What’s better than cold pimento cheese on a hot day? Some spicy southern hot pimento cheese, for one thing! If you don’t believe me, ask the folks who attended my last Taste of Stokes program!
In fact, word has it that a local celebrity school official loves this pimento cheese as does a prominent arts booster here in my local county! It’s no problem though, because now YOU have the recipe too!
Just run to the store and gather the few simple ingredients and you’ll be wowing them in no time!
WHAT IS PIMENTO CHEESE MADE OUT OF?
It’s a common question, “What in the world is pimento cheese made out of”? The answer? Simple delicious ingredients that include:
- Cheese
- Mayonnaise
- Pimentos (canned red peppers)
- Spices
- Sugar
WHAT ARE THE PIMENTOS IN PIMENTO CHEESE?
I think I just answered this question, but in case you still want to know OR are scrolling and trying to find a quick answer, the answer is…
The pimentos are canned red peppers.
WHAT DOES A PIMENTO LOOK LIKE?
Since a pimento is a canned red pepper, a pimento looks like the red flesh of a red bell pepper that has been canned, therefore, it is squishy. The ribs and the seeds are removed from the bell pepper before it is canned.
WHAT IF I DON’T LIKE MY PIMENTO CHEESE HOT?
If you aren’t a fan of hot pimento cheese, you can follow my other Pimento Cheese recipe OR you can simply change the pepper jack cheese to a cheddar.
Please DO leave the Sriracha (or other hot sauce) sauce in the spread, it adds more flavor than heat. Most of the heat in this recipe comes from the actual peppers in the cheese.
DOES Southern Hot Pimento Cheese GO BAD?
Yes! Like most every fresh food, pimento cheese DOES go bad. I wouldn’t keep this pimento cheese in the fridge for more than a week. Just so you know, sometimes you will note some watery substances in the container, simple give it a stir and things will be a-ok.
HOW LONG CAN PIMENTO CHEESE SIT OUT?
Your pimento cheese can sit out on the counter for up to 2 hours, but really, put it back in the fridge just as soon as you can. Pimento cheese has mayonnaise in it and that is the risky part.
CAN YOU FREEZE PIMENTO CHEESE?
Unfortunately, you can not freeze pimento cheese because of the mayo. Mayo doesn’t do good in the freezer. When you thaw it, it will separate and there is absolutely NO getting it to go back together again. (It’s like humpty dumpty. lol)>
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SOUTHERN HOT PIMENTO CHEESE
- You can change up your hot pimento cheese by changing up the types of cheeses. The secret to perfect pimento cheese is to ALWAYS use the best quality cheese you can find.
- Try different variations for example: Try some cream cheese, gruyere cheese, stronger cheddars, cheese food such as Velveeta and others. Stick with cheese that you actually like the taste of by themselves.
- The mayo makes a difference in this recipe. I do not want to start the great Mayo War of 2018, but for this recipe, please use Dukes Mayo, it’s important. No other can do the job as well for this recipe. For heaven’s sakes, NEVER use miracle whip for this recipe. Just don’t do it.
- Pickles are not an acceptable substitute for pimentos. Sometimes if you can’t find the pimentos, you can find canned/jarred whole red bell peppers. These are perfectly acceptable, just cut into small pieces and drain well.
- It is SUPER important that you drain the pimentos well or your cheese will turn out sloppy and loose.
- Eat this pimento cheese on a good quality cracker, a zesta or even on cheap white bread. It makes a wonderful grilled cheese sandwich too.
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS RECIPE FOR SOUTHERN HOT PIMENTO CHEESE, YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY….
- Chili Pimento Cheese Poppers
BBQ Chicken Nachos - The Best Sandwich EVER
- Southern Tomato Gravy
- Southern Cooked Cabbage
YA’LL HELP ME OUT
Please leave me a 5 star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 comment below in the comment section , all right? I would LOVE to know if you made this recipe or even if you are planning to! Of course, head on over to Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram and tag me with some photos of your creation!
I can't wait!
Ya'll know I love your comments!! ❤
Southern Hot Pimento Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 oz Sharp Yellow Cheddar hand grated
- 4 oz Pepper Jack Cheese hand grated
- ½ Cup Dukes Mayonnaise
- ½ Cup chopped pimento slices - drained very well
- 3 stalks of green onion - chopped using both white and green parts
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ tsp granulated white sugar
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce Sriracha is preferred but Franks, Texas Pete's, Cholulus, etc. will do for a substitute.
Instructions
- Gently mix all of these together and allow to sit in the fridge for at least an hour to allow the ingredients flavor to meld.
Notes
- You can change up your hot pimento cheese by changing up the types of cheeses. The secret to perfect pimento cheese is to ALWAYS use the best quality cheese you can find.
- Try different variations for example: Try some cream cheese, gruyere cheese, stronger cheddars, cheese food such as Velveeta and others. Stick with cheese that you actually like the taste of by themselves.
- The mayo makes a difference in this recipe. I do not want to start the great Mayo War of 2018, but for this recipe, please use Dukes Mayo, it’s important. No other can do the job as well for this recipe. For heaven’s sakes, NEVER use miracle whip for this recipe. Just don’t do it.
- Pickles are not an acceptable substitute for pimentos. Sometimes if you can’t find the pimentos, you can find canned/jarred whole red bell peppers. These are perfectly acceptable, just cut into small pieces and drain well.
- It is SUPER important that you drain the pimentos well or your cheese will turn out sloppy and loose.
- Eat this pimento cheese on a good quality cracker, a zesta or even on cheap white bread. It makes a wonderful grilled cheese sandwich too.
Nutrition
A VERSE TO SHARE
Recently, someone was talking to me about our faith. This person and I have a different perspective on how things are and at this juncture, I’ve decided to avoid any conversations about politics or religion with this person at all. I’m going to suggest that to you as a way to maintain relationships.
You see, we can be adults and appreciate each other for what we bring to the table. We do not have to agree on every single aspect of our beliefs. Frankly, at some point, it's time to just “drop it” and realize “I love you for you but I’ll never agree with your politics and religion and therefore, I’ll not discuss it further with you”.
That’s where I am with this person.
When I think about it, there is a lot of differing opinions going on in the world. I find that the following verses help me and I thought they might help you as well.
Thank goodness, God isn’t going to leave us and will never forsake us. When He is with us, who can be against?
Amen.
Hebrews 13: 1-6
Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”
Susan Cantin says
Hi Wendi,
I just read your blog for Hot pimento cheese. In the text you say. “ Please DO leave the Sriracha sauce in the spread...” However, in the list of ingredients you don’t list a sriracha sauce only Frank’s, Texas Pete, or Cholula. What brand and how much sriracha do you use?
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Susan!
Good catch! Thanks for letting me know! I fixed it! 🙂 . Wendi
Moxie says
Super Delicious!