Pimento Cheese Hand Pies • 3 Ways
From Carrie Morey's Hot Little Suppers cookbook
Pimento Cheese Hand Pies
- Pimento Cheese
- Roasted Tomato & Spinach
- Chopped Bacon
I am always on the lookout for pimento cheese making headlines. Over the past few years, I've found this southern staple on restaurant menus across the nation. It seems as if the Southern delicacy has caught on outside the South! When I saw this New York Times Cooking recipe, I knew I had give it a try... with a Callie's twist of course!
I tested two versions for the crust: pie crust vs puff pastry. Both crusts made for a unique vessel for the pimento cheese and fillings. The puff pastry created a danish-like, flakey experience (above images). Whereas the pie crust looked more like a traditional homemade PopTart or Hot Pocket (see the last image on this page). If using pie crust, I always recommend my Mama's Butter Pie Crust for an easy pie crust recipe that is made by hand.
These hand pies are great for spring occasions like Easter or Mother's Day or even school mornings and cool fall days. I'd serve them as individual breakfast bites, with tomato soup, or even with a spring salad.
Pimento Cheese Hand Pies - 3 Ways
Pimento Cheese
A take on the classic grilled cheese! Perfectly savory and spicy.
Roasted Tomato & Spinach
At our eateries, we roast our tomatoes with onion and garlic for a savory and satisfying result. Add spinach and green onions for extra greens!
Chopped Bacon
I had to test this recipe with crispy bacon. I loved the salty result! You could also use glazed ham or your favorite meat.
For a sweet version of these hand pies, try my Blackberry PopTarts or Apple & Cinnamon Turnovers.
Instructions
Makes three square hand pies.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Cut pie crust or puff pastry into six even squares. Add filling onto the center of three of the squares, leaving three squares without filling. Top the filling squares with the non-filling squares.
- Press edges together with a fork to crimp.
- Brush with melted butter. Top with Sea Salt.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes.
