Welsh rarebit is a British dish made by grilling a topping of melted cheese mixed with ale, mustard, and seasonings on toast.
The preparation is related to cheese on toast, but classic rarebit uses a seasoned cheese sauce rather than simply placing sliced cheese on bread. Recipes often include beer or ale, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, butter, and pepper.
The modern name became established in the eighteenth century. Earlier forms were called “Welsh rabbit,” although the dish contains no rabbit. “Rarebit” was likely a later humorous alteration that helped avoid taking the original joke literally.
Despite its Welsh name, rarebit is part of the wider British food tradition and appears in regional and household cookbooks across the United Kingdom. The exact cheese varies, but mature Cheddar is a common choice.