Pimiento Cheese Jalapeño Poppers
Equipment
- Bowl, medium
- Knife
- Serving plate, large
- spoon
Ingredients
- 5 medium jalapeños halved lengthwise and seeded
- ½ cup pimiento cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 180°C for 3 minutes.
- Press the pimiento cheese evenly into the jalapeño halves.
- Arrange the stuffed jalapeños in the ungreased air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 8 minutes, until the peppers are tender and the cheese is hot.
- Transfer to a large serving plate and serve warm.
Notes & Wine Advice
Serving Suggestions
Serve the poppers warm as an Appetizer, Amuse or Snack. They are particularly good as part of a platter of small bites for a Party or Birthday.Recipe Notes
Removing the seeds from the jalapeños reduces much of their heat while retaining their characteristic flavour. Wear gloves when preparing hot peppers if your skin is sensitive, and avoid touching your eyes while handling them.How to Make Pimiento Cheese
To make the pimiento cheese, combine 450 g finely shredded Cheddar cheese with one 110 g jar of pimientos including the juice, ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly, cover and refrigerate until needed.Variations
For hotter poppers, finely chop some of the jalapeño seeds and mix them into the pimiento cheese before filling the peppers. The same pimiento Cheese can also be served as a spread or dip.Storage Advice
Store leftover cooked poppers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them briefly in the Airfryer until thoroughly hot before serving.Wine Advice
A fresh Sauvignon Blanc provides a crisp contrast to the rich cheese and spicy jalapeños. A dry Riesling is another good choice, particularly if you make the poppers hotter.Nutrition values
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About Pimiento Cheese Jalapeño Poppers
Pimiento Cheese Jalapeño Poppers combine two popular American flavours in one compact appetizer. Pimiento cheese is a classic spread associated particularly with cooking in the southern United States, while jalapeño poppers bring fresh chilli heat and a convenient finger-food format. Cooking them in the Airfryer heats the filling quickly while softening the peppers.
What Is Pimiento Cheese?
Pimiento cheese is traditionally made from Cheddar cheese, pimientos and mayonnaise, usually with simple seasoning. The result is a creamy, savoury cheese spread that can be used in sandwiches, served with crackers or used as a filling.
For this recipe, its creamy consistency makes it particularly suitable for stuffing jalapeños. As the peppers cook, the filling becomes hot and soft while remaining contained inside the pepper halves.
Preparing the Jalapeños
Cut each jalapeño lengthwise to produce two small boats. Removing the seeds and inner membranes reduces the heat considerably, although jalapeños naturally vary in spiciness.
If you enjoy hotter food, some of the seeds can be finely chopped and mixed into the filling. Handle the peppers carefully and wash your hands and utensils thoroughly after preparation.
Making Homemade Pimiento Cheese
The pimiento cheese in the original recipe can easily be prepared at home. Combine finely shredded Cheddar with pimientos and their juice, mayonnaise, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Refrigerate the mixture until required.
The recipe for the spread makes considerably more than the ½ cup required for these poppers. The remaining mixture can be used as a Cheese spread, sandwich filling or dip.
Cooking in the Air Fryer
Once filled, arrange the jalapeño halves directly in the ungreased air fryer basket. They need approximately 8 minutes at 180°C. The peppers should soften while retaining enough structure to hold the melted filling.
Avoid overcrowding the basket. Air needs to circulate around the peppers for even cooking, so cook them in batches if your air fryer is small.
Serving the Poppers
Serve the poppers warm, shortly after cooking. Their small size makes them particularly suitable as an Appetizer or Amuse.
They can also be included on a larger platter with fresh Vegetables, dips and other small snacks. A cool dip can provide a pleasant contrast when the jalapeños are particularly spicy.
Party and Birthday Food
These small stuffed peppers are easy to pick up and eat, making them useful for a Party or Birthday. Prepare the peppers and filling beforehand, then air fry them close to serving time.
Because individual jalapeños vary in heat, it can be useful to offer some milder snacks alongside them when serving a group.
A Low-Carb Appetizer
The combination of jalapeño peppers and pimiento cheese contains relatively little carbohydrate and fits well within the Low Carb category. Unlike many traditional party snacks, these poppers do not require breadcrumbs, pastry or another starchy coating.
If dietary requirements are important, check the labels of the mayonnaise, cheese and jarred pimientos because ingredients can vary between brands.
Storage and Reheating
Leftover poppers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The peppers will soften somewhat during storage, but reheating them in the air fryer provides a better texture than microwaving.
Reheat only the quantity needed and make sure the cheese filling is thoroughly hot before serving.
Food Safety
Keep the pimiento cheese refrigerated before use and promptly refrigerate leftover cooked poppers. When preparing homemade pimiento cheese, keep the Cheddar and mayonnaise properly chilled. For current guidance on safe food preparation and refrigerated storage, consult the U.S. Food and Drug Administration food-safety information.
Pimiento Cheese Jalapeño Poppers bring together creamy Cheddar, pimientos and spicy peppers in an easy air-fried Snack. With only a few ingredients and a short cooking time, they are particularly convenient when you want a warm, cheesy appetizer without breading or pastry.