Alabama Blue Crab Pimiento Cheese Dip

Recipe by Zane Dearien 

This is a prime spring/summer snack or appetizer to enjoy!!

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound of Alabama Blue Crab (picked meat) or which ever crab you like (imitation crab works well)

Pimento Cheese:

4 cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar (I like Tillamook)

1 cup Dukes Mayonnaise

½ cup Roasted Red Bell Peppers (or you may buy jars of pimento peppers)

2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar

1 teaspoon Paprika

1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

1 teaspoon Onion Powder

1 teaspoon Garlic Powder

Salt to taste

Garnish:

1 jar Pickled Okra

Pickled Red Onion

Saltine Crackers or Ritz (dust in old bay seasoning)

Crystals Hot Sauce or Sriracha

Chives finely chopped

Procedure:

1. For the pimento cheese add all the ingredients except the cheese and crab into a bowl and mix well tasting for seasoning adjust to your liking.
2. In a separate bowl add the cheese, then add the dressing and mix with a spoon or your hands to make sure to combine everything well. Adjust seasoning once again as the cheese will change the flavor.
3. Once you have the pimento cheese add the lump crab meat making sure not to over mix and break up the crab. It is nice to have a big chunk of crab in the dip for texture and flavor.
4. To serve put in a bowl or vessel of your choice then garnish the dip with pickled onions and chives.
5. Dust your crackers with old bay seasoning, serve alongside the pickled okra and hot sauce.
6. You may also put into a castiron or oven safe dish and serve hot. I prefer to have it just room temperature and a squeeze of lemon.