Derby Party Benedictine Sandwiches (Print)

Creamy cucumber and dill spread on soft bread creates tasteful Benedictine sandwiches for festive occasions.

# Ingredients:

→ Spread

01 - 1 large English cucumber, peeled, seeded, and finely grated
02 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
04 - 2 teaspoons fresh dill, finely chopped
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
06 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

→ Sandwich Assembly

09 - 12 slices soft white sandwich bread, crusts removed
10 - 12 slices soft wheat sandwich bread, crusts removed
11 - Thin cucumber slices for garnish
12 - Fresh dill sprigs for garnish

# Instructions:

01 - Place the grated cucumber in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, dill, chives, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy.
03 - Fold the drained cucumber into the cream cheese mixture until well incorporated.
04 - Lay out the bread slices. Spread a generous layer of Benedictine mixture on half of the slices. Top with the remaining bread.
05 - Cut sandwiches diagonally or into fingers for traditional tea sandwich presentation.
06 - Garnish with thin cucumber slices and dill sprigs if desired. Serve chilled.

# Pro Tips:

01 -
  • They come together in 15 minutes flat, which means you can make them while your guests are still arriving.
  • The pale green spread is naturally pretty without any food coloring, though adding a drop or two makes them look absolutely elegant on a tiered server.
  • You can assemble them hours ahead and just pull them from the fridge when you need them, which takes the stress out of entertaining.
02 -
  • If you don't squeeze out that cucumber liquid, your sandwiches will get soggy within an hour, and all your work goes to waste—learn this the way I did by making that mistake once.
  • The spread is better when you make it at least a couple hours ahead so the flavors meld together; rushing this step means missing that subtle, herbaceous depth that makes people ask for the recipe.
03 -
  • Add a tiny pinch of smoked paprika to the spread for a subtle depth that nobody can quite name but everyone notices.
  • If you want to go traditional, use just a drop of green food coloring mixed into the cream cheese before folding in the cucumber—it'll give you that classic pale green look that photographs beautifully.
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