Kentucky Derby Benedictine Sandwiches (Printer-friendly)

Refreshing cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches for elegant Southern-style gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Spread

01 - 1 large English cucumber, peeled and seeded
02 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
05 - 1 tablespoon chives, finely chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon grated onion
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
09 - 2-3 drops green food coloring, optional

→ Sandwich Assembly

10 - 12 slices fresh white sandwich bread, crusts removed
11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, optional

# How To Make It:

01 - Grate the cucumber using a fine grater. Place grated cucumber in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out excess liquid until thoroughly drained.
02 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, dill, chives, grated onion, salt, and white pepper. Mix until smooth and well incorporated.
03 - Fold the drained cucumber into the cream cheese mixture and blend thoroughly. Add green food coloring if desired and stir until color is uniform throughout.
04 - If desired, lightly butter one side of each bread slice to create a moisture barrier and prevent sogginess.
05 - Spread a generous layer of Benedictine mixture on half of the bread slices. Top with remaining bread slices to form complete sandwiches and press gently.
06 - Cut each sandwich into quarters, creating either rectangular or triangular portions. Trim any remaining crusts if needed for a refined appearance.
07 - Arrange on a serving platter and serve immediately, or cover with damp paper towel and plastic wrap. Refrigerate until serving time if prepared in advance.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They taste bright and summery without any fussiness, the kind of thing that makes people think you spent hours in the kitchen.
  • Your hands stay clean and your kitchen stays cool because there's no cooking involved, just assembly and a little gentle squeezing.
  • They disappear first from any platter, which is its own reward.
02 -
  • The cucumber squeezing step is absolutely critical—if you skip it or do it halfway, your sandwiches will release water into the bread within minutes and fall apart on the plate.
  • White bread really does matter here; wheat bread is earthier and brown bread is stronger, and both fight against the delicate cucumber flavor instead of supporting it.
03 -
  • Slice your bread with a serrated knife in one smooth motion rather than sawing back and forth, which tears the fibers and creates a ragged edge.
  • If you're worried about soggy sandwiches, assemble them no more than 2 hours before serving, or use the butter barrier on every slice and trust that you've thought ahead.
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