Kentucky Derby Benedictine Sandwich (Print Version)

Refreshing cucumber and cream cheese layered on soft bread, ideal for elegant brunch and 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 fresh 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 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 the grated cucumber in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, dill, chives, grated onion, salt, and white pepper. Mix until smooth.
03 - Stir in the drained cucumber and mix until well blended. Add green food coloring if desired and mix until the color is uniform.
04 - If using, lightly butter one side of each slice of bread to 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 sandwiches.
06 - Gently press and trim crusts if needed. Cut each sandwich into quarters as rectangles or triangles.
07 - Arrange on a platter and serve immediately, or cover with a damp paper towel and plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • They taste like spring tastes, if that makes sense, and somehow feel special without requiring you to be special at making them.
  • You can prep the spread a day ahead, so when guests arrive you're basically just assembling fancy sandwiches, which feels like cheating in the best way.
02 -
  • The wetness from the cucumber is your enemy, and squeezing it out in the towel is non-negotiable unless you enjoy eating soggy bread an hour later.
  • If you assemble these more than a couple hours ahead, they'll start to lose their delicate texture, so timing matters even if it feels casual.
03 -
  • A fine grater and one good squeeze in a kitchen towel prevents more soggy sandwich disasters than any other single step in this entire recipe.
  • Slightly softened but still cool cream cheese mixes smoothly without getting greasy or warm, so pull it out maybe thirty minutes before you start cooking, not longer.
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