Pimento Cheese Recipe

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Joshua Bousel
Pimento Cheese Recipe

Do we really need a spread that's primarily cheese and mayonnaise? In the case of pimento cheese, the answer is yes. My Texan wife turned me onto this Southern classic, which is simply a mixture of grated sharp cheddar, mayo, pimentos, cayenne, and hot sauce. There are variations on this, but the most simple form is our favorite.

The pimentos go a long way in defining the flavor against the cheesy, creamy base. The cayenne and hot sauce add a little heat as a secondary bite after the sharpness of the cheddar.

It does not help my health that this is delicious on so many things—sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, crackers, and celery just to name a few—but it's hard to resist not eating it all the time whenever we have a batch sitting in the fridge.

Read more: From Scientific Cuisine to Southern Icon: The Real History of Pimento Cheese

  • Yield:Makes about 3 cups
  • Active time: 15 minutes
  • Total time:15 minutes
  • Rated: 4.8571428571429

Ingredients

  • 1 lb sharp cheddar cheese, grated
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 7-oz jar pimentos, drained and finely diced
  • 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

  1. 1.

    In a medium bowl mix together cheese, mayonnaise, pimentos, hot sauce, and cayenne. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

This Recipe Appears In
From Scientific Cuisine to Southern Icon: The Real History of Pimento Cheese
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