Ina Garten spicy pimento cheese spread is an easy, no-cook party appetizer inspired by a Brooklyn cheese shop called Stinky. She swaps in pickled jalapeños and Sriracha, so it runs hotter than the Southern original for a dinner party crowd.
The cream cheese needs to be at room temperature, or the spread turns lumpy and will not come together. Use a wooden spoon instead of a mixer so the Cheddar stays in small, distinct pieces for texture.
Source: Modern Comfort Food (2020)
Ina Garten Spicy Pimento Cheese Spread
Course: AppetizerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy8
servings15
minutes380
kcalTangy and rich with a Sriracha kick, this one-bowl spread folds sharp white Cheddar, pickled jalapeños, scallions, and roasted red peppers into a cream cheese and mayo base.
Ingredients
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3/4 cup good mayonnaise, such as Hellmann’s
1 1/2 teaspoons granulated onion (not onion powder)
2 large garlic cloves, grated
1 teaspoon whole celery seed
Kosher salt
3/4 cup canned pickled jalapeño peppers, drained and chopped
1/2 cup chopped scallions, white and green parts (3 to 4 scallions)
1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers, drained (4 ounces)
4 cups grated sharp white Cheddar, such as 2-year aged Grafton (10 ounces)
1 tablespoon Sriracha
Ritz crackers, corn chips, and/or crudités, for serving
Directions
- Mix and serve: In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, onion, garlic, celery seed, and 1/2 teaspoon salt with a wooden spoon. Add the jalapeños, scallions, red peppers, Cheddar, and Sriracha and combine well. Taste for seasonings and serve with crackers, corn chips, and/or crudités.
FAQs
Can I make this pimento cheese spread ahead of time?
Making it ahead actually improves the flavor because the jalapeños and Sriracha have time to work through the cheese. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 hours before serving. Pull it out 30 minutes early so it softens enough to spread.
What can I use instead of Sriracha?
Any thick hot sauce with garlic undertones works here. Cholula or Valentina will change the flavor slightly but still taste great. If you skip the hot sauce, you get something closer to a traditional Southern pimento cheese.
How long does this spread keep in the fridge?
It holds well for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container. The flavor actually gets better after a day. Just give it a stir and let it come to room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving again.
Why does the recipe call for granulated onion instead of onion powder?
Granulated onion has a coarser texture than onion powder, so it distributes more evenly through a thick spread. Onion powder tends to clump and create spots with too much flavor. If onion powder is all you have, use about 1 teaspoon instead of 1 1/2 teaspoons.
Do I need to grate the Cheddar by hand?
A box grater gives the best results here. Pre-shredded cheese from a bag has anti-caking powder on it, and that keeps it from blending smoothly into the cream cheese base. The extra few minutes of grating are worth it for the final texture.
