Piquant White Cheddar Pimento Cheese

Name: Piquant White Cheddar Pimento Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 4 ounces aged extra sharp white cheddar cheese, chilled and freshly grated from a block; 4 ounces aged extra sharp yellow cheddar cheese, chilled and freshly grated from a block; ¼ cup cream cheese, softened to room temperature; ½ cup jarred pimentos, drained (reserve liquid if using as an add-in); 3 tablespoons mayonnaise; ¼-½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, adjust to taste; Kosher salt, to taste; freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

by Jenny DeRemer

8 servings

30 min

Meet Piquant White Cheddar Pimento Cheese, the Southern staple that decided to kick things up a notch! Creamy, tangy, and just the right amount of feisty, it’s perfect for spreading, dipping, or eating straight from the spoon when no one’s looking!

If you broil pimento cheese onto a burger, don’t forget its Southern BFF Jezebel sauce—because ketchup is so last season!

What Goes in This Bowl of Happiness

Aged Extra Sharp White Cheddar: For this recipe, I like to swap yellow cheddar with sharp, aged white cheddar, although both will work well. Sharp white cheddar cheese tends to be slightly firmer and more crumbly than those with less sharpness. I’m going for a block of super aged from my cheesemonger so I can grate it myself which is key.

Cream Cheese: This is one of the key ingredients to make this Southern staple ultra creamy and smooth. Choose full-fat cream cheese that’s in a block, not in a tub.

Mayonnaise: A touch of mayo brings extra creaminess as well. For an extra Southern touch, use a brand like Duke’s, which has a lovely hint of lemon.

Diced Pimentos: Without these, it couldn’t be called pimento cheese! If you can’t find canned/jarred pimentos at your grocery store, use finely chopped roasted red peppers for a similar flavor. Use any leftover pimentos in loaded German potato bake.

Scatter the grated cheddar cheese evenly in a large mixing bowl, then scatter the cream cheese, diced pimentos, mayo, and cayenne pepper on top.

Use the tines of a fork to mash the ingredients well and to give the mixture a smooth and creamy texture. Cover and chill if you’re making this ahead.

Serve the pimento cheese in tea sandwiches, on burgers, or with Ritz or saltine crackers. Enjoy it with a glass of aromatic white wine or light/golden beer for a wonderful treat!

Ways to Slather, Spread, and Swoon

Serve a little of this crowd favorite as an easy appetizer at your Friday night back porch bash; it’s the life of the party! Cut off the crusts of white bread and lather it on pieces of bread to make it into a fancy tea sandwich. Using an ice cream scoop to plop a dollop atop a grilled beef burger is also a popular way to enjoy. Don’t even get me started on grilled cheese sandwiches made with a layer of pimento cheese…

For me, less is best. I am satisfied with my homemade gourmet pimento cheese spread on Ritz Crackers or saltines with a glass of wine in my other hand. Use up leftover pimento cheese (if there is such a thing!) in Southern pimento cheese nachos or garlic butter shrimp with pimento cheese grits.

Piquant White Cheddar Pimento Cheese

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Recipe details

Yield 8 servings
Time spent: Prep time: 15 Minutes Cook time: 15 Minutes Total time: 30 min

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Ingredients

Piquant White Cheddar Pimento Cheese

4 ounces aged extra sharp white cheddar cheese, chilled and freshly grated from a block
4 ounces aged extra sharp yellow cheddar cheese, chilled and freshly grated from a block
¼ cup cream cheese, softened to room temperature
½ cup jarred pimentos, drained (reserve liquid if using as an add-in)
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
¼-½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, adjust to taste
Kosher salt, to taste
freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Piquant White Cheddar Pimento Cheese

In a large mixing bowl, place the white and yellow cheddars in an even layer. Scatter the cream cheese, diced pimentos, mayonnaise, and cayenne over the cheddar cheese. I do like to add a pinch of both salt and pepper but it's not required. Using the tines of a fork, mix the pimento cheese until it is smooth and spreadable, about 2 minutes.
4 ounces aged extra sharp white cheddar cheese,4 ounces aged extra sharp yellow cheddar cheese,¼ cup cream cheese,½ cup jarred pimentos,3 tablespoons mayonnaise,¼-½ teaspoon cayenne pepper,Kosher salt,freshly cracked black pepper
Transfer the pimento cheese to a jar, plastic container or bowl, cover tightly, and store in the fridge. The flavors deepen the longer the cheese has to sit.
Alternatively, the cheese may be served immediately. Enjoy it in grilled cheese or tea sandwiches, burgers, or as a spread with Ritz or saltine crackers.

Tips

Be sure to freshly grate the cheese yourself for this recipe. Pre-shredded cheese is coated with cellulose and won’t have the perfect creamy texture you need for pimento cheese. Also, cheese grates easiest when cold.
Make pimento cheese a day ahead, as the flavor will improve.

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