Pimiento Paste Recipes

HOMEMADE PIMENTA MOIDA RECIPE ( PORTUGUESE PIMENTO PASTE)

Steps:

• Rinse each pepper and cut into halves.
• Remove stem and seeds, pat dry the peppers and set aside.
• Add the peppers and salt into a food processor and blend until paste like consistency.
• If you don't have a food processor, you can use any type of grinder. Grind the pepper then add the salt and mix until well combine.
• Transfer the pimento paste ( pimenta moida) into a bowl, you will notice it start to boil.
• Cover the bowl and let the peppers ferment at room temperature for 3-4 days.
• The pimenta moida will be ready once the fermentation stops and it no longer looks like the peppers are boiling.
• Add in the vinegar and stir until well combined.
• Transfer the pepper paste into cleaned glass jars with air tight lids.
• You can bypass the fermentation process by boiling the crushed peppers in a medium size pot for about 5 minutes. Then add the salt and vinegar and mix together. Transfer to air tight glass jars.
• Keep stored at room temperature until ready to use. Once jar is opened the pimento paste needs to be refrigerated.

SOUTHERN PIMENTO CHEESE

Steps:

• Place the Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, minced jalapeno, and pimento into the large bowl of a mixer. Beat at medium speed, with paddle if possible, until thoroughly combined. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.

GRILLED PIMIENTO CHEESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Spread both sides of bread slices with butter. In a large skillet, toast bread on 1 side, over medium heat until golden brown, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat; place toasted-side up. Spread cheese over toasted bread slices. Top 2 slices with jelly, then with bacon. Top with remaining bread slices, cheese facing inward. Cook until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted, 3-4 minutes on each side. If desired, serve with additional jelly.

OVEN ROASTED PIMENTO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees,
• Generously salt and pepper chicken breasts.
• Lay chicken on wire rack over a baking sheet.
• In a small blender or food processor, add pimentos (with juice from the jar), garlic, oregano, lemon juice, and olive oil.
• Blend until a paste forms.
• Smother both sides of chicken in pimento paste.
• Bake 25 minutes, until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 degrees (time might fluctuate depending on your oven and the size of your chicken breasts.)
• Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes.
• Drizzle with fresh lime juice and serve!

EASY PIMIENTO CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine first 5 ingredients. Add cheeses and stir to combine. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour.

PIMIENTO PASTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F
• Place the peppers on a roasting tray, drizzle over the olive oil, place in the oven and roast for 35-40 minutes or until the peppers have slightly blackened, turning them occasionally.
• Place the peppers in a large plastic food bag, seal and allow to cool.
• Meanwhile, soak the bread in a little cold water, then drain and squeeze out excess moisture.
• Remove the peppers from the bag, reserving any of the juices.
• Peel the peppers, halve and remove the seeds.
• Place the red pepper halves in a food processor with the bread, garlic, cayenne and the pepper juices and blend until smooth.
• With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil.
• Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Toast or griddle some slices of crusty bread and spread the paste over it.

PIMENTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over moderate heat. Cook shallots and mushrooms until golden. Add garlic and tomato paste and saute. Add wine, turn heat to high, and reduce by half. Add brown stock and reduce again by a quarter. Whisk in pimento puree. Break butter into small pieces and whisk into sauce until smooth. Adjust seasonings and strain through a fine sieve. Serve warm with lamb.

SWEET PEPPER PASTE (MASSA DE PIMENTãO)

Steps:

• 1. Wash peppers and remove the stems, seeds and white ribbing. Cut the peppers into about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick strips. Place a layer of pepper strips into the bottom of a bowl and generously sprinkle with salt. Repeat with the rest of the pepper strips, salting in between each layer. Cover tightly with a towel and leave out at room temperature for at least 12 hours.
• 2. Some recipes suggest curing the peppers up to 6 days, but when you don't have enough time, 12-24 hours is sufficient for good flavor.
• 3. Pre-heat the oven to 325ºF (162ºC).
• 4. Drain the peppers of excess liquid. Put the peppers into an oven safe dish or on a baking tray to slow roast for 1 ½ to 2 hours in the oven. Remove the peppers and cool to room temperature.
• 5. Using your fingers, remove the outside skin from the peppers. Place the peeled pepper strips and peeled garlic cloves into a food processor or blender. If a food processor is unavailable, use a pestle and mortar or other tool to grind the peppers into a paste.
• 6. Blend the peppers for 30 seconds to make a thick paste, add in half the olive oil and blend again for another 30 seconds. Add the rest of the oil to the pepper paste and blend for another minute or until smooth.