Despite their name, tea sandwiches fit the menu whenever you're looking for something a little lighter to serve and easier to eat. If your guests will be dressed for a special party, they probably won't want to attempt a big, drippy meatball hero. With tea sandwiches you provide them with something easier to manage in dressy clothing. Some of the possible occasions are cocktail parties, bridal showers, baby showers, new member parties, or birthday parties.
When you plan your tea sandwich menu, let your imagination run wild. As much as the traditional white bread, cucumber sandwiches are still popular, any kind of bread and filling is possible. Think of your favorite fillings and simply scale them back to a more delicate package. Here's an assortment of ideas to get you started.
Before You Begin:
A thin coating of butter will keep the bread from getting soggy. It's important to use good quality bread to help maximize the flavor and texture of each bite. The bread should be thinly sliced, ends trimmed, and cut into small pieces, generally no larger than a two-bite size.
Traditional Sandwiches:
- Egg Salad Sandwich
- Goat Cheese and Watercress Sandwich
- Tuna Salad Sandwich
- Cucumber Mint; Herbed Cream Cheese; Ham-Watercress
- Cucumber Tea Sandwiches with Tarragon Butter
Cheesy Sandwiches:
- Broiled Fig and Gorgonzola Finger Sandwiches
- Cream Cheese Party Sandwiches - includes ham, mozzarella and herbs.
Meaty Sandwiches:
- Asparagus and Prosciutto Tea Sandwiches
- Chicken Pate Tea Sandwiches
- Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches
- Bacon Delight Sandwiches
- Festive Tea Sandwiches - a combination of chicken, cranberries and pecans.
- Prosciutto and Port Fig Butter
- Sesame-Crusted Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches
Vegetarian Sandwiches:
- Asparagus Logs
- Cucumber Tea Sandwiches with Mint Mayonnaise
- Pineapple Nut Tea Sandwiches
- Watercress Olive Tea Sandwiches
- Foccacia Finger Sandwiches
- Herbed Vidalia Onion Minted Radish Cheese Sandwich with Lemon Mayonnaise
Seafood Sandwiches:
- Smoked Salmon Canapes with Mascarpone - scroll down the page for the recipe.
- Roseville Tea Sandwiches - a combination of cucumbers, smoked salmon, horseradish, and herbs.
- Baked Shrimp Toast
- Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches - uses ginger-cilantro lime butter for an interesting twist.
Tea Sandwich Collections:
- Glenbrook Farms Collection - includes Cranberry Fingers, Salmon and Dill, Lavender Egg, Celery Nut, Pineapple Cream, Apricot Ham, Spring Radish, and Cucumber sandwiches.
- Rogov's Ramblings - a long list of possible combinations without specific recipes.
- Afternoon Tea Sandwiches, Cakes and Scones - A nice collection of sandwiches that covers all of the categories and tosses in a few sweets for good measure.
