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    Home » Appetizers

    Shrimp, Cucumber & Curry Cream Cheese Canapes Recipe

    Published: May 2, 2011 · Modified: Mar 30, 2021 by Dara · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 39 Comments

    269Shares

    Shrimp, Cucumber & Curry Cream Cheese Canape Recipe

    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.

    Shrimp Cream Cheese Collage

    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.

    ShrimpCreamCheese3

    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.

    Printable recipe

    269Shares
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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Kim | a little lunch

        April 18, 2015 at 2:35 pm

        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

        Reply
        • Kim | a little lunch

          April 18, 2015 at 2:52 pm

          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!!! 🙂

          Reply
      2. Elle

        May 17, 2011 at 8:16 am

        I'm pretty sure I could polish off a plate of these all by myself. 😉

        Reply
      3. Jennifer (Savor)

        May 06, 2011 at 10:14 am

        Very creative Dara - I say make them for a cocktail party ( I am invited right?)

        Reply
      4. Tracy

        May 05, 2011 at 3:55 pm

        Love this appetizer! So yummy and elegant!

        Reply
      5. Sommer@ASpicyPerspective

        May 05, 2011 at 8:10 am

        What an elegant little snack--perfect for Mothers Day!

        Reply
      6. Lana @ Never Enough Thyme

        May 05, 2011 at 7:52 am

        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!

        Reply
      7. Marla

        May 04, 2011 at 9:50 pm

        Dara, these canapes are so pretty & I bet so tasty too!

        Reply
      8. Megan

        May 04, 2011 at 7:56 pm

        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! 🙂

        Reply
      9. Becky at VintageMixer

        May 04, 2011 at 2:14 pm

        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 🙂

        Reply
      10. Lori @ RecipeGirl

        May 04, 2011 at 11:56 am

        How the heck did you get those to look so incredibly perfect and cute??

        Reply
      11. Rochelle

        May 04, 2011 at 11:35 am

        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.

        Reply
      12. Maria

        May 04, 2011 at 11:02 am

        So fresh and pretty! Perfect for a shower or party!

        Reply
      13. Amanda

        May 04, 2011 at 10:59 am

        How cute are these shrimp canapes? What a fabulous appetizer!

        Reply
      14. Belinda @zomppa

        May 04, 2011 at 10:10 am

        Um. Gorgeous, elegant, and ueber delicious? How can a girl get some?

        Reply
      15. fooddreamer

        May 04, 2011 at 5:11 am

        These look delicious, elegant and perfect for a party.

        Reply
      16. Sutapa (alwayswinner786)

        May 04, 2011 at 1:49 am

        Very soothing and healthy appetizer!

        Reply
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      I'm Dara, a Canadian living in the U.S. and sharing my favorite healthy recipes. My cooking motto is that healthy eating never needs to be boring!

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