Benedictine Spread has been called “Pimento Cheese’s Kentucky Cousin” by Garden and Gun. This Kentucky Derby Favorite of cream cheese, cucumber and onion is delicious and, like Pimento Cheese, deserves to be the next Southern Food “Discovered” by the rest of the world.
Benedictine Spread
Kentucky is justly known for its excellent bourbon and fried chicken. But Louisville’s Benedictine Spread is an under-the-radar local favorite throughout the state that deserves a wider audience.
Benedictine was invented by popular Louisville caterer and restaurateur, Jennie C. Benedict, near the beginning of the 20th century. She originally used it as a filling for one-ingredient tea sandwiches – And you still see those today in restaurants, tea shops and at parties, especially Kentucky Derby Parties. (Click HERE for our Benedictine Kentucky Derby Sandwiches Recipe. Coming Soon) But in recent years Benedictine Spread has evolved into a dip for chips and crackers or as a spread for sandwiches with meat or other ingredients (I made Benedictine BLT Sliders for our most recent Derby Party – Click HERE for the Benedictine BLT Sliders Recipe. Coming Soon)
National Recognition for Benedictine Spread
Although Benedictine Spread as yet is rarely seen in restaurants outside the state of Kentucky, it has started attracting attention in the food press. It has been written about in articles in national publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Saveur Magazine, and also reported about on multimedia outlets such as the Food Network and NPR.
A Benedictine-based sandwich was featured on the Food Network’s 50 States 50 Sandwiches program in 2012, on the television shows of celebrity chefs Paula Deen and Damaris Phillips, in Southern Living magazine as one of June’s “2011 Best Recipes” for their corresponding issue, in Garden & Gun magazine, and in PopSugar.
And now on Southern Foodies. 😉
Benedictine Spread Recipe
Our recipe is adapted from “What I Like Best About Dining With the Gills” a book of Kentucky recipes served at the excellent Science Inn in Shelbyville, KY (Who seem to have closed their website. They are still open – check them out on Yelp or TripAdvisor for more information.)
Benedictine Spread Recipe
This fresh tasting Kentucky Derby Favorite of cream cheese, cucumber, and onion is delicious and, like that other Southern favorite sandwich spread, Pimento Cheese, deserves to be the next Southern Food "Discovered" by the rest of the world. Use it alone for Kentucky Derby Sandwiches, as a sandwich spread with meat and other ingredients or as a dip for chips, crackers and vegetables.
Materials
- 1 pound Cream Cheese at room temperature
- 1 Cucumber peeled, sliced in 1/2 lengthwise and seeded
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon White Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Dill Weed
- Green Food Coloring
Instructions
- Shred the cucumber.
- Squeeze dry. Remove as much water as possible.
- Place cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Beat until light and fluffy.
- Add cucumber, salt, pepper and dill weed. Mix well.
- Add a drop or two of green food coloring, if you like. (I prefer not to use it. I like the white/very-light-green color) Mix well.
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Benedictine Spread Recipe is adapted from What I Like Best About Dining With the Gills. Information and Opening Quote Courtesy of Garden and Gun Magazine. Additional Information Courtesy of Wikipedia and is used by permission.
