A pimento (also spelled pimiento) is a variety of large, red, heart-shaped chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) that is sweet and mild in flavor. It typically measures about 3 to 4 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide. Pimentos are often referred to as "cherry peppers" due to their red color and round, heart-shaped appearance. Pimentos have a sweet, succulent, and more aromatic flesh compared to red bell peppers. They are very mild in terms of heat, ranking between 100 and 500 on the Scoville scale, which makes them much milder than peppers like jalapeños. Because of their mildness and sweetness, they are commonly used as a garnish (such as the red pieces stuffed inside green olives), ingredients in dips like pimento cheese, in pimento loaves (a type of luncheon meat), and sometimes dried and ground to make paprika. Though they resemble red bell peppers, pimentos are a distinct variety prized for their sweetness and mild flavor. They can be used fresh in salads, cooked, pickled, or stuffed as mini peppers, and are popular in Mediterranean cuisine and American Southern cooking. If unavailable fresh, roasted red bell peppers are often used as a substitute in recipes.
In summary, a pimento is a sweet, mild, red chili pepper best known for its heart shape, mild heat, and culinary uses including olive stuffing and cheese spreads.
