30/30 - #25 Spicy Pimento Cheese

I may be a heathy eater and cook, but I am still a Southern girl at heart, which means I LOVE Pimento Cheese. Unfortunately, the store bought brands sort of freak me out after reading the ingredient list. I was sure that I could come up with my own version. Most of the credit for this recipe goes to my dear mother, but we have both tweaked it over the years.

For those of you that are just catching up, I am counting down my Top 30 favorites to celebrate my up coming, milestone birthday, the big 3-0! Pimento Cheese marks #25 on the countdown.

I can't emphasize enough the importance of the cheese that you select for the Pimento Cheese recipe, like I do in the original post. Quality cheese adds so much more flavor to the pimento cheese, instead of masking low-grade cheese with tons of mayo. The Hubby and many friends usually can't get enough of this and eat it by the spoonful.

Spicy Pimento Cheese

Yields: 4.5 cups
Prep time: 5 minutes

You can find the recipe for Pimento Cheese here.

Spicy Pimento Cheese

Pimento Cheese! If you are one of my Southern readers, then you know the goodness that comes from the combination of cheese and pimentos. And if you are not from the South, well, then branch out!

I introduced my Hubby to pimento cheese when we first started dating 8 years ago, and he was hooked! He has officially claimed my latest batch as "the BEST pimento cheese I have ever made!" (quite a compliment I must say)

Along with the curry egg salad recipe, this is one of his frequently requested dishes! He puts it on everything...crackers, eggs, potatoes, sandwiches. I have even seen him eating it straight from the container with a spoon.

What is the key to a good pimento cheese, you ask?

Well, let's think about that carefully....THE CHEESE. You must start with good cheese. And no, Velveta does NOT count! I think the best combination is a sharp white cheddar (preferably Vermont or New Zealand) and a Gruyere/Swiss mixture I get from Trader Joe's. If you want to splurge, you can just do Gruyere, but it is expensive.

In my opinion, this is the best pimento cheese recipe out there, but I might be a little biased. Ryan definitely agrees with me! I will be the first to admit that this is not the healthiest dish on my site. However, it is certainly a lot healthier than the version that you buy in the grocery store. I am using less mayonnaise and a lighter version. I am also using a harder cheese, which has less saturated fat than a softer cheddar. And finally, there are such bold flavors in the recipe, that a serving is less than usual (although it is hard to resist)!

Spicy Pimento Cheese

Yields: 4 1/2 cups
Prep Time: 5 minutes

2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese (Cabot preferred)
2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese (I use the Swiss and Gruyere mix from Trader Joe's)
1/3 cup lite mayonnaise
1/3 cup lite sour cream
3 jalapenos, seeds removed and finely chopped
4 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
1 (4 ounce) jar of pimentos 
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon celery salt

Mix everything in a large bowl until well combined. Adjust the spices to taste. Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks (if it lasts that long)!!

*Only add two jalapenos for a more mild pimento cheese.