Welsh Rarebit – Veggie Style

 

MEGA BLOGGING MARATHON -APRIL 2018

#87TH BLOGGING MARATHON

THEME: EXPLORE THE FLAVORS – INTERNATIONAL BREAKFAST

DAY 23

“Breakfast like a King, Lunch like Prince and Dine like a Pauper”

When I was doing my research for W, waffles kept on popping in my head. I love waffles but surprisingly I still don’t own a waffle machine. A note to self “next buy a waffle machine”. I do come across various gadgets being sold on the local online sites but have been a bit skeptical to purchase anything online in Kenya. Whenever I’m in India I just love shopping online, Amazon and Big Basket mainly. When we were setting up our Bangalore home, most of the light fittings and furniture was bought online by my daughter. Most of her wedding shopping was online.

As I had mentioned last week my blender conked out, the bottom bit came off from the jug because of rust (thanks to salty water in the taps). I wanted to go to check  out food processors at some of the shops to buy it. Majority of the appliances we get here are China made, so no guarantee that it will last a few years. Hubby insisted that I check out the local online shopping site Jumia. Looking at the stuff they offer, I ordered 3 items. The cheapest, a hand pump for the water bottle arrived without any problem. So was happy that the rest will follow. The delivery was suppose to be within 3 days but got delayed. The second item, my blender arrived 2 days late, but I thought oh well at least it has arrived. I opened the box (me like a kid opening a present), and the food processor refused to work! Hubby plugged it in all the sockets around our apartment but no miracles happened. Now to save our life, we can’t get the styrofoam which should fit snuggly on top to fit at all. Did the styrofoam somehow breathe in some air? And the third order was canceled as it’s out of order. So I questioned “then why do you still have it on your site?” The answer ” Just to let people know what possible things we sell on Jumia”. Now what do I say? I was left speechless. Don’t think I’ll risk buying a waffle machine online!

So hunt for a working blender is still on. In the meantime lets tackle Day 23 breakfast which is Welsh rarebit or rabbit.  As the name indicates its from WALES. What is a rarebit? Well it has nothing to do with a rabbit. Just like there is no toad in a hole in toad in the hole or a Bombay duck is not a duck.  Its basically a toasted bread with melted cheese on top. Some season it with mustard and other spices, some mix the cheese into a béchamel sauce with some Worcestershire sauce or ale added to it. This toast is then served with some eggs, either fried or an omelette.

The origin of this dish is unknown but there are suggestions that it originated from the South Wales Valleys staple which is cheese mixed in a milk and egg mixture,seasoned and baked till the sauce firms up and the cheese melts.

My Welsh rarebit is a vegetarian version as I chose not to serve it with egg and I didn’t use any Worcestershire sauce as it contains anchovies. I made a version of the sauce at home without the anchovies.

WELSH RAREBIT

MAKES 6 PIECES

Ingredients for the Welsh Rarebit:

6 thick slices of any rustic bread

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1½ tbsp butter

1 tbsp plain flour (all purpose flour)

½ cup milk or beer

½ cup grated cheddar cheese

1 big green apple, thinly sliced

¼ tsp pepper powder

½ tsp chilli flakes

Ingredients for the Veggie Worcestershire sauce:

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

½ tbsp light brown sugar

¼ tsp yellow mustard powder

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 tbsp soy sauce

¼ tsp ginger paste

¼ tsp onion powder

a generous pinch of cinnamon powder

To serve:

Any green salad leaves or chopped spring onion or fresh coriander

Salt if required

Preparation of the Worcestershire sauce:

1. Put all the ingredients in a small pan.
2. Bring it to boil over medium heat.
3. Reduce the heat and let it simmer till its reduced to half the quantity.
4. Remember to stir gently in between.
5. Strain the sauce using a sieve.
6. Let it cool before using.

Preparation of Welsh Rarebit:

1. Lightly toast the bread slices under the broiler (grill) or in a toaster.
2. Slice the apple thinly.
3. Prepare the sauce. Heat butter in a saucepan over low heat.
4. When it melts, add the flour and stir till it becomes a very pale pink colour.
5. Take the pan off the heat. Add milk or beer, stirring it continuously as you pour the liquid.
6. Add ¼ of the cheese and 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce into the mixture and mix.
7. Heat the sauce in the pan over low heat, stirring it continuously in one direction only so that the sauce does not become stringy.
8. As the sauce becomes a bit hot, add the remaining cheese. Stir continuously till the sauce becomes thick.
9. Add pepper and mix.
10. Layer the toasted slices of bread on a baking tray.
11. Arrange the sliced apple pieces on the bread slices.
12. Top with the cheese sauce.
13. Sprinkle chilli flakes on top.
14. Place the tray under the hot broiler or grill.
15. Let it bake till brown spots appear on the sauce.
16. Remove the tray from the under the grill or broiler.
17. Arrange Welsh Rarebit on a serving plate.
18. Top it up with salad greens, spring onion or coriander and serve.

Tips:

• Use the remaining Worcestershire  sauce for other dishes.
• Serve fried egg or omelette, ham or bacon or grilled tomatoes, mushrooms on the Welsh rarebit.
• Welsh Rarebit can be made without the apple slices.
• I have not mentioned the amount of salt required as the required amount comes from the Worcestershire sauce and the cheddar cheese. You can add some if needed, to the sauce.

A – Z Breakfast Dishes:

A – Apple Aeblskiver – Denmark

B – Baghrir – Morocco

C – Changua – Colombia

D – Dutch baby Pancakes – Germany /USA

E – English Breakfast – England

F – French Toast – Canada

G – Griddle/Girdle Scones – Scotland

H – Hafragrautur – Iceland

I – Idiyappam – India

J – Johnnycakes – The Caribbean

K – Khabees – Bahrain

L – Lahooh/Lahoh – Somalia

M – Masoub – Yemen

N – Nasi Goreng – Indonesia

O – Oladushki – Russia

P – Pandesal – The Philippines

Q – Qistibi – Tatarstan and Bashkortostan

R – Red Rice Porridge – Bhutan

S – Suafa’i – Samoa

T – Tomato Omelette – Armenia

U – Uji – Kenya

V – Vary Sosoa – Madagascar

Check out what other Mega Blogging Marathoners have made for Day 23:

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