Pimiento Cheese Canapes
Use pimiento cheese to create a variety of tasty appetizer bites
Ingredients
Canapes
- Pimiento Cheese prepared the way you like it or purchased from store
- celery sticks
- crispy bacon pieces
- cucumber slices
- Fritos Scoop corn chips
- crisp romaine lettuce pieces
- salami slices made into cups**
- sliced green onions and pecans*** for garnish
Pimiento Cheese
- 8 oz extra sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
- 8 oz Vermont White Cheddar, grated
- 4 oz jar of pimientos, drained and patted dry
- mayonnaise to taste
- salt and pepper
Butter Pecans
- 2 cups pecan halves
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- kosher or sea salt
Instructions
Pimiento Cheese
- Place cheese and drained pimentos into a food processor with 1/4 cup mayo and pulse just a few times until just mixed, or just mix in a bowl.
- Check to see if mixture holds together. If it is too dry add more mayo, 1-2 T at a time, and pulse once or twice.
- Check and add additional mayo until you get the consistency you want. I use just enough mayonnaise to bind, you want to taste the cheese, not the mayo!
- Do not over mix or mixture will loose it’s texture. Makes about 2 1/2 cups. Keep in refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Salami Cups
- Pan fry salami slices until fat has rendered and edges begin to crisp.
- Quickly pat with a paper towel and place into a mini muffin tin, folding as necessary to form a bowl.
- Let cool completely in muffin tin, then remove to paper tower to absorb any remaining fat. Can be made ahead and chilled.
Butter Pecans
- Saute 2 cups pecan halves in 2 T butter and 1/4 cup brown sugar over medium heat, stirring, until pecans begin to turn golden.
- Season with kosher salt. Remove to parchment or wax paper to cool. Store in a lidded jar.
Canapes
- Fill or spread celery, bacon, cucumber, corn chips, lettuce and salami cups with pimiento cheese and garnish as desired. Can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated. Corn chips might get soggy, so it’s best to fill them right before serving
Notes
These not only make great appetizers, but also a lovely light lunch or snack