Welsh rarebit

[sherrardk]

Is there any way of cooking Welsh rarebit on the oven - my grill doesn't work and I haven't had any form of cheese on toast for months (I have been thinking about food all evening since we came back from a crap meal out). Thanks

[Buenchico]

The cheesy bit is easy in a microwave. (It's the very first thing I ever cooked in a microwave oven!):
http://www.mail-archi...nga.com/msg01144.html
but the toast could be tricky without a grill (unless you've got a toaster, or an open fire, of course). You could try experimenting with a slice of bread in the top a very hot oven but I suspect that you might simply end up with dried bread, rather than proper toast.

Chris

[dzug2]

You can probably make an attempt at it. 'Cook' the slice of bread for a few minutes, put the slice of cheese (or the gratings) on it and cook for a bit longer. It might not be quite 'right' but should at least be edible.

Timings will be experimental

[sherrardk]

That's what I thought about the toast bit - I would do it on bread rolls though (idea stolen from a pub in Kegworth - we would go there just for their Welsh Rarebit and I would have a double helping!).

[sherrardk]

I don't cook my rarebit mix before toasting (I have a recipe that I am sticking to). Might try some bread in the oven tomorrow to see how it goes. Wouldn't want to get my hopes up and then find it is like cheese on paving slabs.

[Graham-W]

How about frying the bread to make it crisp like toast. Then add the cheese etc.

[sherrardk]

The cheese bit needs some form of heat to make it melt, just concerned if I put it on toast and then put it in the oven the toast will dry out and become really hard.

[dzug2]

The cheese should prevent - or at least minimise - the drying out

[sherrardk]

That's what I was thinking plus the addition of bread rolls as the bases (being thick and more squishy than a piece of bread might just do the trick). Could toast the top bit of the cut rolls on the bagel setting in the toaster to stop the cheese bit soaking in too much.

[albaqwerty]

Do the fried bread as Graham suggests and slap the cheese on top. Let it melt a tad, add a sprinkle of chives/sping oinions

[sherrardk]

The cheese bit (it's got more to it than just cheese) will need a bit of heat and, ideally, needs to be golden brown (I really need to crack this one now, I can almost taste it).

[askyourgran]

We sometimes had cheese in milk a long time ago, grated cheese in a dish seasoned with whatever....... mustard etc, covered over with some milk until the cheese melted in hot oven 200f or gas 6 for about 20-25mins. It won't brown the cheese but it would be soft to spoon onto the fried bread. Quite fancy trying it myself now.

[sherrardk]

Hi Eddie - I've got a toaster but thanks for looking.

Gran - you've just reminded me that my grandad used to do us a plate of cheese melted in his Rayburn.

We also used to have bacon, fried bread, fried apple and fried cheese for breakfast on Christmas day, maybe that will satisfy my need for melted cheese without ruining my Welsh rarebit.

[sherrardk]

Thanks Eddie, will give it a go.

[DaisyNonna]

If only one could make decent cheese on toast with half fat cheese. Or anythimg else cooked with half fat cheese for that matter.

[sherrardk]

What's wrong with half fat cheese - does it not taste of much or does it melt the wrong way?

[DaisyNonna]

Both, particularly the melting bit.