May 2022 ~ We Love delicious Food, Recipes, and Cooking Techniques

Cucumber Sandwich

Uzma AhsanMay 31, 2022Fine Cooking Recipes No comments:

Cool and crisp, cucumber sandwiches are the perfect summer appetizer! Each sandwich is lined with a creamy lemon herb spread for a pop of zesty flavor. You’ll love them!

Cucumber sandwiches are so easy to make and the perfect finger food for parties, picnics, and more! For more great crowd-pleasing appetizers, try these avocado deviled eggs, bruschetta, or a simple charcuterie board!

Front view of a stack of 3 cucumber sandwiches, the one on top being picked up.

Cucumber Sandwich With Creamy Lemon Dill Spread

Cucumber sandwiches are a traditional English dish usually reserved for tea parties. They consist of thin slices of cucumber on crustless, buttered bread. Today’s recipe features an AMAZING cream cheese spread flavored with zesty dill and lemon. Cucumber sandwiches may seem simple, but trust me, they taste out of this world! They’re cool, crisp, and beyond flavorful!

Cucumber sandwiches are a great appetizer for baby and bridal showers because not only do they taste amazing, but they’re super easy to whip up for a crowd! Soft white bread, crisp cucumber, and a creamy spread loaded with fresh herbs are the fixings of a perfect summer dish! They’re great for school lunches too! My kids are obsessed with dill pickles so this is one of their favorite treats.

Cucumber Sandwich Ingredients

The great thing about this cucumber sandwich recipe is that it uses super simple ingredients! However, I do recommend using fresh herbs to give your creamy spread the best flavor possible. Measurements for each of these ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Cream Cheese: This acts as the foundation of your spread. It makes it thick and creamy!
Mayonnaise: You can use storebought mayo or make your own at home! Find my full recipe here.
Lemon Juice: Lemon and dill are a match made in heaven! Use fresh lemon juice if possible for the best flavor.
Chives: I love adding chopped chives to dips and spreads because they add delicious savory flavor to each bite. You can also use chopped green onions as a substitute!
Herbs: I used a combination of fresh dill and parsley for bright, zesty flavor!
Salt and Pepper: Add both to taste!
Cucumbers: I used English cucumbers because they have a sweeter, more delicate flavor and don’t require peeling!
White Bread: The traditional version of this recipe has crusts removed, but you can keep the crust on if you’d like! Also, feel free to experiment with different types of bread. Whole-grain breads work, too!

How to Make Cucumber Sandwiches

This is the perfect appetizer to make in a pinch! Cucumber sandwiches come together in minutes! They’ve been a life-saver for when I need to bring something to a potluck and I’m short on time.

Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: In a bowl add your cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice, chives, dill, parsley, salt and pepper, and mix it all together.
Add to Bread Slices: Take two slices of bread and spread the mixture on each one.
Layer With Cucumber Slices: Layer your cucumber slices on top of one slice, and then put the pieces of bread together.
Cut and Serve: Cut it in half diagonally to make a triangle. Serve immediately.

6-photo collage of cream cheese spread and sandwiches being prepared.

Tips for Making Successful Cucumber Sandwiches

While this recipe is super easy to make, there are a few things to keep in mind to take it to the next level! These are a few ways to perfect and customize this classic English dish.

Salt Cucumbers: Salting your cucumber slices can keep your sandwiches from becoming soggy. Cucumbers have a very high water content, and salt helps to remove excess moisture. This tip is especially important if you plan on making these sandwiches ahead of time! Transfer your sliced cucumbers to a large bowl and add a sprinkle of salt. After about 20 minutes, your cucumbers will be ready to use.
Flavor Cucumbers: A great way to add more pickle flavor is to toss your cucumber slices in white vinegar before adding them to your sliced bread.
Use a Sharp Knife: The key to uniform sandwich pieces with crisp edges is to use a sharp, serrated knife.

Top-down view of sliced cucumber sandwiches served with lemon dill spread.

Storing Leftovers

Store your leftover cucumber sandwiches for the perfect grab-and-go snack! They’re great for putting into school lunches as well.

In the Refrigerator: Leftover sandwiches will last for up to 4 days either covered in plastic wrap or in an airtight container.

Cucumber Sandwich

Cool and crisp, cucumber sandwiches are the perfect summer appetizer! Each sandwich is lined with a creamy lemon herb spread for a pop of zesty flavor.

Course Appetizer, lunch

Cuisine English

Keyword cucumber sandwich

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings

Calories 400kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese softened
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon chives or green onions chopped
1 tablespoon dill chopped
1 teaspoon parsley chopped
salt and pepper to taste
2 cucumbers peeled and sliced
8 slices of white bread crusts removed

Instructions

In a bowl add your cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice, chives, dill, parsley, and salt and pepper and mix it all together.
Take two pieces of bread and spread the mixture on each one.
Layer your cucumber slices on top of one slice, and then put the pieces of bread together.
Cut it in half diagonally to make a triangle. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

source https://therecipecritic.com/cucumber-sandwich/

Pear Tart

Uzma AhsanMay 31, 2022Fine Cooking Recipes No comments:

This pear tart is as delicious as it is gorgeous! It has a perfectly flaky crust topped with sliced pears and covered with a delightful brown sugar crumb topping.

I love a good classic dessert like this pear tart that I can use for any occasion. Some more of my other favorites are this strawberry shortcake, this cheesecake and this delicious caramel apple slab pie.

The top view of a pear tart with a slice being taken out with a pie server.

Pear Tart Recipe

This pear tart is so delicious that I don’t even know where to begin! Should I start by telling you about the heavenly crust that is buttery and flakey? Or perhaps we begin with the filling that is so good that I could eat it all by itself by the spoonful? Or the magic these two things make when you bake them together and get a caramelized topping to combine them all?

Dessert is taken seriously at our house, and this one never fails! This pear tart is delicious and will hit the spot and be the star of the show at any get-together. It comes together so easily too! So be sure to whip this recipe up to impress your guests. They will all be asking for the recipe by the end of the night! Serve this with some vanilla ice cream and they won’t be able to stop at one slice.

Ingredients to Make a Pear Tart

The ingredients that you need to make this pear tart are so simple! I bet that you already have them in your kitchen and pantry. Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact ingredient measurements.

Crust

Flour: All-purpose flour works great for this crust.
Granulated Sugar: The sugar adds a sweet element.
Salt: The salt will enhance all of the flavors of the other ingredients.
Butter: Make sure that the butter is unsalted and cold.
Egg Yolk: I always use large eggs when I am baking.
Cold Water: This will help bind all of the ingredinet in the crust together.

Filling

Large (moderately ripe) Pears: Core your pears and slice them into thin slices so they look even on this pear tart.
Lemon Juice: You can use fresh or bottled.
Cornstarch: This thickens up the filling.
Brown Sugar: The brown sugar makes the filling so good! Don’t skip it!
Ground Cinnamon: Add it a touch of cinnamon flavor and this filling will melt in your mouth.

Crumb Topping

Flour: All-purpose flour works perfect for this topping.
Brown Sugar: The brown sugar carmelizes after it cooks on top.
Butter: The butter MUST be cold for this topping to turn out for thie pear tart.

How to Make a Pear Tart

This pear tart recipe is simple to put together. Most of the time is spent with this in the oven, which means the hardest thing about it is just waiting for it to be done!

Crust

Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and salt together. Using a fork or a pastry blender, cut the cold butter into the flour mixture and continue to cut it in until it begins to resemble breadcrumbs.
Add in egg yolk and water: Add in the egg yolk and mix as best you can with a fork before adding 2 tbsp of the chilled water. Knead the dough together gently, adding more water if necessary to bring the dough together in a ball.
Chill: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and allow to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes and preheat the oven to 375° while it chills.
Roll dough: Once chilled, roll the dough out into a ¼ inch thick circle. If the dough is cracking as you roll, give it a few minutes to warm up slightly before trying again. To transfer it to the tart pan, roll the pastry up on your rolling pin and unroll it over the tart pan.
Press into pan: Press the bottom and sides into the pan. Trim the excess dough by rolling the rolling pin over the top of the tart pan. Prick the bottom of the pan a few times with a fork. Place in the fridge until the pears and topping are ready to assemble the pear tart.

Filling

Combine and toss: Add the sliced pears, lemon juice, cornstarch, brown sugar and cinnamon to a large bowl. Toss until combined. Set aside until the crumb topping is ready.

Crumb Topping

Blend: In a medium bowl, add the flour, sugar, and butter. Blend together with either a pastry cutter or your fingers until it is nice and crumbly.

Assembly

Arrange pears: Arrange the pears in the chilled crust and sprinkle the top with the crumb topping.
Bake: Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the edges of the crust are golden brown, and the topping is lightly browned and slightly melted (like a glaze) into the pears.
Cool: Let cool for 10-15 minutes before removing from the pear tart the tart pan and serving.

4 pictures showing how to make the crumb topping and assemle a pear tart.

Why do I need to use cold butter?

Using cold butter is a MUST when it comes to making a pear tart recipe (or any crust or pastry). You need cold butter because you don’t want the butter to melt as you are mixing it in. The cold butter helps create a barrier and air pockets that make it a flaky and delicious crust!

The top view of a pear tart on a white platter.

How to Store Leftover Pear Tart

If you have any pear tart leftover then it needs to be stored in your fridge. Covers it and it will last for about 1-2 days.

Pear Tart

This pear tart is as delicious as it is gorgeous! It has a perfectly flaky crust topped with sliced pears and covered with a delightful brown sugar crumb topping.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Pear Tart

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Chill Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes

Servings Slices

Calories 280kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers