Mayo-Free Jalapeño Pimento Cheese

I grew up eating pimento cheese sandwiches, the really orange kind that looked like paste and was full of mayo. If you are from the South you probably did too! The older I got I realized I wasn't a big fan of mayo and swore off pimento cheese of all kinds because... well, mayo.

I can't remember when I decided I needed pimento cheese back in my life and made my own version, but over the years I've adapted it to become what you see above. When I was looking for a mayo replacement I knew I needed something with a bit more thickness to hold up to the cheddar. Yogurt wouldn't seem like the obvious choice, but it is blank slate and that is what I needed! I've tried many versions of yogurt, but the FAGE plain 2% greek yogurt is by far the best for this recipe.

I'm my opinion pimento cheese it's pretty much like a condiment! Chunky, spicy, tangy, and has that incredibly bite from the sharp cheddar cheese. I've used this as a dip, a topper on burgers, a stuffer in chicken, and it is a great addition to crispy fried green tomatoes too.

Two quick tips before I dive into the details of the recipe. First, season your yogurt before you add all the ingredients. It makes all the difference. Second, do not buy pre packaged grated cheese. Do the extra work and grate the cheese yourself.

INGREDIENTS

7oz FAGE 2% greek yogurt

garlic seasoning

salt and pepper

2 tsp pimentos

1 small jalapeño, diced

16oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated

DIRECTIONS

Season the greek yogurt with garlic seasoning and salt and pepper and mix in. I usually just eyeball this. You can taste it afterwards and add more to your liking. Add pimentos, jalapeños, and the cheddar and mix until well blended. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Let me know if you try this recipe and how it turned out!!