When the weather is nice, we will pack ourselves some sandwiches and lemonade and have a little picnic in our back yard. These cucumber, cream cheese, cilantro-mint chutney sandwiches are our favorite. I’ve made these for several picnics and I really dont know anyone who doesnt like them.
We used to get these sandwiches in India – white bread spread with a little butter, cilantro mint green chutney, and cucumber slices. It is India’s version of English tea sandwiches. I like to use cream cheese in this sandwich recipe; it goes great with the cucumbers and chutney.
Cucumber Cream Cheese and Cilantro-Mint Chutney
Sandwich Recipe
Makes 4 whole or 8 half sandwiches
½ an English seedless cucumber (the one with the plastic wrap)
8 slices of white or soft wheat bread
8 tablespoons cream cheese at room temperature, I used the low fat kind.
½ cup cilantro mint chutney. Recipe below.
Salt
Cut the cucumber into thin rounds.
Take 2 slices of bread. Spread 1 tablespoon cream cheese on one slice. Spread 1 teaspoon (or more if you like) chutney over the cream cheese. Arrange 4-5 slices of cucumber on top. Sprinkle a tiny pinch of salt over the cucumbers.
Spread one tablespoon cream cheese and then one teaspoon cilantro mint chutney on the other slice of bread. Place this on top of the cucumbers, to make a sandwich. Repeat for all bread slices.
Spreading the cream cheese first, and then the chutney will prevent the chutney from soaking through the bread. Serve immediately.
Cilantro Mint Chutney Recipe
Makes about 1/2 cup, enough for 4-6 sandwiches
1 cup cilantro leaves, tightly packed
1/2 cup mint leaves, tightly packed
1/2 fresh green chili or Thai hot pepper, chopped*
1/8 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt
2 tablespoons water
*This makes a spicy hot chutney. Use less chili or leave it out if you don’t want it spicy.
Place all ingredients in a food processor and process into a smooth sauce, scraping down the sides of the food processor now and then.
If you are using a blender, you may need to use a little more water. Store the chutney in an air tight container in the fridge.
Look so good! What about wholemeal bread in place of white bread and yogurt in place of the cream cheese?
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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
June 18th, 2011 at 9:47 pm
wholemeal bread will be great! not sure about the yogurt, it will make the sandwich soggy. if you dont want to use cream cheese, cashew butter or tahini might work instead.
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jaishri Reply:
June 19th, 2011 at 7:40 am
yes yogurt works very well ..just hang some in a muslin cloth and remove the whey and the resulting hunng yoghurt can be used as a spread
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Been there, eaten it, but never made it!! My mom used to make a colourful sandwich, mint chutney, tomato chutney and cheese sandwiches. Used to be very good…..
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Looks perfectly scenic…..a perfect recipe for those lazy weekend picnics……
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loved the pictures. The sandwiches were a childhood favorite (without cream cheese , just liberal butter , chutney n cucumber slices) and your pictures are enticing me enough to make a set up in my own garden. Birds are making the garden more beautiful right now.
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I love Indian tea sandwiches! Reminds me that I should make some for a picnic soon…I’ll use your recipe next time. Thanks!
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Wow nice flavourful spread sure best for sandwiches too
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Love this simple and healthy spread! Cheese and coriander will be just great for sandwich.
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I had eaten these sandwiches in Taj chikkamagalur. You brought back all the memories of that trip. Thanks for posting such a lovely recipe Sala
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Love this sandwich. Does bring back memories of India.
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Sala, we must have the same cravings
. I recently wrote about mint chutney sandwiches on my blog.
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Such a cute setup! Picnics are so much fun – making the ordinary seem extra-ordinary!
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love love love the idea of the chutney! Cucumber sandwiches can be a little boring, but not with your addition!
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These are ALWAYS a hit. LOVE them. Good for a picnic, lunch, PFO (party for one), baby/bridal shower… I’m glad you posted this because simple dishes like this are often overlooked and dismissed.
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Sandwiches are such a I’ll make these next.
last week we re-created Bombay sandwich (street side) at home and now it will be these, they look so perfect for tea time
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I love the freshness of mint paired with cucumber. This is a really great re-interpretation of a classic tea sandwich, love it!
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Sandwiches with Coriander mint chutney spread reminds me of a restaurant where we used to hang out during our college days. This is one of my favorite and am so eager to try it with cream cheese combo.
Have a fun Summer
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I’ve seen tea sandwiches like this everywhere, but I’ve never thought of adding chutney! How delicious!
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These are lovely – i have made similar ones with cheese slices for picnics… I should make more soon…
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How absolutely refreshing for summer, Sala! Hope to see you when you get back from India =)
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In love with these summer sandwiches. Wish we could go on a picnic together
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Those are perfect sandwiches, just the right amount of filling! Love how the cream cheese sets off the delicious spice of the chutney, we make one with tomato chutney and cream cheese, so good!
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