When I was growing up, my mum and I would occasionally fix ourselves a real afternoon tea, complete with fine china, sandwiches and a full pot of Orange Pekoe tea. We set to work cutting the crusts off of multiple slices of soft, white bread. Some were filled with egg salad and others were rolled around gherkin pickles with pimento cream cheese. Ham, Mango Chutney and Pecan Tea Sandwiches would be a welcome addition, too. We would sip our tea, chat about the day's happenings, and pop those little sandwiches into our mouths, one after the other. To me, the act of making food together and enjoying it with someone you care about is what makes a good meal memorable.
We discovered that those little sandwiches needn't be relegated to these elaborate tea times, which were few and far between. When set out as an hors d'oeuvres at a dinner party, the plate was often empty within minutes. I am not sure if it harkens back to the time of our ancestors or we just think it is fun, but people seem to love eating with their hands. Little tastes of multiple flavors in one meal satisfies cravings far more efficiently than a large meal of similar flavors. At least that is how it works in my world.
In this recipe, cream cheese is mixed with butter and curry powder to make a compound butter, which is spread on lightly toasted pieces of bread. Each slice is layered with thin slices of cucumber, fresh cilantro and cooked shrimp before the crusts are cut off and they are cut into pretty, bite-sized pieces. This makes an beautiful, savory appetizer with little effort and, if you are like me, you will find yourself popping these into your mouth, one after the other.
The recipe:
In a medium bowl, mash together butter, cream cheese, curry powder and kosher salt with the back of a fork until combined.
Heat canola oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Season shrimp with salt. Add shrimp and sear until shrimp is just cooked through, about 30 seconds on each side. Remove shrimp from pan and cut each one in half horizontally.
Lay bread slices on a baking sheet in a 350 degrees oven and cook until bread is very lightly toasted. Transfer bread slices to a rack and cool.
Spread 1 tablespoon curry cream cheese on each slice of bread. Cut cucumber into slices that are the length of one side of bread and 1/4/-inch thick. Place 2 slices cucumber, side-by-side, on each piece of bread. Top with 4 springs of cilantro (set up in a square) and then place 1 shrimp piece on each sprig of cilantro. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
Cut crusts off bread and then cut each slice in four squares. Serve.
Shrimp, Cucumber & Curry Cream Cheese Canapes
Adapted from Martha Stewart's Hors D'Oeuvres Handbook
Curry Cream Cheese:
4 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1 teaspoon curry powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
Canapes:
2 tablespoon canola oil
20 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
½ teaspoon kosher salt
10 slices white sandwich bread
1 large English cucumber
40 small sprigs fresh cilantro
Curry Cream Cheese:
In a medium bowl, mash together butter, cream cheese, curry powder and kosher salt with the back of a fork until combined.
Canapes:
Heat canola oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Season shrimp with salt. Add shrimp and sear until shrimp is just cooked through, about 30 seconds on each side. Remove shrimp from pan and cut each one in half horizontally.
Lay bread slices on a baking sheet in a 350 degrees oven and cook until bread is very lightly toasted. Transfer bread slices to a rack and cool.
Spread 1 tablespoon curry cream cheese on each slice of bread. Cut cucumber into slices that are the length of one side of bread and 1/4/-inch thick. Place 2 slices cucumber, side-by-side, on each piece of bread. Top with 4 springs of cilantro (set up in a square) and then place 1 shrimp piece on each sprig of cilantro. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
Cut crusts off bread and then cut each slice in four squares. Serve.
Makes 40 canapes.
Kim | a little lunch
Dara, I was searching for a salmon mousse canape (preferably served on cucumber slices) and lo and behold, there was your recipe amongst Huffington Post's finest. 🙂 I can always count on YOU for flavor w/simplicity (and healthy eatin'), even this many years later! Hope all is well with you... and sorry to be so incommunicado lately. Much respect... xo... ~ Kim
Kim | a little lunch
Oh yikes... might as well add a lil' crow to those canapes, LOL! Just realized (in my recipe printing frenzy) that your appetizers involved shrimp (not salmon) -- sorry 'bout that! But, they sound delish, I STILL love your recipes, and I intend to make (and enjoy every bite) o' these!!! 🙂
Elle
I'm pretty sure I could polish off a plate of these all by myself. 😉
Jennifer (Savor)
Very creative Dara - I say make them for a cocktail party ( I am invited right?)
Tracy
Love this appetizer! So yummy and elegant!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective
What an elegant little snack--perfect for Mothers Day!
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme
Little tea sandwiches like these are very much part of my background, too. We couldn't have a wedding shower or party in the South without a selection of wonderful bite-size sandwiches. Now I have a new one to add to my repertoire! My friends are going to love this one!
Marla
Dara, these canapes are so pretty & I bet so tasty too!
Megan
When my daughter was young, I would take her to all the tea parlors I could find. They are far and few between in my neck of the woods. What a great little tea sandwich (0r appetizer). They really are perfect looking. I know I would gobble them up too! 🙂
Becky at VintageMixer
This would have been perfect to eat while watching the updates of the Royal Wedding! I always thing of cucumber sandwiches as being very British.
Great seeing you today! I look forward to collaborating more as a team. Sometimes the blogging world can be a little lonely 🙂
Lori @ RecipeGirl
How the heck did you get those to look so incredibly perfect and cute??
Rochelle
These look so good! I'm curious about the curry cream cheese but with the shrimp and cool cucumber I'm certain it'll be delicious.
Maria
So fresh and pretty! Perfect for a shower or party!
Amanda
How cute are these shrimp canapes? What a fabulous appetizer!
Belinda @zomppa
Um. Gorgeous, elegant, and ueber delicious? How can a girl get some?
fooddreamer
These look delicious, elegant and perfect for a party.
Sutapa (alwayswinner786)
Very soothing and healthy appetizer!