Name: Pimento Cheese Dip
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American Southern
Ingredients: 220 g sharp cheddar, freshly grated; 60 g jarred pimentos, drained, patted dry, and finely chopped; 60 g mayonnaise; 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional; A few grinds of black pepper

Pimento cheese should still look like cheese. Grate a sharp cheddar yourself, drain the pimentos well, and fold everything together instead of blending it smooth. This Southern-style version uses mayonnaise to bind the shreds, with a small pinch of cayenne for warmth.

Sauces and Dips

TypeDips

Prep15 minutes

Cook0 minutes

Rest30 minutes

Total45 minutes

YieldAbout 340 g

Servings8

ServingAbout 40 g

DifficultyEasy

CuisineAmerican Southern

Ingredients

Batch

220 g sharp cheddar, freshly grated
60 g jarred pimentos, drained, patted dry, and finely chopped
60 g mayonnaise
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
A few grinds of black pepper

Instructions

Grate the cheddar using the medium or large holes ofGrate the cheddar using the medium or large holes of a box grater.
Fold in the chopped pimentos and mayonnaise with a sturdyFold in the chopped pimentos and mayonnaise with a sturdy spoon. Add the black pepper and optional cayenne.
Press a little of the mixture against the bowl toPress a little of the mixture against the bowl to help it bind, leaving plenty of visible cheese shreds.
Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutesCover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Taste before adding salt, as the cheese and mayonnaise usually supply enough.

Serving Ideas

Spread in soft bread sandwiches, fill celery sticks, or serve with plain crackers.

Substitutions

Drained roasted red peppers can replace pimentos, with a slightly different sweetness. Add mayonnaise by the teaspoon if your cheddar needs a looser binder.

Chef Tips

Pre-grated cheese can have a dry coating that changes the texture. A freshly grated block binds more naturally.

Storage

Keep covered at 4°C or below and use within 3 days. Return the serving bowl to the refrigerator promptly.

Allergen Notes

Contains milk and egg; mayonnaise may contain mustard.