Southern · appetizer
Pimento Cheese
Pimento Cheese reads richness 6.3, salinity 4.8 and umami 4.4 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Southern appetizer, about 19 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 5.5 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 2.0 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 2.0 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.5 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 6.7 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.2 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Richness 6.3 · Salinity 4.8 · Umami 4.4 · Heat 3.7 · Allium 3.0 · Warm Spice 2.3 · Funk & Ferment 2.3 · Sourness 1.7 · Sweetness 1.7 · Bitterness 1.4 · Nutty 1.4 · Fruity 1.0 · Floral 0.9 · Citrus 0.8 · Herbaceous 0.6
What's in it (10)
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 jar (4 oz) pimento peppers, drained and chopped
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- pinch of cayenne
- salt to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp hot sauce
Time & effort: about 19 min · effort: easy
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 125.8 kcal, 1.9 g protein, 8.2 g fat, 11.2 g carbs
Dietary: Vegetarian · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (3 steps)
- Beat cream cheese and mayonnaise together until smooth, then fold in grated cheddar, drained and chopped pimentos, and all seasonings.
- Taste and adjust heat with cayenne and hot sauce.
- Serve as a dip with crackers or as a sandwich spread on white bread.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Mac and Cheese — American
- Crispy Chicken 65 — Indian
- Crispy Chili Garlic Chicken — Indian · Indo-Chinese
- Oxtail Stew — Jamaican
- Crispy Salt and Pepper Chicken — Chinese-American
Keep reading: what richness, salinity, umami mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.