Making the perfect cucumber sandwich

The cucumber sandwich is a staple of the English Tea. Afternoon tea is typically served from 3 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.and is intended to hold one over until a late dinner. Afternoon gatherings and showers are good places to showcase this simple but delicious recipe. Here is the recipe for a perfect cucumber sandwich.

1 English cucumber
1 stick of soft butter
1 loaf of soft white bread
Salt and pepper to taste

Begin by peeling the cucumber. Cut it into two pieces. I used a mandolin to slices the cucumber very thin. Take your colander and line it with paper towel, place the sliced cucumber in the colander and cover with more paper towel. I used a large jar candle to put pressure on the cucumbers. What you want to do is drain all the water out of the cucumbers.

Cut all the crusts off of the bread. Butter both slices of the bread for each sandwich. Let the cucumbers drain for 15 minutes, then change the paper towel. Let it sit another 15 minutes. Place the cucumbers in a double layer on one side of the bread and add salt and pepper. Put the sandwiches together and press tightly together. Cut diagonally into four triangular sandwiches.

This will produce 28 small triangles, enough for 7 servings.

You can vary the recipe by changing to a whole grain bread or by using mayonnaise instead of butter. During the summer, fresh tomatoes may also be added. To make it extra special, take 1 small brick of cream cheese and allow to soften to room temperature. Blend in 1 teaspoon of crushed mint leaves or dill. Spread on the bread and add cucumber.

Another option is to slice the cucumber thin, in a small bowl mix 1 cup sour cream and 2 teaspoons of dill. Add the cucumber and allow to marinate for half hour. Shake off the excess and serve of thinly sliced rye bread spread with mayonnaise.

If you are planning a tea, you can add smoked salmon sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, and ham sandwiches. You need to make the cucumber sandwiches at the last minute since they tend to become soggy very quickly. That is why the step to remove the water is so important.

Boil plenty of hot water, have a choice of teas and serve the tea with lumps of sugar and milk.  It’s a fun way to have a very British experience at home and especially in the summer is a light and refreshing choice.