I have my child to thank for this cucumber sandwich. Their obsession with cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches started the idea, and my love of flavored cream cheeses followed. This easy, fresh summer sandwich is perfect for picnics, road trips, or a quick lunch at home.
When making fresh sandwiches to pack on the go, I tend to keep things simple but focus on the quality of each item. This cucumber sandwich is the perfect example.
Good bread is a bit obvious, but I like to repeat it. And I like to remind you that good bread is whatever type of bread is good for you. While I love solid whole-grain bread, the thick crusts might not be for everyone. This cucumber-cream cheese combination is equally delicious on a pillowy bed of milk bread.
Whatever cucumber you have on hand is the cucumber you should use. However, if you have a choice, I adore Japanese and striped Armenian cucumbers. Both are slender, often have relatively few seeds, and hold their shape well in a sandwich.
The real power, however, in this sandwich is the flavored cream cheese. You could go in many directions with this buying, either store-bought or trying to go wild with variations at home. Obviously, I’m lobbying for this charred scallion cream cheese, but an herbed, chile, or even a honey walnut cream cheese.
Finally, you can fill out this sandwich however you like. I like the added bulk of the lettuce because it balances the crunchy cucumbers and cream cheese, but shredded carrots, thinly sliced beets, thick slices of tomatoes, or roasted red peppers could be added.
This cucumber sandwich is fairly easy to assemble, but there is one way to ensure your sandwich stays out of the soggy zone: Do not salt your cucumbers ahead of time! Cucumbers are a large part of water, and salt draws out the water. If you salt the cucumbers, your sandwich will turn soggy within minutes.
If I plan to pack this sandwich for eating later, I like to pack a small container of salt. Then, when I’m ready to eat, give the cucumbers a light sprinkle. Bonus points if it’s chile salt!
Finally, my last words of wisdom: don’t skip charring the scallions. Yes, regular scallions have a great flavor, but softening the small green bulbs and roasting the greens until they are brittle makes all the difference. The charred scallions are what make this sandwich simple!
If you don’t have scallions but want to make something similar, I recommend caramelized onions, grilled shallots, or a bit of garlic confit whipped into the cream cheese.
Make VEGAN quite easily.
Travels well, just keep on ice wrapped in cloth towel so bread won't draw moisture and get soggy.
Add thin green bell pepper strips, thinly sliced radishes, whatever ur pallet's veggie or fruit desire. A whole new take on a lettuce n tomato sandwich!
Try with different breads too!