the pan with the mustard, Worcestershire sauce, white wine vinegar and thyme. By this time, the milk and beer should be ready to add to the roux. Add slowly, continually stirring to break up chunks and emulsify the mixture. Bring the mixture up to 185 degrees F and remove from the heat. Add the Irish Cheddar, blue cheese and salt and blend with an immersion blender (if you don't have an immersion blender, add the cheese while the mixture is still hot and whisk vigorously with a whisk to fully incorporate).

RAREBIT SMASH BURGERS WITH PUB POTATOES AND HORSERADISH SAUCE

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes, then slice into thin wedges or cut into 3/4-inch dice. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add a drizzle of EVOO. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, then drain on a paper-towel-lined plate. Add the potatoes to the fat in the skillet and season with a little salt and lots of pepper. Cook until browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Cover with foil and cook for 5 minutes. Remove the foil and cook until crisp, 7 to 8 more minutes.
• Mix the sour cream, chives, dill, garlic, horseradish, 2 tablespoons parsley and half-and-half or milk in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• Mix the beef, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard cayenne or hot sauce and the remaining 2 tablespoons parsley in a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and lots of pepper.
• Heat a cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Brush with oil, then add the beef mixture in 4 loose balls of equal size (do not shape them with your hands). Flatten with a spatula into 3/4-inch-thick patties. Scatter the onion slices over the top and press in with the spatula. Cook for 3 minutes, then flip and press the onion into the patties. Cook for 2 more minutes. Douse the pan with the beer and lay the cheese over the patties. Cover and cook until the cheese melts, about 1 minute.
• Serve the burgers on the rolls with pickles and watercress. Drizzle the horseradish sauce over the potatoes and serve on the side.

MUSHROOM RAREBIT WITH MASH & THYME GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put a large pan of water on to boil and salt it well. Boil the potatoes until tender, about 15-20 mins. Drain, return the potatoes to the pan and place over a low heat. Add the butter and milk, then mash until smooth. Remove from the heat and season with salt. Keep warm.
• Meanwhile, brush the mushrooms generously all over with oil. Place gill-side up in a baking dish, bake for 15 mins, then remove from the oven. To make the rarebit topping, melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat and fry the onion for 10-15 mins until soft and translucent. Add the flour and cook for 1 min. Reduce the heat, then add the Guinness, cheese, mustard and seasoning, stirring until the cheese has melted. Add the eggs and stir constantly until the mixture thickens, about 5 mins, but don't overcook or you'll end up with scrambled eggs. Spoon the rarebit mix into the mushroom caps and set aside.
• To make the gravy, heat the oil in a pan over a medium heat and add the onion and thyme. Fry for 10-15 mins until the onion is soft and translucent. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 mins. Add the wine, stock and Marmite, then stir until thick. Simmer for about 5 mins.
• Just before serving, heat the grill to high. Place the mushrooms under the grill and cook for a few mins until the rarebit is puffed and golden. Reheat the mash if you need to, place a spoonful on each plate along with a mushroom. Spoon gravy around and over the mash, scatter with thyme and serve.