Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe ~ THE Spread for Everything!
This spread has so many culinary uses. Great served with good crackers and crudités ~ use also as a sandwich spread, a burger topper or a stuffing for vegetables. The possibilities are really endless.
Servings: 28 2 T. serving / 3 1/2 cups
Ingredients
- 8 ounces aged white cheddar (about 2 cups, coarsely grated)
- 6 ounces yellow aged cheddar coarsely grated
- 2/3 cups mayonnaise* without "natural flavorings"
- 1/2 cup pimentos drained, diced medium-fine
- 3 tablespoons greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce (I use an organic one)
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 big pinches cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon neutral oil such as expeller pressed safflower oil
- 3 tablespoons shallots peeled, medium- fine dice
- sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Add coarsely grated white & yellow cheddars to a large bowl. Add mayonnaise, pimentos, yogurt, worcestershire sauce, paprika and cayenne pepper. Blend to combine – I use a potato masher to not only mix-up, but blend to a creamy consistency.
- Sauté shallots: in a small pan, add 1 t. neutral oil and add chopped shallots. Cook over low-moderate heat, stirring until softened and just coloring around the edges, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Fold sautéed shallots into the large bowl. Cover the bowl, place in the refrigerator to cool and firm up. Taste the Pimento Cheese. Add salt to taste. Add more spices if you like.
To Serve:
- Bring to room temperature. I like to place the Pimento Cheese in a bowl with a spreader knife surrounded by nice crackers and sliced colorful vegetables.
Notes
*I do not use mass marketed mayonnaise. National Brand Hellmann's ingredients: soybean oil, water, whole eggs and egg yolks, vinegar, salt, sugar, lemon juice concentrate, calcium disodium edta (used to protect quality), natural flavors.
365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic Mayonnaise - includes organic ingredients without the chemicals of "natural flavorings."
This recipe may not be reproduced without the consent of its author, Karen Sheer
Nutrition
Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 127mg | Potassium: 27mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 272IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 0.1mg