Simple & Delicious English Cucumber Sandwiches (Classic & Buckingham Palace Styles) 🥪

Two types of Cucumber Sanwiches:
Classic and Buckingham Palace ~
Both simple to make and Delicious!

Calssic Cucumber Sandwiches

Ingredients:

1 English cucumber

white wine vinegar

day old thin sliced white and/or brown bread**

butter, at room temperature

parsley sprigs (optional garnish)

Method:

Peel the cucumber and slice 1/8 inch thick. Place the cucumbers in a single layer in a dish and sprinkle with the vinegar. Drain in a sieve or colander and then pat dry with paper towels. 

Lightly butter one side of each piece of bread. Cover one buttered slice with a layer of cucumbers. Top with the buttered side of another slice of bread. Press together with the palm of your hand. Cut off the crusts. Cut the sandiches into three rectangles or into two triangles. Cut each triangle in half. Arrange on a serving platter and if desired, garnish with sprigs of parsley.

Buckingham Palace Garden Party Cucumber Sandwiches

Ingredients:

1 English cucumber

8 thin slices brown bread**

8  thin slices white bread**

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature

3 teaspoons finely chopped fresh mint leaves

salt and pepper

Method:

Peel the cucumber and cut into paper thin slices. Place in a colander and lightly sprinkle with salt. Allow to drain for 15 minutes. Press to release excess water and pat dry with paper towels.

Butter one side of each slice of bread. Put 2 layers of cucumber slices on the bottom slice of bread. Sprinkle with chopped mint and season to taste with salt and pepper. 

Top with another buttered slice of bread and press down lightly with the palm of your hand. Use a sharp serrated knife to cut off the crusts. Cut the sandwiches in half diagonally and then cut again to make 4 triangles.

Serve in alternate rows of brown and white bread sandwiches with some of the points facing up. Makes 32 tea sandwiches.

**I used country white bread and Oroweat organic thin sliced !00% whole wheat bread. 

Notes:

True English cucumber sandwiches are served on buttered bread ~ Some American versions use cream cheese, mayonnaise or sour cream on the bread.

My favorite cucumber tea sandwiches are the classic marrinated ones, but the Buckingham Palace ones also are good. I recently served these sandwiches to guests and they liked both types, too.