North Carolina Pimento Cheese
A creamy, tangy spread of sharp cheddar, mayonnaise and diced pimentos, a Piedmont pantry staple served on crackers or sandwiches.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 210 kcal
Equipment
- •Box grater
- •Mixing bowl
Nutrition
Per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 210 kcal
- fat
- 18
- carbs
- 4
- protein
- 7
- calories
- 210
Instructions
- 1
Grate the sharp cheddar cheese by hand into a mixing bowl.
- 2
Add the mayonnaise and diced pimentos to the bowl.
- 3
Add the cayenne, salt, and black pepper.
- 4
Stir everything until creamy and well mixed. Mash gently so it holds together.
- 5
Cover the bowl. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- 6
Serve with crackers, celery, or use it as a sandwich filling.
Chef's tips
Grate the cheddar by hand instead of buying pre-shredded cheese, which has added starch that turns the spread grainy. Chill the spread for at least an hour so the flavors blend.
Storage
Refrigerate in an airtight container up to a week.
Reheating
Serve chilled or at room temperature; not intended to be heated.
Common mistakes to avoid
- •Using pre-shredded bagged cheese, which makes the spread feel grainy
- •Adding too much mayonnaise, which makes the mixture runny
Serving suggestions
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