Good Lord I love pimento cheese! Pimento cheese is something that I probably only make about twice a year, but when I do, I just cannot get enough of it. As a man from the North, this recipe is typically one from the South, and it is typically referred to as the ‘caviar of the South’, and I can tell why. If you have never tried pimento cheese, well, I suggest you make it yourself as it is not only super easy to make, but it is extremely delicious.
Pimento cheese is pretty diverse as well and it can be made several different ways, but the main foundation is shredded cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, and pimentos. I like to twist mine up from time to time, and include a couple of different ingredients. This latest batch was used not only for some dip, but I took a twist as a side dish and made twice baked potatoes, loaded with pimento cheese. Whoa, was this ever great.
Let’s get started.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese, hand grated
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- pinch of salt, to taste
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
- 4 oz diced pimentos, drained
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 2 whole potatoes, cooked until fork tender
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
Start by adding the cheeses, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, garlic, and pimentos to a small mixing bowl. Use a fork, and carefully stir and blend the mixture together. Make sure everything is combined.
Grab a cracker, and spread some of that delicious pimento cheese on top. Eat. Now you have to back away, otherwise you may attempt to eat that entire bowl. Cover and place into the refrigerator until you are ready to use for the potatoes.
You have a couple of options with your potatoes. Put them into the microwave for about 9 minutes, or place them into a 350 degree oven for 60 minutes. It’s your call. The goal however is to get them to be fork tender.
Once they are fork tender, remove them and let them cool slightly.
Take a knife, and carefully cut around the top of the potato. Repeat with the other one. Take the tops off and scrape any potato into a bowl. Use a spoon and scrape out the insides of each potato, being careful not to tear the skin.
To the potato mixture, add the butter, and milk. Use a fork or whisk, and mash the potato mixture. Now you are ready for the pimento cheese!
Add the potato mixture back into each potato. Generously top each potato with heaping tablespoons of the pimento cheese.
Place these onto a baking sheet, and place into a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until the cheese mixture is nice and bubbly.
Dig in!
If you love the basic twice baked potato, then you are going to fall in love with these. Not only are they cheesy, and super creamy, but you get that awesomeness from the pimentos and that slight kick of garlic that make these an ultimate side dish, or heck, dinner for that matter! Hope you enjoy!
Twice Baked Pimento Cheese Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese hand grated
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- pinch of salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
- 4 oz diced pimentos drained
- 1/2 cup cream cheese room temperature
- 1 clove of garlic minced
- 2 whole potatoes cooked until fork tender
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
Instructions
- Start by adding the cheeses, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, garlic, and pimentos to a small mixing bowl. Use a fork, and carefully stir and blend the mixture together. Make sure everything is combined.
- Grab a cracker, and spread some of that delicious pimento cheese on top. Eat. Now you have to back away, otherwise you may attempt to eat that entire bowl. Cover and place into the refrigerator until you are ready to use for the potatoes.
- You have a couple of options with your potatoes. Put them into the microwave for about 9 minutes, or place them into a 350 degree oven for 60 minutes. It’s your call. The goal however is to get them to be fork tender.
- Once they are fork tender, remove them and let them cool slightly.
- Take a knife, and carefully cut around the top of the potato. Repeat with the other one. Take the tops off and scrape any potato into a bowl. Use a spoon and scrape out the insides of each potato, being careful not to tear the skin.
- To the potato mixture, add the butter, and milk. Use a fork or whisk, and mash the potato mixture. Now you are ready for the pimento cheese!
- Add the potato mixture back into each potato. Generously top each potato with heaping tablespoons of the pimento cheese.
- Place these onto a baking sheet, and place into a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until the cheese mixture is nice and bubbly.
- Dig in!