Cucumber Sandwich is a light and refreshing finger food perfect for lunch or an afternoon tea party. With a light cream cheese filling and paper-thin cucumbers, this easy recipe is sure to please. These little sandwiches are traditionally served alongside tea, but they make a lovely appetizer for spring and summertime gatherings like bridal or baby showers, graduation parties, and Mother’s Day brunches. Pair them with a colorful crudites platter, prosciutto e melone, or Greek salad skewers for a delicious and easy appetizer spread.
The key to making a good cucumber sandwich is choosing the right bread. A soft, thin white bread works best because it will not overwhelm the delicate flavor of the cucumbers and butter or cream cheese filling. Avoid sourdough or hefty wheat bread because they have more flavor and may compete with the delicate cucumbers. I use Pepperidge Farm Very Thin White bread, but any soft, thin-sliced white bread will work.
I also recommend using plain, low-fat cream cheese or low-fat cottage cheese to keep the sandwiches as light and healthy as possible. However, you can use flavored cream cheese or even low-fat mayonnaise to add additional flavor to the sandwiches if desired. You can also add a bit of minced chives or flat-leaf parsley to the sandwiches for an extra boost of flavor. If you’re planning on assembling the sandwiches ahead of time, drain and pat the cucumber slices dry with paper towels to absorb some of the excess moisture.
To prevent the sandwiches from becoming soggy, lightly salt the cucumbers before assembling them. This will draw out some of the water, preventing them from seeping into and softening the bread. I recommend doing this step especially if you plan on making these ahead of time for a party, because cucumbers are notorious for having a high water content.
When assembling the sandwiches, it’s important to be as precise as possible with your cutting so that they will all come out evenly-sized and looking nice. I use a serrated knife to slice them because it gives the cleanest, most uniform slices. After the sandwiches are sliced, sprinkle them with a bit of dill for garnish.
This recipe makes 4 cucumber sandwiches, but you can easily double or triple the ingredients for a larger crowd. You can also make these with any combination of cucumbers and a variety of flavor combinations to create different sandwiches.
Cucumber sandwiches are a lovely addition to any lunchbox, whether you’re taking them to school or work. They’re also a wonderful appetizer for a baby shower, bridal shower, or graduation party, and they are even suitable for a casual family picnic. Gurkensandwich