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    Home » Appetizers

    Pimento Cheese Dip (One Big Table)

    May 3, 2011 · Modified: Dec 1, 2020 by Andrea · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 28 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Pimento Cheese Dip - Andrea Meyers

    About two years ago, a researcher for Molly O’Neill contacted me about a pickled green tomatoes recipe that I had posted from my sister, Angela. She liked the family twist on the recipe and interviewed both of us, but when we didn’t hear anything back we assumed that the recipe had not been selected for her upcoming book. So you can imagine my surprise when I received an email last fall announcing the arrival of One Big Table, and then my delight to learn that they had included the recipe (page 71).

    Even if our recipe had not been included, I would have bought O’Neill’s book in a heart beat. It’s more than just a cookbook, it’s full of stories of the incredible bounty of dishes that make up American cuisine, and is as eclectic as the mix of people who’ve chosen to make this country their home. There’s a certain romance, a sense of nostalgia brought on by flipping through the pages and spotting names of dishes that I remember from childhood or even my travels overseas, and I appreciate the evident care taken to absorb the depth and breadth of the cultures represented in our country. The book features many food bloggers, some you may recognize and others may be new to you: Todd Porter and Diane Cu, Manisha Pandit, Annie Lau, Deseree Anne Kazda, and too many more to list here.

    While we were visiting my parents over spring break, my mother chose to make Dorothy Steen’s Award-Winning Pimento Cheese Dip (page 56). Pimento cheese dip (aka Carolina Caviar, Atlanta Pâté, and a few other colorful names) is a southern classic with many variations. The basic recipe has sharp cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, and a jar of chopped pimentos, and after that it’s up to the cook’s tastes. You can serve it chilled or baked, it’s entirely up to you, just have a pile of crackers or pita chips ready and you’ll have a fast and delicious southern treat for any party.

    One Big Table, by Molly O'NeillI am giving one copy of this terrific cookbook along with a signed bookplate from Molly O’Neill. To enter, leave a comment telling us about your favorite family recipe. Please make sure your email address is correct so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner. Apologies to my international readers, but the book can only be shipped within the continental U.S. The contest closes at 8 P.M. EST on May 9, and Random.org will select the winner. Look for the announcement of the winner in this post soon after.

    UPDATE: Congratulations to Lisa S., winner of the book and signed bookplate!

    [Disclosure: I purchased my own copy of the book and am providing the book for this giveaway.]

    Pimento Cheese Dip - Andrea Meyers
    Print Pin

    Dorothy Steen's Award-Winning Pimento Cheese Dip

    Adapted from One Big Table, by Molly O’Neill.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Refrigeration Time2 hrs
    Total Time2 hrs 15 mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American, Southern
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Keyword: cheddar cheese, cheese, dip, pimiento peppers
    Servings: 24
    Calories: 94kcal
    Author: Andrea Meyers

    Equipment

    • food processor

    Ingredients

    • 16 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
    • 4 ounces canned pimentos (drained and chopped)
    • ¼ cup mayonnaise
    • 1 tablespoon lemon pepper
    • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    • 2 ½ teaspoons gluten-free Worcestershire sauce
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • ⅛ teaspoon hot sauce
    US Customary - Metric

    Preparation

    • In the bowl of the food processor, process all ingredients until combined but slightly chunky, about 15 seconds. Transfer to a serving bowl, cover, and refrigerate until the cheese has set and the flavors blended, about 2 hours. Serve with whole grain crackers or thinly sliced baguette.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 94kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 164mg | Potassium: 34mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 315IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 138mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Share in the comments!

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    More Mentions of One Big Table from Other Blogs

    • Baking Bites – One Big Table
    • One Hot Stove – One Big Table
    • The Amateur Gourmet – Dinner on Ellis Island
    « Egg White Breakfast Casserole with Sausage, Spinach, and Tomatoes
    Strawberry Chocolate Cheesecake »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Alison Campbell says

      May 03, 2011 at 10:15 am

      'though born a Yankee, I've lived in Virginia for 21+ years - I never knew what I was missing until I tasted Pimento Cheese sandwiches! This looks yummy!

      My fav family recipe is for Rice and Peas (small red beans) - a Caribbean dish. Everyone makes it differently but it is a staple for Sunday dinner.

      Reply
    2. Grace says

      May 03, 2011 at 10:59 am

      My favorite family recipe changes with the season and my mood. I get homesick a lot, and making something from a family recipe can surely be a comfort. My grandmother's really delicious spaghetti sauce, my mother's boiling water chocolate cake with peanut butter and coffee icing, the cabbage balls we all make and serve over mashed potatoes- doesn't matter which one of us made it, it tastes exactly the same. My mom surprised us with a cookbook she made up last year with family recipes from her grandparents to me and others of my generation. She gave copies to her sisters and brother, her nieces and nephews, and me and my sister. It will always be one of my greatest treasures.

      Reply
    3. Celine says

      May 03, 2011 at 11:00 am

      Great give-away! I love collecting family recipes. My favorite is my Grandma's coconut bars.

      Reply
    4. Wendryn says

      May 03, 2011 at 2:36 pm

      I think my favorite recipe is thin pancakes - 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, 2 eggs, a tablespoon of sugar, and a pinch of salt, dumped in a blender, then cooked as usual. I also like my mom's chile relleno casserole, which I haven't seen anywhere else.

      The cookbook sounds interesting!

      Reply
    5. melanie says

      May 03, 2011 at 3:57 pm

      we all have different favorites, but i can generally count on everyone being excited for our family homemade pizza. i use a betty crocker crust (substituting a cup of whole wheat flour) and whatever toppings people are in the mood for. my husband and i love the deep dish version.

      Reply
    6. Sarah says

      May 03, 2011 at 6:00 pm

      In the winter, my dad's chili is the best. In the summer, my mom does a classic potato salad.

      Reply
    7. Kathy - Panini Happy says

      May 03, 2011 at 6:37 pm

      My mom spent a good chunk of the '80s perfecting her chocolate chip recipe (my sisters and I were very willing taste testers). She's got it down pretty well now, that's definitely my favorite family recipe.

      Reply
    8. Deborah Rosen says

      May 03, 2011 at 7:29 pm

      My favorite family recipe is my Grandmother's scrippelle m'busse, which is a savory crepe lightly filled with grated romano cheese and cracked black pepper served in chicken broth. There's no written family recipe and I didn't really learn to make the batter for the crepes until a few years ago. It's a ton of work but it's yummy!

      Reply
    9. Deb says

      May 03, 2011 at 8:08 pm

      Pimento cheese spread was my craving when pregnant with my first son! This sounds much better than the stuff I bought at the grocery. Easter is my
      opportunity to make a traditional family recipe for an egg dish using hard
      boiled eggs, cheese sauce and ham. Everyone looks forward to it each year.

      Reply
    10. Mimi Allen says

      May 03, 2011 at 11:07 pm

      I grew up in Savannah, GA, and one of my favorite meals as a child was one of my father's specialties. He called it "Chicken Country Captain." When I was little, I was convinced he made up the dish. Now that I'm older (and slightly better informed) I have discovered that it is fairly well established classic.
      I found your blog through an issue of "Where Women Cook."

      Reply
    11. tracy a. says

      May 04, 2011 at 3:42 am

      Oh, wow! This book looks great. (:

      My family favorite is soft ginger cookies. We only make them at Christmas & I look forward to them all year.

      Reply
    12. Kimberly says

      May 04, 2011 at 7:31 am

      New reader here and Love your blog. My favorite family recipe is my Grandpa's Cinnamon Rolls. My Mother tells us that he had tasted them at a favorite restaurant and decided to "copy" them at home. After many batches, he came as close as one can without having the original recipe!

      Thanks for the opportunity to hear about this cookbook. I read cookbooks like others read romance novels!

      Kim

      Reply
    13. Shewanna says

      May 04, 2011 at 8:21 am

      My family is Jamaican; so even though I live in Texas and my husband is from Maine, our family dinner is a Caribbean staple: Jamaican curry chicken, dumplings and sauteed plantains! It's my childhood comfort food and my husband is addicted! (We just made it on Monday actually!)

      Reply
    14. Amanda Thompson says

      May 04, 2011 at 8:45 am

      My favorite family recipes are my Mom's Deviled Eggs and my husband's Ragu Sauce.

      Reply
    15. Marsha A. says

      May 04, 2011 at 8:52 am

      This looks like a great cook book. My family favoite recipe is my mom's potato salad. Summers coming and she will start to make it again. Can't wait.

      Reply
    16. Ginny says

      May 04, 2011 at 9:44 am

      It would have to be a tie between my grandpa's spaghetti sauce (handwritten on an old, oil-splotted piece of paper) and my dad's cornbread dressing. Both are so good!

      Reply
    17. Nate @ House of Annie says

      May 04, 2011 at 11:08 am

      Oh! I didn't get the confirmation that our recipe was included. So nice to know! 🙂

      A true favorite family recipe in our house is our Fancy Baked Mac and Cheese. The kids love it and, truth be told, so do the adults!

      Reply
    18. Ria says

      May 04, 2011 at 11:52 am

      Our favourites depends on what mood we both are in,then. Most of the time, it's a good chicken curry and rice 🙂

      Reply
    19. Lisa S says

      May 04, 2011 at 8:43 pm

      A meal that I have made a family favorite is Pernil with yellow rice & peas. I am not Hispanic but I have perfected it and we love it!!

      Reply
    20. Stephanie says

      May 05, 2011 at 8:01 am

      Macaroni! It is actually baked ziti my 91 year old grandma still makes every Sunday for everyone, but I have always known it as Macaroni. And meatballs, 'course.

      Reply
    21. Sharon says

      May 05, 2011 at 9:39 pm

      One of my favorite family recipes (there are so many!) is pasta primavera with a very garlicky sauce and lots of fresh veggies.

      Reply
    22. Chris M. says

      May 06, 2011 at 4:45 pm

      Ranch shredded cheese bacon chip dip. Thanks.

      Reply
    23. Mary H Cochrane says

      May 07, 2011 at 10:35 pm

      Even though Mom has been gone for over 10 years, I still savor the taste of her boiled squash and sausage gravy. Reminds me of cold winter evenings and the family at the table for supper. Such a comfort food!

      Reply
    24. Lynda Clark says

      May 08, 2011 at 7:15 am

      One of our family's favorite recipes is an old fashioned carrot cake recipe that I got from my grandmother. When my daughter left home, I made a handwritten cookbook for her and made sure the recipe for this cake was in it. It is her favorite recipe.

      Reply
    25. Amy J. says

      May 09, 2011 at 6:10 pm

      This sounds yummy!

      My favorite family recipe is for my great-grandmother Sophia's Capusta. A Polish dish of cabbage and lots of dill. Delicous!

      Reply
    26. Meagan says

      May 09, 2011 at 7:39 pm

      So, I just missed the cutoff, but couldn't help but share my favorite family recipe. My grandmother's Cornbread Dressing. It takes preparation days ahead of baking cornbread and laying it out to get stale, along with some white bread, but the results are worth it. My husband told me when we celebrated our first Thanksgiving that he hated stuffing or dressing. I offered him a taste of this recipe and he was converted!
      This book looks like a great addition to any cook's shelves, especially when having guests over from around the country.

      Reply
    27. Andrea says

      May 09, 2011 at 8:14 pm

      Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway. Entries are now closed. Stay tuned for the announcement of the winner in this post.

      Reply

    Trackbacks

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      […] Pimento Cheese Dip | Source: Andrea’s […]

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