If you grew up in the Southern US, you’re almost definitely aware of the popular snack food “pimento cheese”. Pimento cheese, which is commonly and lovingly referred to as the “caviar of the South” is a cheese spread that’s made from mixing or processing sharp cheddar cheese with a few other ingredients that tend to vary by geographic region. In Louisiana, you might add some hot sauce. In other areas, it’s standard to add onions and garlic. However you prepare it, there’s no doubt that pimento cheese is a uniquely American concoction.
While we don’t want to ruffle any feathers, pimento cheese is not (as most people assume) a Southern creation. In fact, it started out in New York state as a way for food manufacturers to sell cream cheese – the original base of pimento cheese. Cream cheese was relatively new, and pimiento peppers were being shipped to the US from Spain, where they were canned and sold in stores. Finally, in the early 1900s, Good Housekeeping published an article that suggested creating a sandwich filled with a mixture of cream cheese, pimientos, mustard, and a few other ingredients. And this is where the pimento cheese craze started.
Over the years, it’s been modified and revised to its current basic formula: sharp cheddar cheese mixed with mayo (homemade preferably) and canned pimentos. While this cheesy spread technically did originate in the North, pimento cheese was adopted early on by the American South and that’s why the dish is so closely associated with the region. Pimento cheese is still used often as a spread for crackers and breads and even as a sandwich filling.
How do you Make Pimento Cheese?
It’s almost pointless to try and create a recipe for pimento cheese because it’s really that easy to make. Three ingredients comprise the basic recipe, and everything else you can add in is just a matter of your own personal tastes. To start, gather the following ingredients:
- 1 pound of sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 4-oz jar of pimentos
- 3 Tablespoons of mayonnaise
Cut the cheddar cheese into 1 inch cubes. Drain the pimentos and add both to a food processor. Run the processor just enough to blend the ingredients, but not puree them. Once they’re done, add to a mixing bowl. Next, add the mayonnaise and stir to completely mix everything together. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Guess what? That’s it!
Like we mentioned above, many people like to add regional flavors to their pimento cheese to give it a little extra umph, so if you want, you can also experiment with garlic, cayenne pepper, paprika, or even hot sauce to spice things up a bit.
Have you ever made pimento cheese? Do you have a secret ingredient that you use to make it with? Share your tips and ideas with us in the comments section below!
FAQs
noun. a processed cheese made from Neufchâtel, cream cheese, Cheddar, or other cheese, flavored with chopped pimientos.
Why do Southerners like 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.
What the heck is pimento? ›
Pimentos, also spelled pimientos, are small, round peppers with a sweet flavor and very mild heat. In stores, you might also see them labeled as "cherry" peppers for their resemblance to the fruit.
What is the flavor of pimento cheese? ›
What does pimento cheese taste like? It has cheddar and cream cheese overtones, but with a distinctly tangy, pepper-y flavor provided by the pimentos. If you've ever had pub cheese or beer cheese or even queso, you might find that you enjoy the combination of dairy and spices.
Why is it called pimento? ›
Name. Spanish pimiento and Portuguese pimento both come from Latin pigmentum ("pigment; coloring") and came to be used for bell peppers. The English borrowed "pimiento" and "pimento" as loanwords for what is distinguished in Spanish as pimentón and in Portuguese as pimentão.
What is the origin of pimento cheese? ›
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.
Where is the pimento cheese capital of the world? ›
While pimento cheese is a staple in many Southern homes, Charlotte has been considered the Pimento Cheese Capital of the World, according to Mental Floss.
How are you supposed to eat pimento 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!
What ethnicity is pimento cheese? ›
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 ...
Is pimento cheese bad for your stomach? ›
Potential Histamine Reactions from Pimento Cheese
Individuals with histamine intolerance should be aware of the potential histamine reactions that pimento cheese can trigger. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include headaches, flushing, nasal congestion, digestive distress, dizziness, and skin rashes.
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.
Why is pimento cheese so good? ›
The flavor of the original was very mild, so they traded it for the bolder cheddar cheese. To balance out the texture they added mayonnaise. The diced up pimentos though, never left the equation. The mayo-to-cheese ratio makes the whole dish just a little chunkier and a whole lot tastier.
Why did Costco remove pimento cheese? ›
Costco has reportedly stopped selling Palmetto Cheese after the owner of the pimento cheese brand called Black Lives Matter a "terror organization."
Why do they put pimentos in green olives? ›
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.
What goes best with pimento cheese? ›
A: Pimento cheese can be served as a dip with crackers or vegetables, as a spread on sandwiches or toast, or as a filling in stuffed peppers, grilled cheese, or mac and cheese.
Why do they put pimentos in olives? ›
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.
What country is pimento cheese from? ›
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 ...
What do jamaicans call pimento? ›
The dried unripe berries of Pimenta Dioica [(L)Merr] are termed Allspice. It is also called Jamaican pepper, Pimenta or Newspice. A native plant from the Caribbean island Jamaica, P. dioica belongs to the family Myrtaceae.
What is pimento known as? ›
Allspice, also known as Jamaica pepper, myrtle pepper, pimenta, or pimento, is the dried unripe berry of Pimenta dioica, a midcanopy tree native to the Greater Antilles, southern Mexico, and Central America, now cultivated in many warm parts of the world.
