Jalapeño Pimento Cheese

Confession: I just starting liking pimento cheese. I’m not even sure what happened. All of a sudden, in the midst of sleep deprivation and desperation for a quick snack during the first two weeks with a newborn, I shoved pimento cheese in my mouth and loved it. It may not have been the perfect breastfeeding snack. I mean, jalapeños don’t necessarily fall in the baby-friendly category. But I was hungry. And it hit the spot.

When I finally came out of the fog six a few months later, I decided to make my own version. Light on the mayo, heavy on my favorite creamy substitute – greek yogurt. We like it hot at our house (we meaning Andrew the H), and when I spotted the hot habanero cheddar, I knew it would be perfect. And if that wasn’t hot enough, I bravely added cayenne and jalapeños. Holy hotness, this cheese is spicy!

This is so crazy easy to throw together especially if you shred the cheese with a food processor. Adjust spiciness to your preference and you have the perfect afternoon snack!

What is your favorite use for pimento cheese?

Jalapeño Pimento Cheese

{Makes 3 cups}

Notes: Please use freshly grated cheese not the pre-shredded stuff. I promise, it will make such a difference in the end result! I used two different kinds of cheeses but you can certainly use 1 lb of your favorite cheddar. I also used a hot habanero cheddar which was awesome but very spicy. We like it hot over here!

8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated
8 oz jalapeño cheddar cheese, grated
2 Tbl mayonnaise
4 oz jar of pimentos, drained and chopped
1/4-1/2 cup greek yogurt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 cup pickled jalapeños, drained and chopped
1/8 tsp cayenne powder (optional)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
2 tsp lemon juice

Using a food processor or grater, shred your cheese of choice. Add chopped pimentos, chopped jalapeños, cayenne powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, mayo, and 1/4 cup thick greek yogurt. Stir to combine. Add more greek yogurt for a creamier texture, to taste. Finally, stir in lemon juice. Taste and add more salt and pepper as needed.

Serve with crackers, on toast, as a garnish on burgers. Mix into mac and cheese.

What is your favorite way to eat pimento cheese?