Description
Cucumber Benedictine tea sandwiches bring Southern comfort to classic afternoon refreshments. Delicate layers of cream cheese spread and crisp cucumber slices create an elegant Kentucky-inspired bite perfect for summer gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 (8 ounces) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup cucumber, peeled, seeded, and shredded
- 1/2 cup minced green onions
Herb and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons chopped dill
Binding Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Drain cucumber thoroughly by grating and placing in a fine-mesh strainer with salt for 15 minutes to remove excess moisture, preventing soggy texture.
- Transfer grated cucumber to a clean kitchen towel and squeeze firmly to extract remaining liquid, ensuring a concentrated flavor profile.
- Finely mince green onions, utilizing both white and green sections for maximum aromatic depth.
- Whip cream cheese until ultra-smooth and fluffy, creating a luxurious base for the sandwich spread.
- Incorporate drained cucumber, minced green onions, chopped dill, mayonnaise, and sour cream into the cream cheese, blending until uniformly mixed.
- Gradually season with salt and pepper, tasting to achieve a balanced flavor without overwhelming saltiness.
- Refrigerate the prepared spread for 30 minutes to 24 hours, allowing ingredients to harmonize and intensify their collective taste.
- Select bread slices, trimming crusts if preferred for a refined tea sandwich presentation.
- Apply a generous layer of Benedictine spread across bread surface, creating an even coating that reaches the edges.
- Gently press sandwich halves together, then slice into elegant triangles, fingers, or bite-sized squares for serving.
- Optional: Garnish with delicate dill sprigs to enhance visual appeal and provide a hint of fresh herbaceous flavor.
Notes
- Drain cucumber thoroughly to prevent soggy sandwiches, using a fine-mesh strainer and kitchen towel for maximum moisture removal.
- Experiment with different bread types like whole wheat, rye, or gluten-free options to accommodate various dietary preferences.
- Add extra flavor dimensions by incorporating finely chopped fresh herbs like chives or parsley alongside the dill for a more complex taste profile.
- For a lighter version, substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream and use reduced-fat cream cheese without compromising the creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 102
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 168 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg