8 pimento cheese recipes you need to make for the holidays (2024)

FAQs

What is good to eat 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.

What Is Pimento Cheese? Pimento cheese is a popular Southern spread that's traditionally made with shredded Cheddar, mayonnaise, and pimentos. It's commonly served with crackers and vegetables or as a sandwich filling. Pimento cheese is often called the "pâté of the south."

If you have homemade pimiento cheese to use up, our test kitchen suggests storing it covered in the refrigerator for up to one week.

While pimentos' most popular use may be in pimento cheese, Reusing recommends buying as many of these as you can carry, trading them for bell peppers in almost any recipe. You can pickle the pimentos, or roast them and puree into a spread for sandwiches or to stir into grains or beans at the end of cooking.

It can be served cold with a selection of crackers and vegetables, or hot as a dip with pico de gallo and tortilla chips. Pimento cheese is also great on sandwiches and burgers.

Most Southerners have fond memories of a loving aunt mixing up a batch for a church gathering, while Northerners haven't the foggiest idea what pimento cheese even is. Affectionately referred to as “Carolina caviar” or “Southern pate,” it has been a Southern staple for well over 50 years.

While it's hard to imagine anyone appreciating the heavenly combination of shredded cheese, mayo, and diced red pimentos as much as Southerners, the delicious spread actually got its start up North—in New York, specifically.

There's almost no way Southerners won't eat pimiento cheese. This classic recipe works as a dip, spread, or all by itself. Serve it as tea sandwiches between two slices of white bread.

If you would like to extend the shelf life of your homemade pimento cheese beyond one week, the best option will be to freeze it. Simply store the leftover cheese in an airtight container and place it in the freezer, where it will last for up to six months.

Can you eat expired pimento cheese? ›

After the expiration date, the product should be discarded. If you are unable to consume the pimento cheese prior to that date you can freeze it, but only for use in a future recipe after thawed.

Pimento Cheese: This southern classic is a fine snack to feed your dog. Pimentos are non-toxic and loaded with vitamin A and C, while cheese has healthy sources of protein and calcium.

In most groceries, pimentos are found in the aisle containing pickles, relish, and 'baby corn'.

What Do They Taste Like? Pimentos are sweet and mild, and unlikely to cause trouble if you cannot tolerate spicy peppers. They register between 100 and 500 heat units on the Scoville scale, making them one of the mildest of all the chile peppers. Think of them as a sweeter and more aromatic red bell pepper.

They're enjoyed raw, pickled, roasted, and stuffed.

Pimento cheese is a tangy and creamy cheese spread that's often referred to as the pâté of the South. It's wonderful on crackers, crudités, sandwiches, or even burgers.

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.