Pickled jalapeno pimento cheese offers a spicy take on a Southern classic

Once refrigerated, this pimento cheese will firm up. It develops in flavor overnight, so, if possible, make it a day ahead. Add as much onion as you like. You can finely grate the onion, or you can coarsely grate it for more texture.

Julie roasts two large red bell peppers on her own but said she’ll cheat and buy already roasted red peppers (not pimentos) when she’s short on time. Roasting red peppers is a bit messy, but it can be done by cutting the red bell peppers in half and placing them cut-side down on a baking pan. Run them under a broiler until the skin blackens, then cool the peppers, remove their blackened skin, stem and seeds, and dice them. It isn’t a pimento, but it’s still pretty close. You can use as much as you’d like.

No salt is needed with the amount of salt in the cheese and pickled jalapeño peppers.

Serves:

Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

12 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese

4 ounces Vermont sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 cup Duke’s mayonnaise

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 tablespoon grated Vidalia onion (see note)

1 tablespoon diced pickled jalapeño pepper, plus additional pickled jalapeño pepper juice

Dash cayenne pepper, if desired

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2 to 3/4 cup chopped roasted red bell pepper (see note)

Instructions

Grate the cheese and set it aside. You should have 3 cups extra-sharp cheddar and 1 cup Vermont cheddar, for about 4 cups of cheese in total.

Place the mayonnaise in a large mixing bowl. Soften the cream cheese in the microwave if needed so that it is easily spreadable. Add it to the mayonnaise and whisk until smooth.

Add the onion, jalapeño pepper, a dash of jalapeño pepper juice, and cayenne and black pepper. Stir to combine. Fold in the roasted red pepper, followed by the grated cheese. Taste for seasoning, and add more mayonnaise or jalapeño pepper juice as needed to make the pimento cheese spreadable. Refrigerate before serving.