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Avocado Pimento Cheese

Avocado Pimento Cheese

Avocado Pimento Cheese | Teaspoonofspice.com

Disclosure: The California Avocado Commission compensated The Recipe ReDux (co-owned by ReganMillerJones, Inc. and Teaspoon Communications), to sponsor this recipe contest. We are therefore not eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. My thoughts and opinions are my own, especially the one about my long-time love for avocados!

Now that we’ve been living ‘Down South” for about eight months, I thought it about time I perfected my Pimento Cheese.

Being from ‘The West,’ I’d never even heard of this creamy, cheesy dip made of all ingredients indulgent until I met this Southern Belle. I guess the western version of a ubiquitous dip is French Onion Dip. But I was more fond of my Grandma’s Crab & Cream Cheese Dip similar to this healthier version, which she served for all her card parties and family holidays.

But we now live in southern Illinois, actually just north of St. Louis; but the funny thing is, the folks around here sound and cook more ‘southern’ than do our friends south in St. Louis. Thus my urge to perfect a dip my new ‘Southern’ friends would enjoy.

So when California Avocados offered this fun challenge to The Recipe ReDux to create a dish for summer get-togethers, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to play around with a Pimento Cheese recipe….to make it a little less, umm… indulgent, but still creamy and dreamy. Here’s why I knew it would work: Salty cheese and avocado are made for each other! (Who hasn’t eaten an avocado with a spoon straight out of its skin with just a sprinkle of salt? Yum!) Plus the creamy texture of nutrient-rich avocados is the perfect substitution for mayonnaise in almost any salad or dip recipe.

Avocado Pimento Cheese | Teaspoonofspice.com

Here’s what I did to switch up the classic Pimento Cheese recipe.

  • Replace the majority of the mayonnaise with avocado – but instead of mashing it, I diced it to keep the entire dip from turning un-traditionally green!
  • Mix in less, but a good quality sharp Cheddar cheese.
  • Add a little lemon juice to make the flavors sing – and keep the avocado from turning brown
  • In an effort to keep this recipe somewhat ‘authentic’ I resisted the urge to add any of the fresh herbs I have coming out of my ears. (But cilantro would be delicious in this dip.)
  • Served it with veggie crudité (fresh green beans) along with traditional crackers.
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Avocado Pimento Cheese | Teaspoonofspice.com

Avocado Pimento Cheese


  • Author: by Serena Ball, RD
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

In this simple Southern dip creamy avocado replaces some of the mayonnaise in traditional pimento cheese to delicious results.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 ripe avocado, skin and pit removed, coarsely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
  • 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
  • Sprinkle of cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup shredded good-quality sharp cheddar cheese (could use reduced-fat)
  • 2 ounces bottled pimento or roasted red pepper, drained
  • For serving: Fresh veggie crudité, whole grain crackers

Instructions

  1. Drizzle lemon juice over avocado and toss; set aside.
  2. Combine mayonnaise, garlic, and pepper in a medium bowl.
  3. Mix in cheese, bottled red pepper, and reserved chopped avocado.

What’s your favorite way to make Pimento Cheese? Is it ‘just’ a Southern recipe?

Super Bowl Snack Makeover: A Round-Up of Dips, Deviled Eggs, Salsa, and More! | Meal Makeover Moms' Kitchen

Friday 31st of January 2014

[…] Avocado Pimento Cheese Dip from Teaspoon of Spice […]

Alex Caspero MA,RD (@delishknowledge)

Friday 16th of August 2013

OK, I admit I have never eaten pimento cheese, a surprise since I am from the south and all. Either way, I bet I would love it with avocado! What a creative idea. Looks delicious.

gretchen

Friday 16th of August 2013

love... my people, we love our pimento cheese. and what a smart version you've made!!

Serena

Monday 19th of August 2013

I'm honored by your comment...as I know you are a true Southern girl through and through. Thank you! (:

Marie

Tuesday 13th of August 2013

I haven't had pimento cheese dip in years. My mom used it as a filling for celery sometimes. I would never have thought to use avocado in it, but it looks so good. I'd add the cilantro too!

Serena

Wednesday 14th of August 2013

Love the new take on Ants on a Log ...in celery!

EA Stewart

Tuesday 13th of August 2013

I remember seeing Regans recipe for Pimento Cheese, and thinking it sounded a little strange, but was probably quite delicious! Clearly I didn't grow up with this Southern classic, but I'd love to try some of yours. With cilantro please :-)

Serena

Tuesday 13th of August 2013

Glad to hear you're not above switching up tradition by adding cilantro EA! Think I will make it that way next time too!

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