Cucumber Sandwiches👌👌

  PM

Cool, crisp, refreshing, and... very little more.

Why It Works

• Salting the cucumber slices for 20 minutes seasons them while extracting excess moisture.
• A thin layer of European-style cultured butter or cream cheese adds a welcome tangy flavor to the delicate cucumber.

Serious Eats / Victor Protasio

Recipe Details

Cucumber Sandwiches

Cool, crisp, refreshing, and... very little more.

• 1/4 unpeeled english cucumber (3 ounces, 85g), sliced into 1/8-inch-thick rounds (about 2/3 cup)

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; for table salt, use about half as much by volume

• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

• 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh dill, optional

• 8 thin slices white sandwich bread

• 5 tablespoons (71g) salted European-style cultured butter, softened, or 1/3 cup (57g) whipped cream cheese (see notes)

1. In a colander, toss cucumbers with salt and set over a bowl; let stand uncovered at room temperature for 20 minutes. Shake colander to drain off excess liquid and gently pat cucumbers dry with paper towels. In an empty bowl, toss dried cucumber slices with the lemon juice and dill (if using); set aside until ready to use. 

   

   Serious Eats / Victor Protasio

2. Meanwhile, use a serrated knife to trim crusts from bread slices to form roughly 2 1/2– by 2 1/2–inch bread squares. 

   

   Serious Eats / Victor Protasio

3. Spread butter or cream cheese evenly on 1 side of each bread slice. Top half of the buttered bread slices with the cucumber slices (about 6 cucumber slices per bread slice). Top with the remaining bread slices, buttered sides down. Press down gently on sandwiches to adhere fillings.

   

   Serious Eats / Victor Protasio

4. Using a sharp knife, cut each sandwich into triangles and arrange attractively on a serving platter. Serve immediately.

   

   Serious Eats / Victor Protasio

Special Equipment

Colander, serrated knife

Notes

If using cream cheese in this recipe, I recommend using Philadelphia Original Whipped cream cheese. The acidity and tang of the cream cheese pairs well with the mildly flavored cucumber, while the whipped style spreads easily on the bread without tearing it.

This recipe can easily be scaled up or down to suit your serving needs.

Make-Ahead and Storage

The prepared sandwiches can be wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 6 hours.