Welsh Rarebit is a thick, rich, cheese sauce, traditionally made with ale, Worchester sauce and mustard grilled onto a thick slice of toasted bread. This traditional Welsh dish is often nicknamed 'posh cheese on toast' since it shares its two key ingredients, cheese and bread, with the simple snack.
However, the recipe for Welsh Rarebit isn't as straightforward and involves making a Bechamel sauce using flour and butter which is much richer and creamier. In this recipe, I'll show you how I make a Welsh rarebit without beer whilst still keeping that thick and creamy consistency.
Can You Make Welsh Rarebit Without Beer?
A traditional Welsh Rarebit recipe will use a stout to add flavour to this dish. However, more and more people are using less alcohol in their daily life, both in their food and lifestyle. A new trend of sobriety, people going alcohol-free and taking part in health kicks like ‘sober for October’ makes this the perfect people-pleasing recipe for all lifestyles and ages.
To make an alcohol-free Welsh rarebit without beer, simply take the stout out of your recipe and replace it with a little extra milk. Here is my full recipe for you.
Welsh Rarebit Recipe Without Beer
Ingredients
- 300ml Milk
- 160g Strong Welsh Cheddar
- 30g Unsalted butter
- 30g plain flour
- 1 tbsp Wholegrain Mustard
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- Pinch of chopped chives to serve
- 2 large slices of crusty farmhouse bread
Instructions
First, we start by making our basic roux by putting a saucepan on medium heat and melting your butter.
Add your flour to make a paste-like substance before slowly adding milk to your roux. Whisk well until your roux and milk have combined into a sauce-like consistency.
Add your cheese, Worchester sauce and mustard. Stir thoroughly until the cheese has melted and your ingredients are evenly distributed. Keep on low heat while stirring until your sauce thickens. Set aside and leave the sauce to cool for 15-20 mins
Lightly toast your bread and top it with your cheese sauce, then place under the grill for 1-2 minutes until golden brown.
Carefully take out your hot cheesy toast and sprinkle some chives on the top to finish. Serve alongside a fresh salad or another great accompaniment, take a look at some ideas on our traditional Welsh Rarebit Recipe page.
Chef's tips
For this recipe, you'll need a pan, cheese grater, and a whisk.
If you still want the flavour of the stout but with no alcohol, try a zero per cent Guinness instead of the milk as a great alternative.
Leaving the sauce to set for 15-20 Minutes allows you to easily spread it on your toast before grilling without any mess. This is optional but we prefer to do it to stop the runny cheese from going everywhere.
Other Variations on the Recipe
If you still want the flavour and richness of the stout there are some variations you can try. There are many ways to create an alcohol-free Rarebit, giving you plenty of choices to suit everyone. Take a look at some of the options and see what takes your fancy!
- Crème Fraiche and Egg Yolk – If you want to avoid alcohol altogether, replace your ale with 2 egg yolks and 100g of Crème Fraiche, this will add moisture to your sauce to get your thick and creamy consistency.
ㅤ - Alcohol-Free Stout – If you still want the flavour of the stout without the alcohol, Guinness has recently brought out a zero per cent, meaning you can have the same great flavour but without the alcohol content. Guinness 0.0% can now be purchased at any major supermarket in the alcohol aisle and works as a great alternative.
ㅤ - Wine – You can add a sweet white wine to your cheese sauce as an alternative to beer. The sweetness of the wine complements the rich cheese sauce to give it a modern twist and unique flavour.
ㅤ - Cider – Cider Is a popular alternative to a stout in modern Welsh Rarebit Recipes, as it complements the mature cheese while giving it an extra kick with its fruity flavour. You can also use a zero per cent cider version to keep the dish alcohol-free.
Related Questions
Can You Eat Welsh Rarebit When Pregnant?
If you are pregnant, you can eat this version of Welsh Rarebit, but you cannot have traditional Rarebit as it contains alcohol.
Can You Use Lager in Welsh Rarebit?
Yes, you can use lager in Welsh Rarebit, although it is traditionally made with a stout.
Can You Use Cider in Welsh Rarebit?
Yes, you can also use Cider in Welsh Rarebit, in fact, it goes particularly well with a nice Caerphilly cheese for your recipe.
Published: 22 December 2022