Cheese Pimiento Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is cheese pimiento made of? ›

One of my favorite Southern specialities is pimento cheese, which is often referred to as “the pâté of the South.” Made from sharp Cheddar, mayonnaise, cream cheese, and jarred pimentos, this spread is wonderful on crackers, crudités, sandwiches, or even burgers.

Spelling and culinary variations abound: certain places may refer to it as pimento cheese, pimiento cheese, or even by the brand name of companies that produce it. Most of the peppers are derived from the Spanish pimiento, but pimento is the more common English word for the peppers used in the cheese.

Eat it as an easy appetizer (or anytime munchie), spread on crackers or toast points, or smeared in small, hollowed-out peppers or celery. Or make little tea sandwiches with it, or—get ready—spread it between two slices of bread and turn it into a grilled cheese!

It's believed that the pimento, arguably the most popular olive stuffing, was used to cut the fruit's bitterness. Then as today, the higher-end olives are often meticulously hand-stuffed while the lower-end-but-still-delicious green olives are usually stuffed by a machine.

Pimento cheese does have some redeeming qualities. It's a good source of protein, an important nutrient that can help to keep you feeling full and satisfied. Plus the low carb count can make it a feasible option for a diabetic diet, so long as it's enjoyed in moderation.

The spread of pimento cheese

It may have become popular in the South because it didn't spoil easily at room temperature, making it easy to pack in lunchboxes, particularly for textile workers. But it was also fashionable as a sandwich in tea rooms.

Costco has reportedly stopped selling Palmetto Cheese after the owner of the pimento cheese brand called Black Lives Matter a "terror organization."

Palmetto Cheese is a trademark for a brand of pimento cheese from Pawleys Island Specialty Foods, a division of Get Carried Away, based in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. It is manufactured and packaged at Duke Sandwich Productions located in Easley, South Carolina.

The Beginning of Pimento Cheese

According to Serious Eats, back in the 1870s, New York farmers started making soft, unripened cheese that eventually evolved into cream cheese. Around the same time, Spain began sending canned red peppers or "pimiento" over to the United States.

For fresh pimentos, bell peppers are probably the easiest to find as a substitute, but any sweeter red pepper variety will do, such as the piquillo pepper, corno di toro pepper, or any Italian sweet pepper.

What's the best cracker to eat with pimento cheese? ›

The best cracker for pimento cheese is a water cracker or a rustic whole wheat flatbread dipped in herbs and flaky salt. Additionally, buttery Club crackers and pita chips are also good options due to their neutral flavors.

Place the cheese in a clean container and seal it so that it is airtight. Whereas pre-packaged pimento cheese can last up to four weeks in the fridge, the homemade version will not last quite as long due to the lack of stabilizers and preservatives — it will only last for about one week.

Although the recipe has its origins in the northern United States, it is generally most closely associated with the cuisine of the Southern United States and has been referred to as the "pâté of the South" and "the caviar of the South." Pimento cheese sandwiches have a long history as a concession at the Masters golf ...

Almost all pimento cheese recipes today call for blending grated cheddar or a similar firm cheese with diced pimento peppers, mayonnaise, and various seasonings.

Pimentos, also referred to as pimientos, are a type of pepper with a sweet flavor and very little heat. This nightshade is also known as a cherry pepper because of its red color and round, heart-shaped fruit.