Kentucky Derby Benedictine Sandwiches (Printable)

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

# 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 finely chopped fresh dill
05 - 1 tablespoon finely chopped chives
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 Steps:

01 - Grate the cucumber using a fine grater. Place the grated cucumber in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible to remove excess moisture.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, dill, chives, grated onion, salt, and white pepper. Mix until smooth and well incorporated.
03 - Stir in the drained cucumber and mix until well blended. Add green food coloring if desired and mix until the color is uniform throughout.
04 - If using, lightly butter one side of each bread slice to create a moisture barrier and prevent sogginess.
05 - Spread a generous layer of the Benedictine mixture on half of the bread slices. Top with the remaining bread slices to form complete sandwiches.
06 - Gently press the sandwiches together and trim crusts if needed. Cut each sandwich into four equal pieces using rectangles or triangles.
07 - Arrange on a serving platter and serve immediately, or cover with a damp paper towel and plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • They're refreshingly light yet feel fancy enough for your most important guests, which is the best kind of recipe trick.
  • You can make the spread the day before, so on party day you're just assembling and cutting, which means actually enjoying your gathering.
  • The combination of cucumber, dill, and cream cheese tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen when you really spent fifteen minutes.
02 -
  • Squeezing out the cucumber liquid is the difference between a delicate sandwich and a soggy disaster—don't skip this or you'll learn the hard way.
  • Softened cream cheese is everything; if it's cold it tears the bread, if it's too warm it melts into the filling.
03 -
  • A damp paper towel under plastic wrap is the secret to keeping these from drying out—the moisture stays trapped but controlled.
  • Invest in a sharp knife for cutting because a dull blade tears the bread and makes everything look sloppy, and these deserve better.
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