Whether you’re entertaining guests with appetizers, afternoon tea, going on a picnic, or making light meals to take to work, tea sandwiches are convenient, fun, and simple. With no rules or restrictions to go by, you can be creative and experiment with different ingredients.
Type of Bread
First things first: the bread. Usually plane white or wheat bread is used for tea sandwiches, but bread embedded with dried fruits and nuts such as raisins and walnuts punch up the flavors. Another alternative is to stray from the norm and use fluffier, chewier types of bread that tear apart gracefully. These less crumbly breads can be found in French or Korean bakeries such as Paris Baguette, Wien, or Tous Les Jours.
Flavored Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is one of the quickest, tastiest, and most convenient spreads for sweet or savory finger sandwiches. It acts as an excellent buffer to prevent sogginess, and it comes with many flavors. If you want to create your own sandwich recipes, begin with cream cheese and then add your favorite veggies or ingredients. Philadelphia carries many flavors such as Garden Vegetable, Strawberry, Pineapple, Mixed Berry, Chives & Onion, Salmon, Honeynut, Blueberry, Chive, and Garlic ‘n Herb (whipped).
Quick and Easy Filler Ideas for Tea Sandwiches
- Plain cream cheese + Sautéed zucchini with olive oil and salt
- Plain cream cheese + Roasted chestnut pieces + Raisins
- Plain cream cheese + Blueberry preserves
- Plain cream cheese + Cinnamon spice and sugar mix
- Plain cream cheese + Salsa
- Plain cream cheese + Dried cranberries + Candied walnuts
- Plain cream cheese + Sweet corn kernels
- Salmon cream cheese + Cucumber slices
- Pineapple cream cheese + Turkey lunch meat
- Chives cream cheese + Ranch dressing + Shredded imitation crab + Chopped celery
- Hummus + Cucumber slices
- Hummus + Alfalfa
- Hummus + Beets
- Hummus + Green peas
- Hummus + Diced red bell peppers
- Mashed avocado with salt and lemon + Cherry tomato slices
- Mustard + Cheese + Apple
- Mustard + Mayo + Shredded cabbage + Lunch meat
- Mayo + Mashed avocado + Lunch meat
- Mayo + Mashed sweet potato + Chopped beets from can
- Mayo + Chicken + Cranberry sauce or relish
- Mayo + Turkey + Apple slices + Cranberry sauce or relish
- Mayo + Cheese + Diced olives
- Mayo + Sweet daikon slices + Shredded carrots + Turkey lunch meat
- Sautéed mushrooms + Cheese + BBQ sauce
- Refried beans + Sriracha hot sauce + Cherry tomato slices
- Strawberry preserves + Swiss cheese
- Peanut butter + Mashed banana + Honey
- Peanut butter + Raisins + Apple slices
- Nutella chocolate hazelnut spread + Roasted almonds bits
- Sweet red-bean paste (sold in Asian markets) + Chopped walnuts
*Note: The spreads should go on both sides of the bread with the other ingredients in between. Be sure to trim the crust with a serrated knife for clean edges.
Further Reading:
-Make your own Sun Dried Tomato Cream Cheese
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