What is Pimento Cheese? How to Make Pimento Cheese Spread?

Pimento Cheese is a cheddar cheese and pimento pepper dip. It is popularly known as Southern pâté or pâté du Sud. Pimento cheese is smooth and rich, slightly acidic, has a pungent, hot pepper like taste if hot peppers are used, and comes in a spreadable consistency. If you like cheddar, you’re going to go nuts over pimento cheese as the new party dip and sandwich condiment.

What is Pimento Cheese?

The basic pimento cheese is made of just cheese, mayonnaise, and pimento and it is usually served in clubs or dive bars. It is common that each person contributes little things to the design that it becomes something unique to them. In this recipe mix in some cream cheese for extra creaminess with two other types of cheese:  bright sharp cheddar and Monterey jack. Then I stir in the yummy items such as Dijon mustard to make it spicier, some more adobo sauce, some pepper and fresh dill.

Pimento Cheese Recipe:

Ingredients:  Ingredients to make pimento cheese at home:

• Cheese: For this recipe you may need shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese. You may feel free to employ both regular and sharp Cheddar cheese if you prefer to do so.
• Mayonnaise: In the conventional recipes of pimento cheese, mayonnaise is an essential ingredient for this food.
• Cream Cheese: This spread is traditional pimento cheese with a twist: cream cheese is added for extra richness.
• Pimentos: Oh, yes: You’re going to have to use jarred pimentos here!
• Jalapeños: The use of minced jalapeño is not compulsory although it is useful for lovers of hot meals.
• Seasonings: Salt, pepper, cayenne, and garlic powder.

Instructions:

1. To the bowl of an electric mixture, add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, dijon, adobo sauce, and black pepper. Blend into a smooth paste (if you have small puddles of uncoloured batter from the cream cheese, it’s fine – you won’t see them when it comes out of the oven).

2. Mix in the cheddar and monterey jack and blend it gently, until well incorporated. Finally, bringing the mixture down to the bowl, use a rubber spatula to also ensure all is well incorporated. Next to this mix in the pimentos and dill. Taste and mix in more of any of the items on the recipe that you may think requires more of it. If you want the pimento cheese to be thicker, add more cheese and if you want it to be smooth and creamy add less.

3. Extent the pimento cheese for at least 2 hours before serving the food to your clients or family members.

4. This dish is perfect with crackers, small peppers where you can remove seeds and fill with this mixture, carrots and celery and olives. (Or make a small sandwich, or even a grilled cheese with it)

Pimento Cheese Sandwich Recipe:

Ingredients:

• Shredded cheddar cheese

• Mayonnaise

• Diced pimentos

• Cream cheese

• Garlic powder 

• Onion powder 

• Salt and pepper

• Sliced bread 

Instructions:

1. Make the Pimento Cheese Spread:

• In a bowl, blend the shredded cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, diced pimentos and cream cheese.
• Sauté the garlic and onion and add seasonings.
• Stir until all are well incorporated, then ensure we have a creamy texture of the spread.

2. Assemble the Sandwich:

• Lay a thick layer of the pimento cheese mixture on one slice of bread.
• Place the other side of the bread on top, to finish making the sandwich.

3. Optional Variations:

• Grilled: To prepare a sort of warm and melty one, pan-grill the sandwich in a pan with butter until each side is brown.
• Additions: For extra flare add in such items as crispy bacon bits, diced tomatoes or pickles to give the pizza that extra kick.

4. Serve:

• Serve this sandwich immediately, with or without sides such as chips, pickles, or a basic green salad Fashion the sandwich into a ‘boat’ shape before slicing in half and serving.

Pimento cheese sandwiches are flexible and can be consumed as a snack or lunch, but can also be used in parties as well as picnics. Because of their high, sour taste they are dear to every southern cook and many others besides.

How to Make Pimento Cheese Spread?

To make Pimento cheese spread take:

2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup softened cream cheese, and 1/4 cup diced pimentos. To improve the taste and add some colors, stir in ¼tsp of garlic powder, onion powder and paprika, optional, mixed with the ground turkey, pepper, salt, and optional hot sauce to taste. Blend all the above ingredients until well combined then let the spread refrigerate for not less than half an hour. This is a very flexible food to consume as a sandwich spread, a spread on crackers or as a dip with vegetables.

Conclusion:

It continues with pimento cheese that is a staple in the South in which simplicity is combined with the rapture of flavors. This spread is soon made with sharp cheddar cheese, mayonnaise and chopped pimentos in a sour and cheesy sauce that can be improved with cream cheese or spices. Pimento cheese can be readily consumed as a filling for sandwich, a dip for corn chips or raw vegetables, or a topping for burgers, or as an accompaniment to fried chicken, BBQ ribs, BLTs, and other such meals that are typical of modern American dining, be it formal or informal, festive or everyday. Since it takes a short time to prepare and is flexible in the recipe that can be used, it remains one of the staples in a kitchen.

Also Read: What is Water Pie? What does Water Pie Taste Like?