Homemade Pimento Cheese

What is Pimento Cheese?  Well, you know, it’s that peach-colored spread that comes in a small glass jar with a blue lid, right?  That’s right, if you’ve only had the version that comes in that glass jar.  I grew up thinking that Pimento Cheese only came in the glass jar.  It wasn’t until I was an adult that I had real Pimento Cheese.  And I couldn’t even be considered a young adult anymore.  Just a plain old regular adult.

I wanted to learn more about the origin of Pimento Cheese, so I looked it up.  Turns out that it’s a cheese-relish spread that originated from the south, and it’s sometimes referred to as “The caviar of the south”.  Pimento Cheese sandwiches are a signature food item of the Masters Tournament.  (That’s golf, in case you didn’t know.)  A pimento is a red pepper, a lot like a red bell pepper.  So there you have it!

Now you might be asking why this is part of our Thanksgiving feature this year?  Well, the relish tray at my family’s Thanksgiving table consists of pickles, black olives, and…you guessed it, pimento cheese stuffed celery!

We want to take as many preservatives and chemicals out of our diet this year as we can, so Voila!  Tasty Pimento Cheese Spread that you actually have to refrigerate!  (Yes, I know that you’ve got to refrigerate the stuff that comes in a jar after you open it, but only after.  So what keeps it safe to eat until then?)

Enjoy!

Homemade Pimento Cheese

Ingredients:

8oz sharp cheddar cheese

8oz cream cheese

1/2 cup mayonnaise

4 oz pimentos (1 jar)

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1.  Add the mayonnaise, cream cheese, and spices to a bowl and beat until well combined.

2.  Add the pimentos to the cheese mixture, and beat until well combined.

3.  Shred the cheddar cheese, and slowly add to the mixing bowl while combining.  Mix until all the cheese has been added.

4.  Store in a container overnight to allow the flavors to marry.

5.  Serve with celery or crackers!

15 servings, 46g serving size, 147 calories, 12.9g fat, 3.1g carbohydrates, 5.1g protein.

So what do you eat your Pimento Cheese with?  Let us know in the comments section!

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crystal sykes

Crystal is the founder of Simply Playful Fare. She has been in the kitchen for as long as she can remember. She has a degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing.