Ode to Pimento Cheese

Ode to Pimento Cheese
By Josie McLemore

No one is exactly sure about the origin of pimento cheese, but everyone here in the South is sure how they feel about it. Every lady is sure that her own recipe is the proper way to make this satisfying Southern staple. It’s versatile, protein-rich and can recover from misread proportions and directions with ease.
Every recipe is a little different, but all include grated cheddar cheese, a little mayonnaise, chopped pimentos, and spices.

Here is the basic recipe:
8 ounce block of sharp cheddar grated
3 Tablespoons of Mayo (more of less if desired) I use Hellman’s because I like the more lemony taste
1 small jar of chopped pimentos, drained
salt and pepper to taste

Serve with crackers or celery or enjoy it as a sandwich with a fresh summer tomato. If you are really feeling brave, try it on your hamburger.

Here is my recipe:
8 ounce block of sharp cheddar grated
3 Tablespoons of Mayo (more of less if desired)
1 small jar of chopped pimentos, drained
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper

Some women feel that putting nuts or extra ingredients in pimento cheese is like putting sugar in cornbread, but it’s certainly not on the same level as using pasteurized cheese instead of real sharp cheddar. The nerve! I frequently experiment with adding a few additional ingredients.

Other add-ins to make it your own:
chopped kalamata or black olives
chopped garlic
capers
chopped pecans
half grated sharp cheddar, half grated sharp white cheddar
half grated sharp cheddar, half cream cheese

I often enjoy mine right out of the tupperware container, but when I’m trying to be a bit more civilized I put it in a small Revere bowl on a tray with crackers. Revere bowls can be found at reedandbarton.com and many flea markets and antique shops like rubylane.com for reasonable prices.

*photo from reedandbarton.com

*photo from wellsandwinter.co.uk

When the weather cools off I hope to take more picnics. I’ll make pimento cheese sandwiches and serve them on these fabulous tin plates to add a hint of glamour to a casual meal. They come in several patterns and look just like real china, only they are not nearly as fragile. They can frequently be found in museum gift shops, shopfrick.org, and at wellsandwinter.co.uk.