In the realm of Southern cuisine, pimento cheese stands as a culinary icon, a delectable spread that has captivated taste buds for generations. Crafted from a harmonious blend of sharp cheddar cheese, tangy mayonnaise, sweet pimentos, and a touch of spice, this creamy concoction offers a delightful balance of flavors that is simply irresistible.
This versatile dish has earned its place as a beloved appetizer, sandwich filler, and party staple, gracing tables and gatherings with its vibrant color and irresistible taste. Whether you prefer a classic pimento cheese recipe or a variation infused with unique ingredients, this article presents a curated collection of recipes that cater to every palate.
From the traditional pimento cheese recipe that stays true to its Southern roots to innovative twists that incorporate bacon, roasted red peppers, and even a touch of heat, these recipes offer a culinary journey that celebrates the versatility of this beloved spread.
So, gather your ingredients, prepare your taste buds, and embark on a delightful exploration of pimento cheese recipes that will elevate your culinary repertoire and leave your guests craving for more.
THE LEE BROTHERS' PIMENTO CHEESE
A decidedly Southern spread with Northern roots, pimento cheese is a simple mix of Cheddar, red bell pepper and mayonnaise that can be found on sandwiches from work sites to garden parties across the 16 states below the Mason-Dixon line. This recipe came to The Times from the Charleston, S.C.-bred cookbook authors and occasional contributors to The Times Matt Lee and Ted Lee.
Provided by The New York Times
Categories quick, dips and spreads
Time 5m
Yield About 1 1/2 cups, enough for 4 sandwiches
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a large mixing bowl, place the cheddar cheese in an even layer. Scatter the cream cheese, pimentos, mayonnaise and chile flakes over the cheddar cheese. Using a spatula, mix the pimento cheese until it is smooth and spreadable, about 1 1/2 minutes.
- Transfer the pimento cheese to a plastic container or bowl, cover tightly, and store in the refrigerator. Pimento cheese keeps in the refrigerator for 1 week.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 240, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 2 grams, Fat 22 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 10 grams, SaturatedFat 10 grams, Sodium 320 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams
PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD
A zippy spread-in-a-jar that is good with crackers, for stuffing celery, or as a spread in finger sandwiches.
Provided by Tara Laine Hoffman
Categories Appetizers and Snacks Dips and Spreads Recipes Cheese Dips and Spreads Recipes Cold Cheese Dip Recipes
Time 5m
Yield 32
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a medium bowl, mash the pimentos using a fork. Mix in cheese, onion, Worcestershire sauce, and mayonnaise. Season to taste with garlic powder and black pepper. Spoon mixture into a container large enough to hold the pimento spread, and store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 63.1 calories, Carbohydrate 0.8 g, Cholesterol 15.1 mg, Fat 5.1 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 3.6 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 91.3 mg, Sugar 0.4 g
SPICY PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD
Steps:
- Combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder and celery seed. Mix in the pickled jalapenos, piquillo peppers and grated Cheddar. Add the Sriracha and combine. Taste and add more mayonnaise and Sriracha, if necessary. Chill before serving.
PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD (MY MOM'S RECIPE)
This is a delicious Pimento Cheese Spread, that my mom has made since I was a kid. You can serve it with crackers, or do what we all do and eat it as a sandwich.
Provided by keen5
Categories Spreads
Time 15m
Yield 1 bowl of spread
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Grind or mash Velveeta and pimiento.
- Add other ingredients and mix well.
- Serve with crackers or as my family does-- spread on bread as a sandwich.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1510.6, Fat 101.6, SaturatedFat 65.4, Cholesterol 376.6, Sodium 6951, Carbohydrate 73.9, Sugar 64.4, Protein 74.4
CREAMY PIMENTO CHEESE
This is the best pimento cheese you will ever have! Its creamy texture makes it excellent for sandwiches or for eating on crackers. Serve at room temperature.
Provided by KANDRSMOM
Categories Appetizers and Snacks Dips and Spreads Recipes Cheese Dips and Spreads Recipes
Time 1h15m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Beat the cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; add Cheddar cheese and continue beating until light and fluffy. Beat in mayonnaise and garlic powder; stir in pimento. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 221.4 calories, Carbohydrate 2.3 g, Cholesterol 51.3 mg, Fat 20.8 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 7.5 g, SaturatedFat 9.8 g, Sodium 253 mg, Sugar 0.5 g
PIMENTO CHEESE
Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network
Categories appetizer
Time 2h15m
Yield 24 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, Dijon, adobo and black pepper in the bowl of an electric mixer and mix until totally combined. Add the Cheddar and Monterey Jack and mix gently until combined. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure all the ingredients are mixed together. Stir in the pimentos and dill, then season with salt.
- Refrigerate the pimento cheese for at least 2 hours before serving with crackers and olives.
QUICK AND EASY PIMENTO CHEESE
I just threw this together one day for a party where I knew there wouldn't be any sandwiches for us non meat eaters. Definitely not for the Vegan. This is a quick and yummy alternative to store bought pimento cheese spread.
Provided by PLUVOID
Categories 100+ Everyday Cooking Recipes Vegetarian
Time 5m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- In a medium bowl combine Cheddar cheese, Colby cheese, pimentos, creamy salad dressing, salt and pepper. Add more or less creamy salad dressing to achieve desired texture. Mix well.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 315.6 calories, Carbohydrate 6.2 g, Cholesterol 65.8 mg, Fat 26 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 14.1 g, SaturatedFat 12.6 g, Sodium 583.3 mg, Sugar 4.8 g
COUNTRY HAM BISCUITS AND SCALLION-PIMENTO CHEESE
Provided by Trisha Yearwood
Time 40m
Yield 16 biscuits
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place a 10-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven to heat.
- For the scallion-pimento cheese: Stir together the cheese, pimentos, mayonnaise and scallions in a large bowl. Set aside, or if making ahead, place in the fridge until ready to use.
- For the country ham biscuits: Mix the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Using a pastry blender or 2 table knives, cut the cold butter cubes into the flour until it resembles coarse meal. Use a fork to stir in the buttermilk to make a soft dough that comes together and leaves the sides of the bowl (make sure all the flour is worked in). Stir in the ham. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead 3 or 4 times until smooth and manageable.
- With your hands or a floured rolling pin, flatten the dough to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Cut the dough out with a 2-inch floured biscuit cutter.
- Remove the skillet from the oven and melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in it. Place the biscuits in the skillet. Bake until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes.
- To serve: Split the biscuits and serve with a generous spread of pimento cheese.
SOUTHERN PIMENTO CHEESE BURGERS
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- To prepare Pimento Cheese, in a medium mixing bowl, combine Cheddar and Jack cheeses, mayonnaise, cream cheese, pimento peppers, pickle juice, horseradish sauce, and mustard; mix until well combined.
- To prepare Honey Slaw, in a small mixing bowl combine mayonnaise, honey, and cabbage; mix until well combined.
- Heat a 12-inch nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook until the bacon is crispy, about 5 minutes, flipping once. Drain on paper towels. Pour off almost all of the bacon fat from the pan, leaving a very thin layer.
- To make the patties, combine the beef, country ham, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it, mix well. Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and form into patties to fit the buns.
- Using the same grill pan as before, cook the hamburgers over medium-high heat for 3 minutes per side or until cooked medium rare.
- Meanwhile, place buns on a rack in the oven. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes. Also, place the plates that the burgers will be served on in the oven to heat.
- To assemble the burgers, spread a generous amount of Pimento Cheese on the cut sides of the buns. On each bun bottom (on top of the Pimento Cheese), place a thin layer of Honey Slaw. Top the slaw with a burger patty, 2 slices of bacon, and crushed potato chips. Add the bun tops. Place the completed hamburgers on a nonstick baking sheet and bake in the oven for 1 minute. Serve burgers on warm plates.
DEVILISHLY HOT PIMENTO CHEESE DIP
Steps:
- First, prepare the bread boule by slicing off the top 2 inches and hollowing out the center, leaving the walls of the boule about an inch thick. Cut the top and insides of the bread into bite-sized cubes and set aside.
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Whisk in the mustard, paprika, cayenne and salt; cook for an additional 2 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the onion/garlic mixture and stir to combine; cook about 2 minutes more. Gradually whisk in the milk and gently simmer for 2 minutes. Add the cream cheese and stir until it melts. Then add the Cheddar cheese. Once all the cheeses are melted, stir in the roasted peppers and hot green chiles. Season with black pepper to taste and additional salt, if necessary.
- Preheat the broiler on high.
- Scoop the pimento cheese mixture into the hollowed-out bread boule and place on a baking sheet. Broil until the top begins to bubble and lightly brown, a couple of minutes. Place the filled boule on a platter and serve immediately with the bread cubes.
JOHN'S PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD
A friend of mine from work gave me this recipe. It is so easy and delicious and I don't usually like pimento cheese. Enjoy!
Provided by Rhonda Brock Fuller
Categories Appetizers and Snacks Dips and Spreads Recipes Cheese Dips and Spreads Recipes Cold Cheese Dip Recipes
Time 2h10m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Stir together the Cheddar cheese, pimentos, and garlic powder. Stir in the mayonnaise a little at a time, until the spread reaches your desired consistency. Refrigerate for 2 hours to let the flavor develop.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 216.9 calories, Carbohydrate 1.8 g, Cholesterol 34.9 mg, Fat 20.3 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 7.4 g, SaturatedFat 7.6 g, Sodium 255.6 mg, Sugar 0.8 g
GRILLED PIMENTO CHEESE SANDWICH
Provided by Claire Robinson
Time 3h27m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Pulse the cheese, mayo, pimentos and cayenne in the food processor until just combined. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours.
- Spread some additional mayo on 1 side of each slice of toasted bread. Arrange 6 slices, mayo-side down, on a clean work surface. Place 2 heaping tablespoons pimento cheese evenly on the 6 slices of bread and top with the remaining 6 slices of bread, mayo-side facing up.
- In a large nonstick skillet over moderate heat, cook 3 sandwiches until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is starting to melt, about 3 minutes. Turn the sandwiches over and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes more. Wipe the pan clean and repeat with the remaining 3 sandwiches.
- What To Toss In: If you like your pimento really spicy, you can always add some chipotle in adobe sauce to give it a smoky flavor. This can also be used as an entertaining dip. Just arrange some baby carrots and cut up some celery sticks around the cheese. People will flock to it.
PIMENTO MAC & CHEESE CUSTARD
The best way to have your macaroni in the freezer: a custard-style baked mac 'n' cheese. This one uses eggs and béchamel to bind very cheesy noodles.
Provided by Ashley Christensen
Categories Macaroni and Cheese Freezer Food Freeze/Chill Egg Vegetarian Dinner Thanksgiving Cheese Milk/Cream Soy Free Tree Nut Free Peanut Free Pasta
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Fill a large pot with the water and add 2 tablespoons salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, add the macaroni, and cook for about 5 minutes, until just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the white and aged Cheddars and the Parmesan. Remove and reserve one-fourth of the cheese mix for the top. To the bowl with the rest of the cheese mix, add the macaroni, pimentos, and flour and mix well to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until blended, then whisk in the hot sauce, evaporated milk, half-and-half, and 2 teaspoons salt, mixing well. While whisking constantly, slowly add the béchamel to create a custard. Pour the custard evenly over the noodle mixture.
- Cover with a layer of plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil and bake for 50 minutes, rotating the dish 180 degrees halfway through baking. Uncover the dish. If you plan to eat the mac and cheese right away, sprinkle the reserved cheese on top. If you plan to freeze the dish, do not add the cheese. Continue to bake, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes, until set, golden, and bubbling. Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
- TO FREEZE: Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until well chilled. Wrap the baking dish in two layers of plastic wrap, label and date, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- TO THAW: You can reheat this dish from frozen, or you can pull it out of the freezer and thaw it in the refrigerator for a minimum of 24 hours.
- TO REHEAT: If reheating from frozen, unwrap the dish, place in a cold oven, and set the oven to 350°F. When the oven reaches temperature, bake for 1½ hours, then sprinkle the surface with the remaining cheese mix and bake for 15 minutes longer, until bubbling. If reheating after thawing, cut the cook time to 30 to 45 minutes.
PIMENTO CHEESE STUFFED BURGERS
Steps:
- For the pimento cheese: Add the Cheddars, cream cheese, pimentos and mayo to a bowl and mix together. Add the chives, garlic powder, cayenne, smoked paprika and salt and pepper and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Place the cheese mixture on a sheet of plastic wrap and form into a log. Freeze for a few minutes or refrigerate up to overnight.
- For the sauce: Mix together the mayonnaise, hot sauce, Worcestershire, paprika and 1 tablespoon reserved pimento juice in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
- For the burgers: Preheat a grill to medium heat.
- Mix the meats, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire, egg, salt and pepper together in a bowl with your hands until completely combined. Divide the meat into 8 portions and shape each into large thin patties. Slice four 1/2-inch slices off the pimento cheese log (reserve the rest for another use...snacking!). Place a pimento cheese slice on four of the patties and then top them with the remaining four patties, sealing the sides of the patties to enclose the cheese. (See Cook's Note.)
- Lightly oil the grill grates. Add the patties to the hot grill and cook until they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees F, about 4 minutes per side.
- Spread the sauce on the buttered buns. Top each with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and a patty and close the burgers. Eat with lots of napkins.
PIMENTO CHEESE GRITS
Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network
Categories side-dish
Time 30m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Put the bacon in a medium pot over medium heat and cook until crisp, 8 to 12 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Add the scallion whites and garlic to the pot to cook in the residual bacon fat. Cook, stirring, for a minute or two, then pour in the warmed stock. Raise the heat and bring it to a boil.
- Slowly whisk in the grits. Cook until the liquid is all absorbed, about 5 minutes, then stir in the cream cheese, pimentos, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, adobo, mustard, salt and pepper to taste and half of the reserved bacon. Serve garnished with the remaining bacon and reserved scallion greens.
PIMENTO CHEESE, AUTHENTIC SOUTHERN STYLE
Growing up, all of the ladies in my Southern family used to make and serve it to us kids smushed between two slices of white bread. (Ritz Crackers were fancy and for company only.) My Mama & Papa (Grandparents) owned the largest catering business and several restaurants in Jacksonville, Florida. I called my Mom to get the exact recipe. I wanted the familiarity of fishing with a cane pole, cork bobbers and mushed bread for bait on Dunn's Creek in Palatka with dirty hands and a pimento cheese sandwich. It really is delicious.
Provided by SparkleKristy
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 30m
Yield 4 16oz jelly jars
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Rough cut all blocks of cheese into chunks about the size of a 50 cent piece.
- In your food processor with the regular blade, chop the extra sharp cheddar. You may have to do this in batches so you don't get a big lump. Return any removed cheese to the processing bowl and add a couple dollops of mayo and one jar of very well drained pimentos and whir up until blended nicely.
- Scrape the sharp cheddar, mayonnaise and pimento mixture into a large bowl.
- Change your blade to the shredding blade. Shred both the Colby and the sharp cheddar in batches. Put in a separate bowl. (Again, batches will be necessary.).
- Add the shredded cheese to the whirred up cheese folding it in a little at a time. Alternating with dollops of mayo and more of the drained pimentos. Lastly, stir in a smidge of cayenne. You don't want it to be hot, just have personality.
- Don't over stir to mush, but make sure everything is well incorporated.
- Some notes:.
- **Yes, one could use Hellman's instead. But please, no Miracle Whip. Also, no low fat or light mayo. Your already eating a ton of cheese, that light mayo won't help you any.
- **Serve on very fresh white bread or Ritz Crackers if you are feeling fancy or are serving company. One piece of bread folded in half will transport you home, I'm sure. Yes, you could use anything else you like. It's great by the finger full, on hot dogs, hamburgers and crudités too.).
- **If you can't find the chopped pimentos. Go ahead and buy the fancy jarred red bell peppers, drain them well and chop / shred them in the food processor. They are the same thing, just more expensive.
- **This stays good in the refrigerator for up to a month. (If it lasts that long.) Even with mayo? Yes -- How long do you keep your mayonnaise jar in the fridge? Ya'll will know when it's gone bad; the green furry stuff will take over. If it has just a little though, you can scrape it off and its fine. (Now the Food Safety people may disagree with me here, but it never killed any of us, so it's up to you.)
- **This makes four (4) 16oz Ball jelly jars. Enough to keep and some to share.
- **Please, for the love of God above -- don't buy pre-shredded cheese. It is too expensive and has extra ingredients in it that keep the shreds separate. 1 cup by volume of shredded cheese is not the same as 8oz of weight. You could go ALLLLL authentic and grate by hand with a box grater and work off some of the calories you'll eat when tasting for perfection. It's tough though. Please, beg, borrow or all but steal to get a food processor for this one.
- **The mix of cheeses is as similar as you can get to the old government cheese from which this recipe was initially invented. We were just fortunate enough not to be on the list for those 10lb blocks of cheese, but one would find this mixture very similar.
- ** There is no cream cheese in this recipe. You get the creaminess from the way you process the extra sharp cheddar.
- **Fancy cheese is not necessary. Get generic, it's perfectly fine.
- **If you've ever had the kind in the jar and hated it, no worries. This is totally different. That other stuff is chemical in a jar.
- **Please, enjoy with your choice of a Mason jar of sweet tea, some very sweet red Kool-Aid or fruit punch Fla-Vor-Aid! I hope if your familar that it take you back. If it's new to you -- it can be a new tradition. It's like grilled cheese without the grill.
- Lip Smack -- ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
WORLD'S BEST PIMENTO CHEESE
Never liked pimento cheese until we ate it at Papa Robin's, a now-defunct restaurant in Jasper, Arkansas. This is a recreation of their marvelous pimento cheese.
Provided by Breanna Baylor
Categories < 4 Hours
Time 1h30m
Yield 2 pints
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Puree till smooth in processor the mayo, cream cheese, garlic, parsley and sauces.
- Turn into bowl.
- now, in food processor, process just till coursely chopped, 1 cup pecans; add pecans and pimentos, with juice, to mayo mixture.
- Now grate cheese in food processor Put into bowl with remaining ingredients.
- Stir well to combine.
- Let stand, refrigerated, at least 1 hour.
- Even better the next day.
PIMENTO-CHEESE SPREAD
In many parts of the South, a party doesn't start until someone brings out the pimento-cheese spread. This entertaining favorite is always great with crackers, cocktail bread slices, or cut-up fresh veggies.
Provided by By Jessica Walker
Categories Snack
Time 15m
Yield 24
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Using grater with large holes, shred cheese product into large bowl. Stir in Cheddar cheese and pimientos. Add mayonnaise; stir and fold until mixture is creamy. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until serving time. Serve with crackers, cocktail bread slices, pretzels or cut-up fresh veggies.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 Serving
PAULA DEEN'S PIMENTO CHEESE
This Southern classic is adapted from a recipe by Paula Deen, the television chef, cookbook author and restaurateur, but pimento cheese has long been indispensable for parties, gatherings and afternoon feasts. The heat from the garlic powder and grated onion cuts through the creaminess of the cheese and mayonnaise, and the pimentos give it an unforgettable punch. Serve it with celery, or spread on your favorite crackers or sandwich bread. It's a creamy, cheesy crowd-pleaser.
Provided by Julia Moskin
Categories breakfast, brunch, dinner, lunch, quick, condiments
Time 10m
Yield About 2 cups
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Add remaining ingredients and beat until well blended. Add more mayonnaise as needed to make mixture hold together. Add salt and pepper to taste (it should be quite peppery) and use as a sandwich spread or a filling for celery sticks. Can be refrigerated up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 257, UnsaturatedFat 14 grams, Carbohydrate 1 gram, Fat 25 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 8 grams, SaturatedFat 10 grams, Sodium 313 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams
PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD
Steps:
- Place the pimentos in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Transfer to a mixing bowl along with the Cheddar. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in the mayonnaise.
Tips:
- To save time, use a food processor or blender to combine the ingredients.
- For a smoother spread, use a higher-quality cheddar cheese.
- If you don't have pimento peppers, you can substitute finely chopped red bell peppers.
- Feel free to add other ingredients to your pimento cheese, such as chopped bacon, green onions, or jalapeños.
- Pimento cheese can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Conclusion:
Pimento cheese is a classic Southern spread that is perfect for sandwiches, crackers, and vegetable platters. It's easy to make and can be customized to your liking. So next time you're looking for a quick and delicious snack, give pimento cheese a try!
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