When I was a kid Mom used to buy a product called Welsh Rarebit. It was in a can and I have to admit that it was pretty tasty. I can't find it anywhere now. If you know where it is (and who makes it) please contact me! I want to relive my childhood.
Anyway, Mom didn't know it was made with beer or I'm fairly sure she wouldn't have bought it. Back then they were not required to list every ingredient (if any) on the label.
She would toast up some good toast, not in the toaster but with some butter and in a pan. Golden and buttery, these thick slices of French bread were the perfect vessel for the Rarebit.
I guess is that if Mom had a recipe, this would be it:
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dry mustard
- ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 drops hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco®) (Optional)
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup beer
- ½ pound Cheddar cheese, shredded
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat; blend in the flour, salt, pepper, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and hot pepper sauce; continue cooking and stirring until the mixture is smooth and bubbly about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat; gradually stir in the milk; return to heat and stir continually until the mixture comes to a boil. Slowly pour in the beer; cook 1 minute more while still stirring.
- Melt the Cheddar cheese into the mixture in small portions until completely incorporated.
- Remove from heat.
270 calories; protein 11.5g; carbohydrates 7.2g; fat 21.1g; cholesterol 63.3mg; sodium 505.2mg.
Now, I have to tell you, there's really very little you can do to this recipe to make it lighter and frankly, I'm not sure you want to. But if you want to try, here are some recommendations:
1) Remove the additional salt.
2) Go for a lighter beer (it won't taste AS good but it will work)
3) Just eat less of it and do it on a lower-carb or bread filled with fiber.