pimiento

/pəˈmɛntoʊ/

Other forms: pimientos

A pimiento is a type of sweet red pepper that's often found stuffed inside green olives or used to add a mild, tangy flavor to various dishes.

The word pimiento comes from the Spanish word for "pepper" and refers to a specific variety of mild, sweet red pepper. Unlike spicier peppers, the pimiento is known for its gentle sweetness and is often used in a variety of culinary dishes. Because it has a pretty tough skin, it's usually cooked before it's used. Chopped up, it's a key ingredient in pimiento cheese, a popular spread in the Southern United States. Small pieces of pimiento are sometimes used to stuff snacking olives, and this pepper is also dried and ground up to make a popular spice called paprika.

Definitions of pimiento

1. noun

   a plant bearing sweet, mild red peppers often used in garnishes and for making paprika
   synonyms: Capsicum annuum grossum, bell pepper, paprika, pimento, sweet pepper, sweet pepper plant

   type of:

   capsicum, capsicum pepper plant, pepper

   any of various tropical plants of the genus Capsicum bearing peppers
2. noun

   a type of sweet, mild red pepper often used in garnishes or dried and ground to make paprika
   synonyms: pimento

   type of:

   sweet pepper

   large mild crisp thick-walled capsicum peppers usually bell-shaped or somewhat oblong; commonly used in salads