Best Light Pimento Cheese Recipes

PIMENTO CHEESE

Pimento Cheese image

This pimento cheese is the best! It's cheesy, tangy, peppery (spicy if you wish), and spreadable. Recipe yields 2 cups.

Provided by Cookie and Kate

Time 10m

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

2 cups freshly grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
8 ounces cream cheese, cut into 1″ cubes and softened at room temperature*
4 ounces pimento peppers**, well drained and chopped if in strips
2 tablespoons mayonnaise (Duke's is traditional but I also like Sir Kensington's)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (decrease or omit if sensitive to spice)
1/2 medium jalapeño pepper, ribs and seeds removed, and minced (about 1 tablespoon; omit if sensitive to spice)
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Salt, to taste

Steps:

In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the cheddar, cream cheese, pimento peppers, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper and jalapeño (if using), and several twists of black pepper.
Beat the mixture together with a hand mixer, your stand mixer, or by hand with a sturdy wooden spoon or spatula. Beat until the mixture is thoroughly combined.
Taste, and add more black pepper if desired, and/or salt for more overall flavor (I usually add a pinch of two). If you'd like your pimento cheese to have more of a kick, add another pinch of cayenne. Blend again.
Transfer the mixture to a smaller serving bowl. Serve your pimento cheese immediately, or chill it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Pimento cheese hardens as it cools; let it rest for 30 minutes at room temperature to soften.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1/4 cup, Calories 245 calories, Sugar 1.8 g, Sodium 355.9 mg, Fat 22.1 g, SaturatedFat 11.4 g, TransFat 0.3 g, Carbohydrate 3.5 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 8.4 g, Cholesterol 60.6 mg

SOUTHERN PIMENTO CHEESE

Southern Pimento Cheese image

This wonderful version of pimento cheese can be used for grilled cheese sandwiches, as a spread for crackers, or served alongside your favorite fried green tomatoes.

Provided by QUEENREYNEY

Categories Appetizers and Snacks Dips and Spreads Recipes Cheese Dips and Spreads Recipes Cold Cheese Dip Recipes

Time 10m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

2 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon onion powder
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1 (4 ounce) jar diced pimento, drained
salt and black pepper to taste

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 207.8 calories, Carbohydrate 2.1 g, Cholesterol 44.2 mg, Fat 19.9 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 6.3 g, SaturatedFat 8.6 g, Sodium 229 mg, Sugar 0.5 g

THE LEE BROTHERS' PIMENTO CHEESE

The Lee Brothers' Pimento Cheese image

A decidedly Southern spread with Northern roots, pimento cheese is a simple mix of Cheddar, red bell pepper and mayonnaise that can be found on sandwiches from work sites to garden parties across the 16 states below the Mason-Dixon line. This recipe came to The Times from the Charleston, S.C.-bred cookbook authors and occasional contributors to The Times Matt Lee and Ted Lee.

Provided by The New York Times

Categories quick, dips and spreads

Time 5m

Yield About 1 1/2 cups, enough for 4 sandwiches

Number Of Ingredients 6

Ingredients

8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated with a food processor or hand grater (not pre-grated)
1/4 cup softened cream cheese (2 ounces), pulled into several pieces
Scant 1/2 cup jarred pimento or other roasted red peppers (from a 7-ounce jar), finely diced
3 tablespoons Duke's, Hellmann's or other high-quality store-bought mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon dried red chile flakes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

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.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 240, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 2 grams, Fat 22 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 10 grams, SaturatedFat 10 grams, Sodium 320 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams