Pimento Cheese Recipe

Southern pimento cheese is a perfect spread that you can prepare with common kitchen ingredients. Make spice-up grilled cheese sandwiches with pimento cheese, and your guests will love you for that. This easy-to-make dish that can be prepared in just 15 minutes. You can serve it as a spread, as a dip, or alongside. Below, you will find detailed instructions that will help you to make pimento cheese easily.

Pimento cheese is a delightful Southern classic that brings a burst of flavor and creaminess to any meal or snack. The combination of sharp cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, diced pimentos, and optional jalapeños creates a creamy and slightly spicy spread that's incredibly versatile. Whether you enjoy it as a dip, a sandwich filling, or a topping for grilled items, pimento cheese adds a unique Southern twist to your dishes. This recipe is not only easy to make but also customizable to your taste preferences. You can adjust the level of heat by adding more or fewer jalapeños, making it perfect for everyone at your table.

Vadim Rachok

Chef

What is Pimento Cheese?

Pimento cheese is a classic Southern dish that this used as a spread or a dip. The main ingredients are sharp cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, and diced pimento peppers. Pimento peppers are sweet, red cherry peppers that add a slight heat and unique flavor to the dish. The ingredients are typically blended into a creamy, flavorful mixture.

Pimento Cheese Ingredients

The ingredients you need to use are basic, so you can find them without complications. The combination of these products adds a unique flavor to the dish. Well, let’s take a look at each of them and find out how they contribute to the overall flavor, texture, and richness of the dish.

• Cheese: It is the main ingredient in pimento cheese. The cheese provides a rich and savory flavor.
• Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise adds creaminess to the mix and contributes to a smooth and spreadable consistency. It also adds a slightly tangy flavor.
• Cream cheese: Cream cheese increases the creaminess and thickness of the spread.
• Pimentos: They have a mild heat and distinctive flavor. Diced pimentos add color and a sweet, slightly spicy element.
• Jalapeños: If you like a little heat, you can add jalapeños. They enhance the flavor profile and give the pimento cheese a spicier touch.
• Spices and seasonings: The dish is seasoned with garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. They add depth and complexity to the overall flavor.

How to Make Pimento Cheese?

1. To make pimento cheese, you need to gather all the necessary ingredients. 
2. Then, place Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, pimento, minced jalapeño, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and onion powder in a bowl and mix well until well combined.
3. Season a spread with salt and paper to taste.
4. Enjoy!

Recipe tips:

• Use an electric mixer or spoon to blend for perfect texture and flavor. Do not use a food processor if you want to preserve most of the texture of the spread.
• It is better to grate the cheese yourself. Do not buy the pre-shredded stuff, it will not be the same.

How to serve Pimento Cheese?

• You can eat the pimiento cheese just about any way we can. You can use it on crackers, between two slices of white bread, or on vegetable slices. 
• You can also try a scoop of pimiento cheese on your burger, grilled chicken sandwich, grilled cheese sandwich, or omelet.
• Stir it into your scrambled eggs, macaroni and cheese, or chili.

Storage advances

It is best to refrigerate this spread until 30 minutes before serving. To store leftovers, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.