Tea sandwiches are a super versatile food offering, which can be adapted in so many ways. Today I am sharing a finger tea sandwich with a Spanish twist. I paired some classic Spanish flavors to develop this unique tea sandwich. Come on in and let me share the yumminess.
The variety of tea sandwiches is truly limitless. To me the quintessential tea sandwich is the cucumber sandwich, which I shared here {tea sandwich ideas – perfect for the entertaining season}. In honor of my Spanish roots I created this version of a classic English tea sandwich. It’s basically a ham and cheese sandwich a la Espanola.
While I was brainstorming for a champagne gathering I hosted with a friend last year, I came up with this iteration of a tea sandwich. Serrano ham with Manchego cheese and a quince paste spread to meld all the flavors together. It’s the mix of sweet and salty with subtle textures, which brings everything together with a burst of flavor.
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My Tea Sandwich Thought Process
In serving tea sandwiches it’s always nice to offer a variety for preferences and dietary needs. My formula is usually one veggie, one meat protein and one non meat protein. Of course this is not a rigid rule of law but simply a guideline. For our first GNO champagne soiree I offered mini caprese sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, and egg salad sandwiches.
For the gathering above it was an intimate group of twelve ladies. I knew two for sure were vegetarian so I kept the selections on that spectrum. For our second champagne gathering we were a larger group of double the size, and I was not aware of everyone’s dietary inclinations. Consequently I followed my formula with the following offerings: smoked salmon sandwiches, cucumber tea sandwiches and Serrano ham with Manchego cheese sandwiches.
Spanish Serrano ham is a dry-cured ham, which is very similar to Italian prosciutto. Although the two hams are interchangeable there are slight variations between the two varieties. The classic cheese pairing for Serrano ham is the Spanish Manchego cheese, which is a dry aged sheep’s milk cheese. Quince paste, or membrillo as it’s called in Spain, is a sweet, thick, sliceable firm paste made from quince fruit, originating in Spain. In Spain membrillo and manchego cheese are inseparable. And here we are!
The Spanish Tea Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients:
- 4 Slices white bread
- 4 oz. Serrano Ham
- Wedge Manchego Cheese
- Block of Quince paste
Instructions:
- Remove ham and cheese from packaging.
- Slice cheese wedge into thin slices, using a cheese slicer, which I prefer or a knife if you don’t have a slicer.
- Cut crusts off of bread slices.
- Spread quince paste on bread slices.
- Lay thin cheese slices on quince paste, only using bread slice for one side of the sandwich.
- Top cheese slices with a slice of the ham.
- Cover ham with bread from other side of sandwich.
- Cut sandwich into preferred shapes, quartered into triangles being the most popular.
- Arrange finger sandwiches on platter.
When and How to Serve Tea Sandwiches
Of course tea sandwiches are the star of the show served during high tea, but can also be served for other occasions. I often serve them as finger foods when it’s a serve yourself type of occasion with a large spread. They are also a great option for a brunch setting, a bridal or baby shower, as well as a picnic.
Tea sandwiches during high tea are commonly served on tiered trays as above or pedestal plates are also a great option. They are also conveniently served on pass around trays, where guest can easily help themselves.
When there a few different varieties, including descriptions to assist guests is quite helpful. This also super helpful for folks with nutritional considerations.
Thanks for being here and see you next time. Au Revoir!
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“Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul.”
Dorothy Day