Description
Delightful and refreshing cucumber sandwiches made with soft white bread, herbed cream cheese spread, and thinly sliced English cucumbers, perfect for tea parties, light snacks, or elegant gatherings.
Ingredients
For the Sandwiches
- 16 slices high-quality soft white sandwich bread (about 1 loaf), crusts removed
- 1 English cucumber
For the Herbed Cream Cheese Spread
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
- Coarse salt, for sprinkling on cucumbers
- Cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Bread: Remove the crusts from the 16 slices of white sandwich bread and set them aside for later.
- Prepare the Cucumber: Peel the English cucumber in striped patterns to create a decorative effect.
- Slice the Cucumber: Using a mandolin or a sharp knife, cut the cucumber into very thin slices about 1/8 inch thick.
- Draw Out Moisture: Place the cucumber slices onto paper towels, sprinkle evenly with coarse salt, and let them rest for 15-30 minutes to allow excess moisture to be drawn out. After resting, pat the slices dry with clean paper towels.
- Make the Herbed Cream Cheese Spread: In a medium bowl, use a handheld mixer to blend together the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, minced fresh dill, minced fresh chives, lemon juice, garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the Sandwiches: Spread a generous layer of the herbed cream cheese mixture on one side of each bread slice.
- Add the Cucumber Slices: On half of the bread slices, layer the prepared cucumber slices and season them with freshly cracked black pepper to your taste.
- Complete the Sandwiches: Place the remaining bread slices on top of the cucumber-layered slices, cream cheese side down, forming full sandwiches.
- Cut into Tea Sandwiches: Use a sharp chef’s knife to cut each sandwich into four equal quarters, controlling the cuts so they go all the way through the bread, resulting in 32 small tea sandwiches.
- Serve: Serve the cucumber sandwiches immediately to enjoy their fresh texture and flavors at their best.
Notes
- For best results, use a mandolin to get uniform thin cucumber slices.
- Letting the cucumbers rest with salt prevents sogginess by removing excess moisture.
- Herbs can be adjusted or substituted based on preference; dill and chives provide a classic flavor.
- These sandwiches are best enjoyed fresh to retain their crispness.
- To make ahead, assemble without cucumber and add cucumbers just before serving to avoid soggy bread.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: British