Goat Cheese & Watercress Tea Sandwich

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Tea Sandwiches:

Allow 4 to 6 cut sandwich servings for each person.

Choose the best-quality white or wheat bread as possible. Never serve end slices. Freezing the bread before cutting and then spreading makes for easier handling.

Bread slices should be lightly buttered not matter what the filling. Unsalted butter should always be used. Butter should be at room temperature before spreading. Sandwiches will not become limp and soggy as readily if you spread the butter to the edge of the bread.

Cut the crusts off the bread with a long, sharp knife after the sandwiches are filled. This keeps everything neater.

Since tea sandwiches should be delicate, cut each sandwich in half on the diagonal or into thirds or fourths before serving. Decorative shapes can be made with cookie cutters.

Making Sandwiches Ahead of Time:

If you need to make tea sandwiches in advance and need to keep them from drying out, cover them loosely with a sheet of wax paper and then place a damp kitchen towel over the wax paper (never place a damp towel directly on top of the bread because the sandwiches will become soggy). Refrigerate. When ready to serve, remove from refrigerator. Uncover sandwiches just before serving.
 


More Tea Sandwiches:

Carrot-Ginger Tea Sandwiches

Chicken Curry Tea Sandwiches

Cucumber Mint Tea Sandwiches

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

Goat Cheese and Watercress Tea Sandwich

Putting on the Ritz Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches

Radish-Poppy Seed Tea Sandwiches

Radish Sandwiches on Zucchini Basil Muffins

Smoked Salmon Sandwich on Pumpernickel

Spring Radish Tea Sandwiches

Walnut Tea Sandwiches

 


Recipe from Bon Appetit Magazine, September 1999.

To learn about the history and legends of favorite sandwiches, check out the History of Sandwiches.

Check out my English High Tea Menu.


Goat Cheese & Watercress Tea Sandwich

16 thin slices cinnamon-raisin bread, crusts trimmed
2 (5 1/2-ounce) logs soft fresh goat cheese (such as Montrachet), room temperature
1/2 cup chopped watercress leaves
Salt to taste
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup finely chopped toasted pecans*
Watercress sprigs (for garnish)

* To toast nuts, place in a shallow baking pan. Bake at 350*F for 15 to 20 minutes or until nuts are lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Cool.

Carefully cut the crusts from each slice of bread with a sharp knife.

In a medium-size bowl, mix fresh goat cheese and chopped watercress; season with salt. Spread mixture evenly over 8 bread slices. Top with remaining bread.

Cut the sandwiches in half diagonally and then cut in half again. Roll cut edges of each sandwiches in the softened butter.

Place pecans on plate. Dip buttered edges of sandwiches into pecans, gently pressing the pecans into the butter.

Arrange sandwiches on platter. Garnish with watercress sprigs.

NOTE:  Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover sandwiches tightly and refrigerate.

Yields 8 whole sandwiches or 16 halves or 32 fourths.