If you grew up in the Southern US, you’re almost definitely aware of the popular snack food “pimento cheese”. Pimento cheese, which is commonly and lovingly referred to as the “caviar of the South” is a cheese spread that’s made from mixing or processing sharp cheddar cheese with a few other ingredients that tend to vary by geographic region. In Louisiana, you might add some hot sauce. In other areas, it’s standard to add onions and garlic. However you prepare it, there’s no doubt that pimento cheese is a uniquely American concoction.
While we don’t want to ruffle any feathers, pimento cheese is not (as most people assume) a Southern creation. In fact, it started out in New York state as a way for food manufacturers to sell cream cheese – the original base of pimento cheese. Cream cheese was relatively new, and pimiento peppers were being shipped to the US from Spain, where they were canned and sold in stores. Finally, in the early 1900s, Good Housekeeping published an article that suggested creating a sandwich filled with a mixture of cream cheese, pimientos, mustard, and a few other ingredients. And this is where the pimento cheese craze started.
Over the years, it’s been modified and revised to its current basic formula: sharp cheddar cheese mixed with mayo (homemade preferably) and canned pimentos. While this cheesy spread technically did originate in the North, pimento cheese was adopted early on by the American South and that’s why the dish is so closely associated with the region. Pimento cheese is still used often as a spread for crackers and breads and even as a sandwich filling.
How do you Make Pimento Cheese?
It’s almost pointless to try and create a recipe for pimento cheese because it’s really that easy to make. Three ingredients comprise the basic recipe, and everything else you can add in is just a matter of your own personal tastes. To start, gather the following ingredients:
- 1 pound of sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 4-oz jar of pimentos
- 3 Tablespoons of mayonnaise
Cut the cheddar cheese into 1 inch cubes. Drain the pimentos and add both to a food processor. Run the processor just enough to blend the ingredients, but not puree them. Once they’re done, add to a mixing bowl. Next, add the mayonnaise and stir to completely mix everything together. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Guess what? That’s it!
Like we mentioned above, many people like to add regional flavors to their pimento cheese to give it a little extra umph, so if you want, you can also experiment with garlic, cayenne pepper, paprika, or even hot sauce to spice things up a bit.
Have you ever made pimento cheese? Do you have a secret ingredient that you use to make it with? Share your tips and ideas with us in the comments section below!
