Welsh Rarebit

Welsh Rarebit is one of those ultimate comfort foods, quick and easy to make, but at the same time so morish. But why Rarebit? Apparently it’s pronounced ‘rabbit’, and harks back to eighteenth century England,back in the day, rabbit was the meat you ate if you were poor, but the Welsh were so poverty stricken that even the meagre rabbit was beyond their means. So they ate cheese instead. And when it comes out this good, who could blame them?
Ingredients

• 50g butter
• 1 tablespoon plain flour
• 100ml of good quality dark British ale
• 350g mature Cheddar cheese
• 2 teaspoons of English Mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 pinch of pepper
• 4 slices of fresh thickly sliced bread

Method

1. Melt the butter in a pan over a medium heat. Once melted add the flour and stir constantly until the mixture thickens, 2-3 minutes.
2. Toast the bread.
3. Next add the ale, stirring constantly again until the mixture thickens, which should be 1-2 minutes.
4. Turn down the heat, add the mustard, salt, pepper to taste. Stir the mixture slowly until all the cheese has melted, around 2-3 minutes.
5. Get the toast, and pour the sauce mixture evenly over the bread.
6. Add a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce, and finish off under the grill for a crispy top.

Serve with grilled tomatoes and salad or with tomato soup.