My friend served delicious pimento cheese sandwiches recently- reminding me how much I enjoy them. 🙂 Eating them also reminded me that I wanted to try this version from Charleston, South Carolina.
The recipe is from The New York Times, contributed by the Lee Brothers. I used Cabot 3-year sharp cheddar cheese. I served it on the Fourth of July as a dip with crackers and pita chips. Alternatively, it could be used to fill about 4 sandwiches. Easy and fabulous.
Yield: about 1 1/2 cups
- 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 (I used Trader Joe’s)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried red chile flakes
- coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 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.
- Serve as a sandwich spread or as a dip.
Note: Pimento cheese keeps in the refrigerator for 1 week.
thebrookcook 