Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe

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One of my podcast guests entrusted me with this heirloom recipe for Southern Pimento Cheese. Brenda Wyatt of Camellia's Cottage is a "mature" (her words, not mine!) southern lady. Brenda is full of wisdom and insights, an adventurous spirit, and a vast wealth of knowledge about Southern Cooking. She was a guest on my most recent Halloween episode. The more she talked, the more of her heirloom recipes I just HAD to try! The first that intrigued me was her grandmother's pimento cheese recipe. She says that authentic pimento cheese is never made with cream cheese and always has whole pimentos (don't look too closely at my photos!). Brenda told me in our interview (and also when sharing this very recipe on her blog) that the secret ingredient to her grandmother's award-winning pimento cheese is pickled hot pepper sauce. I had never heard of this. Pickled hot pepper sauce is a staple, Brenda says, in any true southern kitchen or restaurant. It's not really a sauce so much, rather it is the vinegar that hot peppers are brined in. Southerners put it in their pimento cheese, but also on any cooked leafy greens.

Anyhow, intrigued, I decided to make the recipe on a lark as much as anything else. We LOVED IT. Could not stop eating it all afternoon. And Brenda is 100% correct - pairs absolutely beautifully with strawberry jam on crackers!!

Brenda also recommends that a hostess serve pimento cheese on tea sandwiches or even on a hamburger. I'm not so much a tea sandwich kind of girl - you'll have to visit her blog for that! But just as soon as I make another hamburger in this house, it will have this creamy, spicy, vinegary pimento cheese smeared all over its toasted bun!!!! And then I'll update photos also! 😉

Episodes Associated With This Storied Recipe

I promise that Brenda will make you laugh, and all three guests on this special Halloween episode of The Storied Recipe podcast will keep you entertained!

The Storied Recipe, Episode 004: Three Halloween Episodes
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Listen to Amie, Beverly and Brenda now:

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My Experience With This Recipe and Adjustments to My Tastes

Brenda says in our interview that you make the pimento cheese "as spicy as you dare". Well, I don't dare to make it quite as spicy as she does!! I prefer the flavors of picked hot peppers and cayenne to red pepper flakes, so I had to omit the third to make this something I could enjoy. But maybe you will be more daring! Let me know!!

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Recipe by Brenda Wyatt + Guest of The Storied Recipe Podcast
Difficulty: Easy

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Servings

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An authentic Southern recipe for Pimento Cheese. No cream cheese! Just cheddar, pimento, spices, and pepper sauce.

Ingredients

12 Ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese Finely Grated * Do not use pre-grated!
1 Small Jar Pimentos – partially drained Do not use ‘diced’
½ - ¾ cup Good Quality Mayonnaise * look for lemon juice in the ingredients
½ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
1 -2 teaspoon Brine of pickled hot peppers * clear vinegary liquid only

Directions

On the fine side of a box grater, shred sharp cheddar cheese.
In a medium sized bowl, put grated cheese.
Add brine of hot pepper to fill partially drained jar of pimentos.
Add cayenne pepper to pimento jar also.
Scoop Mayonnaise over grated cheese.
Pour spiced pimentos over Mayonnaise and add red pepper flakes.
Stir gently to combine.
Mimi’s Pimento Cheese will occasionally need additional mayonnaise- add a bit at a time to desired consistency. Chill, until ready to use. Spread thinly for tea sandwiches.

Notes

Make sure to listen to Brenda on The Storied Recipe Podcast, Halloween 2019 – 3 Perspectives while you make her Pimento Cheese recipe!

Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe

Episodes Associated With This Storied Recipe