Cucumber-Rye Tea Sandwiches

By LaLaCooks

Little slices of party rye are a Southern favorite for tea sandwiches: "You don't see regular rye down here every day," Martha Hall Foose says. If party rye isn't available, use a cookie cutter to create rounds from regular bread slices.

Ingredients

• 1 large seedless cucumber, peeled and cut into 3-inch lengths
• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 36 slices of party rye or 18 slices of rye bread
• 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 scallion, finely chopped
• 1 Persian cucumber, thinly sliced
• Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Step 1

Using a box grater, coarsely grate the cucumber lengthwise, stopping when you get to the seedy center. Transfer the cucumber to a bowl and stir in the vinegar, lemon juice, sugar and salt. Let stand for 15 minutes.

If using rye bread slices, use a 2-inch-round cookie cutter to cut out 36 rounds from the bread. Cover with a slightly damp towel.

Transfer the grated cucumber to a colander to drain; squeeze out the excess liquid. Return it to the bowl and stir in the cream cheese and scallion. Spread the cucumber cream cheese on the bread rounds, top each with a Persian cucumber slice and arrange on a platter. Sprinkle with pepper and serve.

Make Ahead
The cucumber cream cheese can be refrigerated overnight. Return to room temperature before spreading.