Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Spread

A classic southern appetizer with a kick of a twist.

I have a group of ladies that get together on a regular basis and we take turns bringing snacks and refreshments. One of the challenges that I find, is that a couple of the ladies adhere to strict gluten-free diets. It seems that they are often confined to just having fruit or maybe not indulging in any snacks at all.

This week, I prepared a classic southern recipe… pimento cheese spread, and gave it my own twist with some fresh, minced jalapeno peppers. I served this spread with gluten free crackers. It was a fantastic hit, and people were asking for the recipe and commenting on the flavor of the crackers left and right – even those who don’t adhere to gluten free diets.

How to Make Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Spread

To begin, dice 2 tablespoons of jarred pimentos. You can find these in the grocery store near the jarred peppers, pickles & olives and often in the Hispanic section of the store as well.

In a mixing bowl, combine 4 ounces of room temperature, reduced fat cream cheese, 5 ounces each of shredded sharp cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese.

Add in the diced pimentos, 1/2 teaspoon each of sea salt and fresh ground black pepper and 1/4 cup of mayonnaise. Mix until these are all combined.

Seed and mince a jalapeno pepper. Stir the minced pepper into the spread.

Serve this with your favorite crackers, toasted bread, veggies…oh the possibilities are endless!

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