Summer Recipes: Cucumber Sandwiches
A Cool and Easy Vegetable Sandwich To Beat the Summer Heat
May 25, 2009
When the temperature rises outside, the last thing anyone wants to do is slave over a hot stove inside. Luckily, summertime is the perfect time to explore cool, no-cook meal options that include green salads, fruit salads, and sandwiches. Seasonal vegetables, like cucumbers, are light, no fuss, and add a breath of fresh air to those salads and sandwiches. What’s more, they are an appetizing and healthier alternative to nitrate heavy cold cuts.
Cucumbers- So Good for You
The cucumber, a member of the gourd family of vegetables, is an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A and C, and potassium, manganese, dietary fiber, and the minerals molybdenum and silica. Silica is useful for the health of connective tissue (muscles, ligaments, cartilage, bone and the like). Because cucumbers also have a very high water content, eating them contributes to youthful looking skin by keeping skin hydrated and naturally moist.
Choosing, Storing and Using Cucumbers
There are several varieties of cucumbers to choose from. However, thinner, longer cucumbers are often better, because thin cucumbers usually have far less seeds than their thicker counterparts. Also, it is important to know that while most cucumbers sold in grocery stores usually have a waxy coating, it’s wiser to pick those that are not waxed, and to prepare the washed cucumber with the peel intact. The reason for this is because the skin of the cucumber is nutrient plentiful and fiber rich. However, if waxed cucumbers are chosen, be sure to wash thoroughly and peel away the skin before preparing them, since the wax acts as a trap for chemicals used during cultivation.
Cucumbers should be stored in the refrigerator and not left out at room temperature for too long. At room temperature, the vegetable will wilt and become limp, but in the fridge, it will keep longer. But, try to use cucumbers within two days of purchase for optimal quality.
Now, on to the delicious and convenient summer recipe for cucumber sandwiches!
CUCUMBER TEA SANDWICHES
Preparation Time: 20 minutes, before refrigeration
Ingredients:
- Whole wheat bread
- Low fat cream cheese, softened
- Dry Italian salad mix
- Avocado, mashed and smooth
- Cucumbers, thinly sliced
- Alfalfa sprouts
- Tomato slices
- Onion, sliced into rings
- Pepperoncini, chopped
- Lettuce, shredded
- Olive oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Garlic salt
- Dill weed, or parsley
Directions:
- Combine the cream cheese and Italian salad mix together. If necessary, add a teaspoon of low fat milk to make the mixture spreadable. Spread the mixture completely onto half of all bread slices, and apply the mashed avocado to the other halves. Layer on the rest of the ingredients—cucumber slices (cut either as oblong slivers, or thin, round chips), sprouts, tomato slice, onion rings, pepperoncini, lettuce. Sprinkle with oil and vinegar, and a dash of garlic salt, topping each with the avocado covered slices of bread. Refrigerate 30 minutes to an hour before serving, covered loosely with plastic wrap.
- Once ready to serve, neatly cut the bread crusts off the sandwiches with a sharp knife, making each sandwich into a large square. Then, slice each sandwich into smaller, bite size squares, triangles, or lady-finger styled rectangles. Garnish individual sandwiches with dill weed, or parsley, for an added touch of class and presentation flair. Serve with your favorite tea or other cold beverage.
Optional Choices
Increase or decrease the amount of ingredients according to your own preference, and/or the number of persons served. Tomato and onion slices may be omitted, or substituted with thinly sliced bell peppers and Dijon mustard, if you wish to spice things up a bit.
Rye, pumpernickel, or multigrain bread may be used in place of whole wheat, and the cream cheese may be plain, or flavored with chopped vegetables, onion, and/or scallions.
The true beauty of cucumber sandwiches is that the recipe is flexible and can easily be adapted to suit every taste. And, NO hot stove to worry about!
Enjoy!
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