ASPARAGUS RAREBIT

This delicious little recipe is a cheeky take on the classic rarebit.  Rarebit put into familiar terms is basically a deeply flavoured cheese on toast.  I added fresh asparagus which works perfectly with the cheesy sauce to create a delicious light meal.

Serves 4

Ingredients

150g asparagus spears, tough ends removed 

50g flour

50g butter, plus extra 

250ml strong beer, warmed

250g strong cheddar cheese, grated

2 tsp English mustard

2 Tbsp Worchestire sauce

1 egg yolk

Pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 large slices sourdough bread

Method

 But a medium sized pot, half filled with lightly salted water to the boil.

Add the asparagus and cook for 4 minutes. Drain and refresh immediately under cold water. Drain.

In a small saucepan, melt the butter and make a roux with the flour. Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly. 

Slowly pour in the beer, stirring all the time, until you have a thick but smooth sauce. Add the grated cheese and stir until melted. You should now have a thick paste. Mix in the mustard and Worcestershire sauce, egg yolk  and season well with black pepper and a pinch of salt.

Lightly toast and butter the bread, spread a layer of the cheesy sauce over the toasted bread.

Lay the asparagus over the sauce, then add more of the sauce. Cook under a hot grill for a few minutes, until browned and bubbling.