Ground Pimento

Submitted by: Marcia

Attributed to: Aunt Lo via Mary/Gram/Mom via Marilyn, Marlene and Marcia

Category: Spice

Description: Gram prepared pimento cheese in our family. The pimentos came from canned pimentos that were prepared by relatives in Indiana, who grew the pimentos in their garden.  Aunt Lo canned for us for many years. When she became unable to do this anymore, a friend continued to share. 

Pimentos are heart shaped chili peppers that are sweeter and more aromatic than other peppers. They only register between 100-500 on the Scoville scale, which is about 40 times milder than Jalapenos. Pimentos are also different from red bell peppers. They are typically not available today in grocery stores but must be grown from seed, however it’s possible that they could be found at a Farmers’ Market?

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 60 minutes

Servings: 4 pints

Difficulty rating: 2

Ingredients:

4 cups finely chopped or grated pimentos

3 cups sugar 

1 cup water or use juice from canned pimentos if available

salt, to taste 

Directions: 

1. Over medium-high heat, mix the pimentos, sugar, water and salt in a big pan and bring to boil. Cover and reduce to simmer. Cook until the pimentos are tender. Sorry but that’s all the guidance we have. 

2. If making pimento cheese, add grated cheddar cheese and enough mayonnaise to achieve the desired consistency.