Description
Ina Garten’s spicy pimento cheese spread brings Southern comfort to your table with bold cheddar and zesty peppers. Creamy, tangy, and perfectly spiced, this classic appetizer delivers irresistible flavor you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 400 grams (10 ounces) grated sharp white Cheddar, such as 2-year aged Grafton
- 225 grams (8 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 180 milliliters (¾ cup) good mayonnaise, such as Hellmann’s
Supporting Ingredients:
- 120 milliliters (¾ cup) canned pickled jalapeño peppers, drained and chopped
- 120 grams (½ cup) chopped roasted red peppers, drained (4 ounces)
- 75 grams (½ cup) chopped scallions, white and green parts (3 to 4 scallions)
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
- 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) Sriracha
- 1½ teaspoons granulated onion (not onion powder)
- 2 large garlic cloves, grated
- 1 teaspoon whole celery seed
- Kosher salt, to taste
Serving Suggestions:
- Ritz crackers, corn chips, and/or crudités, for serving
Instructions
- Place softened cream cheese in a spacious mixing vessel, blending thoroughly with mayonnaise to create a uniform, silky foundation.
- Incorporate granulated onion, freshly grated garlic, and ground celery seed, stirring consistently to distribute seasonings evenly throughout the mixture.
- Introduce finely chopped pickled jalapeños, providing a vibrant and zesty kick to the creamy base.
- Gently fold in thinly sliced scallions, adding a crisp, sharp green onion dimension to the spread.
- Carefully mix in diced roasted red peppers, enhancing the mixture with a subtle smoky sweetness and vibrant color.
- Sprinkle grated sharp white Cheddar cheese, stirring until the cheese is completely integrated and creates a rich, tangy flavor profile.
- Drizzle Sriracha sauce, adjusting the quantity to achieve the desired level of heat and complexity.
- Season with additional salt (approximately ½ teaspoon) to balance and amplify the overall taste.
- Taste and fine-tune seasonings, ensuring a harmonious blend of flavors.
- Transfer to a serving dish and accompany with Ritz crackers, corn chips, or fresh vegetable crudités for dipping.
Notes
- Smooth cream cheese requires sitting at room temperature for 30 minutes before mixing to prevent unwanted lumps.
- Grating garlic releases more intense flavor and creates a smoother, more even texture throughout the spread.
- Customize heat levels by reducing jalapeños or adjusting Sriracha quantity according to personal spice preferences.
- Vigorous mixing ensures all ingredients blend completely, distributing flavors and spices evenly.
- Refrigerating for one hour before serving allows ingredients to meld together, intensifying overall taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of the recipe (about ¼ cup)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3 grams
- Sodium: 710 milligrams
- Fat: 27 grams
- Saturated Fat: 12 grams
- Carbohydrates: 7 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Protein: 15 grams
- Cholesterol: 75 milligrams