Recipes

Pimento Cheese Toasts with Bacon Jam

Photo by Erik Meadows

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yields

Serves 24

    For toast
  • 1 loaf white bread, sliced
  • 1 batch Farmhaus pimento cheese (recipe follows)
  • 1 batch bacon jam (recipe follows)

  • Farmhaus pimento cheese
  • 1¼ pounds cream cheese, softened
  • 6 cups shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1¼ cups Duke’s mayonnaise
  • ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¾ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1½ medium jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced
  • 1 (12-ounce) can diced pimentos, drained
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1-2 tablespoons Louisiana hot sauce (optional)
  • Frog Hollow bacon jam
  • (makes about 1 cup)
  • 1 pound smoked bacon
  • 1 cup finely diced Vidalia onion
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • ¼ cup dark brown sugar
  • 6 ounces strong black coffee
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • 1½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
steps

To assemble: 

  1. Toast bread. Once toasted, use a small biscuit cutter to punch out bite-sized rounds.
  2. Assemble by topping the toasted round with a teaspoon of pimento cheese, then a small dollop of bacon jam.

For pimento cheese: 

  1. Place half the cheddar into the large bowl of a mixer with cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, cayenne, onion powder, jalapeño, and diced pimentos.
  2. Beat at medium speed with paddle attachment until thoroughly combined.
  3. Add the remaining cheddar and more mayonnaise if needed. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add hot sauce if desired.

For bacon jam:

  1. Cut bacon into 1-inch pieces. In a heavy-bottomed pan over medium-low heat, cook bacon, stirring regularly until crispy. Drain off half the bacon fat and reserve for future use. Add onions and garlic to pan with remaining fat and cook until onions begin to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients. Reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook for 30 to 45 minutes. Stir occasionally, adding water if mixture becomes too thick.
  2. When bacon is tender, remove from heat and cool for 30 minutes. Transfer bacon mixture to a food processor and pulse in batches to desired consistency (Wight prefers it slightly chunky).
  • Recipe by Chef Sean Wight, owner of Frog Hollow Hospitality Group, Augusta, Georgia

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