Memories of the South
If you grew up in the South, this spread was most likely in the fridge throughout your childhood. Southern-Style Pimento Cheese makes a great sandwich on mini pumpernickel, black Russian rye, or whole wheat bread. There is a small portion with pretzels, celery, carrot sticks, topping for hamburgers, and a savory morning egg sandwich. The more you use it, the more you will want to experiment.
The Basics
This basic recipe matches the taste I grew up within Texas. Extra ingredients, like spicy pickled jalapeños, green chiles, smokey chili powder, roasted garlic, pecans, or more onion, add complexity. Try this recipe to get a solid baseline of the flavor profile all Southerners will recognize. To some folks in the South, it must be made with Duke’s Mayonnaise. However, the best quality mayonnaise available (store-bought or homemade) to you should do the trick.
Complimentary Recipes in the Blog
Check out this featured pimento cheese spread inside a Fried Green Tomato BLT.
Place the room temperature cream cheese in a mixer. Whip the cream cheese on the lowest setting.
Next, add the mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, kosher pickle juice, Tabasco, sugar, ground cayenne, ground white pepper, sweet paprika, pimento, and green scallions or chives.
Mix the ingredients on medium until thoroughly incorporated. Don’t forget to use a rubber spatula now and then to scrape the sides of the bowl and make sure everything is mixed.
Finally, add the sharp cheddar and mix for a short time. Avoid over-mixing to keep the cheddar shreds intact.
If you determine the mixture is a little wet, add a bit more shredded cheddar.
This image shows a good mix with the pimento and sharp cheddar, the dominant ingredients.
Take it from me; Southern Style Pimento Cheese is great on game day or anytime you want a quick, flavorful snack.
Southern Style Pimento Cheese
Equipment
- Electric mixer or food processor
- chef knife
- cutting board
- measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 4oz jar pimento pepper
- ½ cup mayonnaise store-bought or homemade
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp pickle juice from the jar, kosher-style
- ½ tsp Tabasco-style sauce, such as Crystal
- ¼ tsp sugar, granulated
- ⅛ tsp cayenne, ground
- ⅛ tsp pepper, white, ground
- ⅛ tsp paprika, sweet
- 3 tbsp scallions, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup pickled jalapeño slices, roughly chopped (optional)
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- In an electric mixing bowl (or food processor)fitted with a paddle attachment, whisk the room temperature cream cheese.
- While the cream cheese is still whisking, add the rest of the ingredients except the sharp cheddar shreds. Mix the ingredients thoroughly while scraping down the sides of the bowl every few seconds to make sure the cream cheese.
- Add the shredded sharp cheddar and whisk in briefly to mix in. If the mixture is too wet, add additional cheese to firm up. Adjust the final seasoning with salt, if needed.