Chris's Fabulous Pimento Cheese
This pimento cheese is the best! It’s cheesy, tangy, peppery (spicy if you wish), and spreadable. It\'s great as a cheese sandwich or as a dip.
Chris\'s recipe is based on Cookie and Kate https://cookieandkate.com/best-pimento-cheese-recipe/.
Servings 2 cups
Ingredients
- 2 cup freshly grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
- 8 ounce cream cheese cut into 1” cubes and softened at room temperature*
- 4 ounce pimento peppers** well drained and chopped if in strips
- 2 tablespoon mayonnaise Duke’s is traditional but I also like Sir Kensington’s
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper decrease or omit if sensitive to spice
- 1/2 medium jalapeño pepper ribs and seeds removed, and minced (about 1 tablespoon; omit if sensitive to spice)
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Salt to taste
- Secret ingredient: 1 Tbs of Bourbon Evan Williams Kentucky Bourbon
- Tip: chris adds at least 3 Tbsp Tallarico's HOT hoggie spread - a little jar of pimentos is 4 oz so she tries to add close to that.
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the cheddar, cream cheese, pimento peppers, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper and jalapeño (if using), and several twists of black pepper. Don’t forget the healthy splash of Bourbon!!!
- Beat the mixture together with a hand mixer, your stand mixer, or by hand with a sturdy wooden spoon or spatula. Beat until the mixture is thoroughly combined.
- Taste, and add more black pepper if desired, and/or salt for more overall flavor (I usually add a pinch or two). If you’d like your pimento cheese to have more of a kick, add another pinch of cayenne. Blend again.
- You can serve your pimento cheese immediately, but it’s better if you chill it & let the flavors meld, at least a few hours before serving, but a day is better. Usually keeps at least a week in the refrigerator. Pimento cheese hardens as it cools; let it rest for 30 minutes at room temperature to soften.
Notes
Secret ingredient: 1 Tbs of Bourbon (Evan Williams Kentucky Bourbon)
Note: if you cant find pimentos…chris always substitutes with 'Tallarico's' HOT hoggie spread. She adds at least 3 Tbsp — a little jar of pimentos is 4 oz, so I try to add close to that.
Cream cheese tip: If you, like me, always forget to pull the cream cheese out of the fridge in advance, simply cube it into a microwave-safe mixing bowl. Warm it in the microwave for 15 to 30 seconds, just until it’s more pliable. We only need it warm enough to mix into the other ingredients, but not warm enough to melt the cheese. Pimento Cheese Sandwiches
You haven’t lived until you’ve had a pimento grilled cheese sandwich. You can also follow tradition and serve pimento cheese between two slices of bread, sliced into tea sandwich form if you’re throwing a party. If you want to build a more substantial sandwich, pimento cheese is great with sliced cucumber (or dill pickles), tomato, sprouts or arugula, and even a fried egg. Served As a Dip or Spread
Pimento cheese and crackers is a winning combination. If you want to lighten up your party spread, serve it with substantial strips of bell pepper
(any color but green), cucumber, or celery.
Note: if you cant find pimentos…chris always substitutes with 'Tallarico's' HOT hoggie spread. She adds at least 3 Tbsp — a little jar of pimentos is 4 oz, so I try to add close to that.
Cream cheese tip: If you, like me, always forget to pull the cream cheese out of the fridge in advance, simply cube it into a microwave-safe mixing bowl. Warm it in the microwave for 15 to 30 seconds, just until it’s more pliable. We only need it warm enough to mix into the other ingredients, but not warm enough to melt the cheese. Pimento Cheese Sandwiches
You haven’t lived until you’ve had a pimento grilled cheese sandwich. You can also follow tradition and serve pimento cheese between two slices of bread, sliced into tea sandwich form if you’re throwing a party. If you want to build a more substantial sandwich, pimento cheese is great with sliced cucumber (or dill pickles), tomato, sprouts or arugula, and even a fried egg. Served As a Dip or Spread
Pimento cheese and crackers is a winning combination. If you want to lighten up your party spread, serve it with substantial strips of bell pepper
(any color but green), cucumber, or celery.
