Welsh rarebit, also known as Welsh rabbit.

Welsh Rarebit / Welsh Rabbit

A classic recipe for a highly flavoured cheese on toast dish, Welsh Rarebit. Also known as Welsh Rabbit. This dish is thought to have originated in the 1700’s.

Ingredients

60gm/2oz of cheddar cheese per person

2 slices of toast per person

salt and pepper

mustard powder

Worcestershire sauce

beer – the more flavour in the beer, the better. If you don’t want to use beer you can use milk, an oil-based salad dressing or all three!

Method

Put your cheese into the top of a double boiler over a gentle heat.

Add the mustard, salt and pepper.

Add some Worcestershire sauce.

Once it starts to melt add just enough beer to make it into a thick paste.

Add more beer if necessary once it has fully melted.

Spread the cheese on your toast and brown under the grill (or broiler if you’re in the US)

Cheese spread from the 1920's on toast

Cheese Spread

Two of the great things about making your own cheese spreads is that you can use lactose free dairy products for a totally lactose free spread, and you can flavour it any way you like.

Ingredients

2 cups of hard cheese – use lactose free cheese for a lactose free spread

2 eggs

salt, pepper and mustard to taste

2 tablespoons of milk – use lactose free milk for a lactose free spread

2 tablespoons of butter (optional) or dairy free margarine

Makes enough spread for 14-16 slices of toast/sandwiches

 Method

Mix everything together in the top of a double boiler and stir over a medium heat.

If you’re going to use it straight away cook it until it’s as thick as you want but still spreadable.

If you’re going to store it in the fridge, cook it until it’s about as thick as thick or double cream as it will set firmer in the fridge.

To serve, spread on toast, crackers or crusty bread.