# Pimiento Cheese
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [July 6, 2016, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255 "2016-07-06T20:08:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2016, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/1 "2016-07-06T20:08:49Z")
A classic southern American dish
> [@Southern Living Recipe](#):
>
> **Basic Pimiento Cheese Recipe**
> Ingredients
> 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
> 1 (4-oz.) jar diced pimiento, drained
> 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
> 1 tsp. finely grated onion
> 1/4 tsp. ground red pepper
> 1 (8-oz.) block extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, finely shredded
> 1 (8-oz.) block sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
> Stir together first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; stir in cheese. Store in refrigerator up to 1 week.
>
> Serve on bread, toast or crackers.
Have you had it?
Had you heard of it before trying it?
Most people I know, not from the South, have never heard of it until offered to them. It was a staple in my mother’s fridge when I grew up. Not that good for you with all of the mayonnaise, but definitely good.
---
### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2016, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/2 "2016-07-06T22:07:11Z")
Which is the exact recipe I posted [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19436831&postcount=51) about 10 days ago.
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### Author:  [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/3 "2016-07-06T22:10:39Z")
Good stuff
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/4 "2016-07-06T23:11:53Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> Which is the exact recipe I posted [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19436831&postcount=51) about 10 days ago.
Caviar of the south!
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### Author:  [@davey77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davey77)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/5 "2016-07-07T02:21:27Z")
It’s a staple in southeastern Ohio, as well. Great on crusty bread, topped with iceberg lettuce.
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### Author:  [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/6 "2016-07-07T04:27:09Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> Which is the exact recipe I posted [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19436831&postcount=51) about 10 days ago.
Which made me very hungry and grateful that I had a big ol’ batch in the fridge.
As a non-southerner (at least geographically), I didn’t have it growing up, but I make it several times a year now. I am not a huge fan of mayo, so I add cream cheese instead when making it for myself.
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### Author:  [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/7 "2016-07-07T04:34:03Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#):
>
> Caviar of the south!
Damn, I wanted to make that joke. 😛
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### Author:  [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/8 "2016-07-07T11:14:05Z")
I occasionally make a grilled cheese using it. Heavy, but tasty.
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### Author:  [@orderfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orderfire)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/9 "2016-07-07T13:03:21Z")
As a Yankee, I never had it before we spent a week in the Outer Banks a few years ago. The Food Lion sold a prepared pimiento cheese with jalapenos called Palmetto Cheese. Damn if the two of us didn’t finish off the entire pint in one sitting.
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### Author:  [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/10 "2016-07-07T13:33:33Z")
As a child I was a picky eater. Mom packed one in my school lunch every day.
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### Author:  [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/11 "2016-07-07T13:47:29Z")
I HATED pimento cheese growing up. What we had was the “pimento spread” you can buy in the dairy section of any southern grocery store, and it’s fucking nasty, not even made with real cheese usually.
As an adult, I worked a fundraiser for which a restaurant donated a giant batch of pimento cheese. At first I thought, “What the hell is wrong with them, donating nasty-ass glop to our fundraiser?” But then I tried it, and was amazed that pimento cheese could be good. I promptly went home and started making it, and now it’s one of my stock pot-luck dishes.
Here’s my recipe, roughly:
> [@](#):
>
> In a food processor, whirl a clove or two of garlic and a dash of cumin and a dash of cayenne.
>
> Add, I dunno, a half-pound of sharp cheddar in chunks. Whirl it until it’s crumbly.
>
> Add, let’s call it 2 oz. of cream cheese. Whirl it some more.
>
> Add a honking spoonful or two of mayo. Whirl.
>
> Add as much pimento as you like. Whirl just a bit this time.
>
> Taste, adjust seasonings.
>
> Refrigerate, or for something ridiculously good, warm in the microwave (stirring often) and serve gooey with crackers or tortilla chips.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/12 "2016-07-07T14:13:37Z")
See, there is your problem. Never use a food processor for this. The cheese has to be hand-shredded. The texture is part and parcel of the dish. Food processor = mass produced crap. Hand-shredded = Grandma loves you.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/13 "2016-07-07T14:36:52Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#):
>
> At first I thought, “What the hell is wrong with them, donating nasty-ass glop to our fundraiser?” But then I tried it, and was amazed that pimento cheese could be good.
My dad saw similar reactions when he’d bring SPAM[sup]®[/sup] salad (for sandwiches) to picnics. Many people’s first reaction was 'Ewwww! SPAM! 🤮 ’ But once convinced to try it, they asked for more.
I’ve no recollection of ever eating pimento cheese, except possibly as a store-bought spread. But the thread reminded me that dad liked to make peas-and-cheese salad: A can of peas, little cubes of mild cheddar, Miracle Whip; mix it all together.
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### Author:  [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/14 "2016-07-07T14:37:43Z")
There’s a food truck here in Nashville that specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches, and their signature item is a pimiento mac-and-cheese grilled sandwich. Not too healthy but very yummy.
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### Author:  [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/15 "2016-07-07T14:55:11Z")
I make a version every so often all for myself. In fact, I may make some today! I use finely chopped roasted red peppers.
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### Author:  [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/16 "2016-07-07T15:21:19Z")
There was some teevee show episode recently about a tough-ass bodyguard who didn’t carry a gun, because he was such a tough-ass.
When the other two bodyguards, dripping with weapons, asked him what he was packin,’ he said “a pimiento cheese sandwich.”
My son was watching this show and I happened to catch that scene, and I swear I’ve been hearing about pimiento cheese at least twice a week since. After not knowing about it for the previous 54 years.
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### Author:  [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/17 "2016-07-07T15:25:25Z")
Also, you have to pronounce it right. It’s “p’menna cheese” 🙂
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/18 "2016-07-07T15:47:20Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#):
>
> There was some teevee show episode recently about a tough-ass bodyguard who didn’t carry a gun, because he was such a tough-ass.
>
> When the other two bodyguards, dripping with weapons, asked him what he was packin,’ he said “a pimiento cheese sandwich.”
He carries a gun when it’s appropriate. Just like he carries pimiento cheese when appropriate. The right tool for the right job, that’s our Mr. Ehrmantraut. 😛
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### Author:  [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/19 "2016-07-07T16:21:10Z")
I used to subscribe to Southern Living, which is why I know what it is. Never eaten it or had it offered, though, and I don’t know if I could buy pimientos at my grocery. Not ones that aren’t already stuffed into olives, anyway.
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### Author:  [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pimiento-cheese/759255/20 "2016-07-07T16:54:54Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#):
>
> He carries a gun when it’s appropriate. Just like he carries pimiento cheese when appropriate. The right tool for the right job, that’s our Mr. Ehrmantraut. 😛
So what’s the damn show? Don’t leave me hanging!
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