# Pimento cheese **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [September 21, 2026, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247 "2026-09-21T15:32:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247/1 "2026-09-21T15:32:59Z")
I love pimento cheese - More accurately, I love _my_ pimento cheese. Any store bought **always** has too much mayo. **Mrs Magill** likes to spread it on sourdough pretzels. I’m happy with Ritz or Trisket crackers. I’d gotten my pimento cheese recipe from my mother, which I will now share. Mama Magill’s Pimento cheese. 1 small jar of diced pimentos 1 half an onion - minced 1 pound extra sharp cheddar cheese - grated fine. Mayo Fresh ground black pepper 1 dash of tabasco sauce [Drain the pimentos - reserving the brine](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55541697691_fbdff51705_b.jpg). [Mince up the onion half as fine as you can.](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55540671237_d5ebe95b3f_b.jpg) [Grate the cheese.](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55541807948_98810c323b_b.jpg) This is very important. DO NOT use pre-grated cheese. That’s often coated with corn starch to keep it from sticking together, which is the opposite of what you want. Add about a tablespoon of fresh ground black pepper and a dash or two of tabasco sauce. [Add a tablespoon of the pimento brine.](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55540671122_e938ff66e0_b.jpg) [Add _just enough_ mayo to bind it together](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55541697501_598b7b4039_b.jpg). [Mix it until smooth.](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55541854024_1ff694642e_b.jpg) [Package it](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55540670932_b76e74b5e7_b.jpg) and put it in the fridge for a couple hours to let the flavors meld. Enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247/2 "2026-09-21T16:12:43Z")
Yes, please. It puts me in mind of a Welsh rarebit recipe I recently looked at but never tried. ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247/3 "2026-09-21T16:14:57Z")
I use sour cream instead of mayo, but that looks awesome. I like using it for grilled cheese sandwiches, but I’ve been known to scoop it right out of the bowl with tortilla chips. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247/4 "2026-09-21T16:26:23Z")
The recipe I use calls for cream cheese instead of mayo and I’m happy with it, but yours sounds lovely. A good pimento cheese is one of life’s simple pleasures. It’s great as a dip with crackers and crudités. I like it as part of a sandwich on toasted bread with olives, too. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247/5 "2026-09-21T16:30:02Z")
If you put it on celery, you can pretend it’s healthy! > [@Thumper668](#): > > I use sour cream instead of mayo Interesting. I may try that one day. > [@CairoCarol](#): > > The recipe I use calls for cream cheese instead of mayo I’m not a fan of cream cheese, but **Mrs Magill** is. That sounds like a perfect way for her to get it all to herself, besides the fact her office is on the same floor as the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247/6 "2026-09-21T16:44:33Z")
I love pimento cheese. In fact I have a thread about it, somewhere down in storage here on the Dope. Thanks for reminding me. Gonna get the cheese and that cute little jar of pimentos, (jeez, I love that aisle) before we leave town. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247/7 "2026-09-21T16:47:08Z")
Thanks for sharing, photos and everything. This looks like the kind of recipe I will file away, randomly come across in 7 years, and wonder why I’d never made it. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247/8 "2026-09-21T16:48:57Z")
That sounds really good! Here’s my recipe: 1. Roughly cut up a **block of cheddar** (8 oz or so), and throw it in the food processor. 2. Whirl it until it’s pretty good and crumbly. 3. Add a big **blob of cream cheese** (2 oz or so) and a ginormous spoonful of mayo. 4. Whirl it until it’s good and gooey. 5. Add the entire contents of a **little jar of pimentos** , brine and all. 6. Add some **spices** : garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and cayenne is a delicious combination, but you do you. 7. Whirl it until it’s done. It’s especially good on picnics, or if you want to get really fancy lightly heated and served as a dip. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247/9 "2026-09-21T17:20:35Z")
A grocery store near where I used to live used to make a similar cheese spread using [peppadews](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppadew) instead of pimentos. I loved it. You might give it a try sometime. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247/10 "2026-09-21T20:51:16Z")
I love pimento cheese but putting onions in it? Might as well put peas in it. That’s not something that should go in it. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247/11 "2026-09-21T21:11:40Z")
To each his/her/etc. own, but I’m not sure I’ve seen a recipe that uses minced onion. Sounds interesting, but not for me. In this area of the country [Palmetto Cheese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmetto_Cheese) is probably the most popular commercially available pimento cheese. Not to be confused with the more common variants of “pimento cheese spread,” like [Ruth’s](https://ruthsalad.com/products/ruths-original-pimento-spread/) which I tend to avoid. Side note: The original “pimento cheese” recipes from the northeast used cream cheese instead of cheddar. Several years later the southern cheddar cheese recipes started showing up. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247/12 "2026-09-21T22:08:13Z")
My Mid-dau in her kitchen brilliance has suggested crumbled bacon will put pimento cheese up to another level. I leaning toward agreement. 🥓 😊 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247/13 "2026-09-21T22:34:08Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > My Mid-dau in her kitchen brilliance has suggested crumbled bacon will put pimento cheese up to another level. Bacon makes almost anything better, but I’d say you better crumble it pretty small or you’ll make it more difficult to spread. That being said, yes to bacon IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247/14 "2026-09-22T00:38:45Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > My Mid-dau in her kitchen brilliance has suggested crumbled bacon will put pimento cheese up to another level. > > I leaning toward agreement. > > 🥓 😊 I like the cut of your jib. Outside the box thinking like that will get you far in this organization. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimento-cheese/1033247/15 "2026-09-22T01:00:13Z")
Sounds fabulous, onion is definitely necessary however id use Worcestershire not Tabasco. Spread some on toast add your bacon slice and LT 👩‍🍳