Gouda Pimiento Cheese Dip Recipe

Pimiento cheese dip is a regional favourite throughout the American South, and this take leans on the deep, nutty sweetness of aged Roomano Gouda and gently candy piquillo peppers to make the basic unfold really feel further particular. A mayonnaise base is brightened with apple cider vinegar, finely grated purple onion, and a splash of sizzling sauce to chop the richness with a peppery chunk and delicate warmth. 

Whereas pimientos are the basic mix-in, chopped piquillo peppers carry light fruitiness. What actually steals the present is the Roomano Gouda. The aged cheese is concentrated with nutty, caramelly flavors and filled with crunchy crystals that ship umami, rounding out cheddar’s pure tang with out making the dip too candy. The minimal chill time for the dip is half-hour, however we advocate letting the dip relaxation in a single day to permit the flavors to totally meld. This recipe is simple for entertaining by design: It’s totally no-cook, comes collectively in a single bowl, and is constructed for hosts who prefer to prep a variety prematurely. Serve with salty crackers or crostini for simple scooping, pile alongside crisp crudités — the contemporary crunch makes the dip style even richer — or use it as a sandwich filling for a satisfying lunch. 

Is Roomano really Gouda? 

Technically, Roomano isn’t categorised as a real Gouda. It’s a Dutch Gouda-style cheese comprised of pasteurized cow’s milk and usually aged three to 4 years, which dries the paste and creates crunchy crystals. Below FDA requirements, genuine Gouda cheese should comprise a minimum of 46% butterfat, and Roomano solely accommodates round 45% butterfat. Taste-wise, Roomano has an identical profile to aged Gouda. 

The place to purchase Roomano

The primary place to search for Roomano — it’s usually labeled and offered as “Roomano Pradera” — is at specialty cheese retailers. Relying in your location, some well-stocked grocery shops and connoisseur markets could inventory it seasonally close to the aged Goudas. For those who can’t discover it regionally, test on-line for dependable cheese retailers like Murray’s Cheese that ship with chilly packs, and ensure to order wedges and never pre-shredded cheese. If all else fails, select the oldest Gouda yow will discover. 

Notes from the Meals & Wine Check Kitchen 

• Use finely chopped roasted purple bell peppers, pimientos, or peppadews as an alternative of piquillo peppers. 
• For finest texture, use the smallest holes on a field grater for finer shreds. You need the shreds finer than the usual facet, however coarser than a Microplane.
• If it’s essential to substitute the Roomano, search for aged Goudas which can be dry, caramel-colored, and crystal-speckled to imitate the Roomano’s taste and texture. 

This recipe was developed by Jeremy Salamon; the textual content was written by Andee Gosnell.