Five Cheese Pimento Cheese Recipes

SOUTHERN PIMENTO CHEESE

Steps:

• Place the Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, minced jalapeno, and pimento into the large bowl of a mixer. Beat at medium speed, with paddle if possible, until thoroughly combined. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.

PIMENTO CHEESE THREE WAYS

Steps:

• For the cheese base: Beat the mayonnaise and cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir in the Cheddar by hand until well combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Divide the mixture among three bowls.
• For the shishito pepper: Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Place a 10-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven to heat up.
• Toss the shishitos with the vegetable oil. Very carefully remove the skillet from the oven and add the peppers. Return to the oven and cook until the skins start to color on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Stir and continue to cook until the skins are golden and blistered in spots, about 3 more minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool, then seed and chop.
• Fold the shishitos and sesame oil into the first bowl of cheese base; stir gently to combine. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with the sesame seeds.
• For the pickled pimento: In the second bowl, fold the piquillos, banana peppers and dill pickles into the base. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• For the roasted red pepper: In the third bowl, fold the red peppers into the base; stir gently to combine.

FIVE-CHEESE PIMENTO CHEESE

Steps:

• Drain peppers, reserving liquid, then finely chop if whole.
• Process shallot, cream cheese, mayonnaise, Miracle Whip, Worcestershire, salt, hot sauce, and 2 Tbsp. pepper liquid in a food processor until very smooth. Add cheeses and pulse until just combined. Add peppers and pulse until just combined. Serve with crackers alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Pimento cheese can be made 5 days ahead; cover with plastic, pressing onto surface, and chill.

THE LEE BROTHERS' PIMENTO CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, place the cheddar cheese in an even layer. Scatter the cream cheese, pimentos, mayonnaise and chile flakes over the cheddar cheese. Using a spatula, mix the pimento cheese until it is smooth and spreadable, about 1 1/2 minutes.
• Transfer the pimento cheese to a plastic container or bowl, cover tightly, and store in the refrigerator. Pimento cheese keeps in the refrigerator for 1 week.

PIMENTO CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the baguette on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Bake until the bread is just warm and toasted, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the cream cheese and mayonnaise into a large mixing bowl and stir with a rubber spatula until thoroughly combined. Add the Cheddar cheese. Mix until combined, then stir in the pimentos or bell peppers (add them last so they don't get too beat up). Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cook's Notes: Okay, so this recipe is pretty simple, right? And now you want to experiment and make it your own... Do you have a certain type of cheese you love? Feel free to substitute another type of cheese in for additional flavor. For example, substitute 2 ounces of blue cheese in for 2 ounces of the sharp white Cheddar cheese.
• Feel like adding a little kick to your pimento cheese? Substitute another pepper or flavor in for the 2 ounces of pimentos. For example, I've tried Asian chili garlic sauce, kimchi, banana peppers, jalapenos, or grated horseradish.
• To roast a red bell pepper, drizzle it with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and place on a baking sheet. Bake in a 500 degrees F (260 degrees F) oven until the skin is charred, about 40 minutes, turning it halfway through to ensure even roasting. Remove it from the oven and immediately wrap the entire pepper in plastic wrap. Let it steam for 30 minutes. When it is cool to the touch, remove the skin with the back of a butter knife. Remove the stem, seeds and membrane. And that's all there is to it! It is a little more effort than buying jarred roasted peppers, but worth the work.