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Indian-inspired Tea Party Sandwiches for your next Indian Afternoon Tea. A Desi spin on the classic finger sandwiches, including egg salad sandwiches and cucumber sandwiches.
★★★★★
Love the sandwich recipe, it’s easy full of flavor, and brings back memories from my childhood. It’s a big hit in my house for easy dinners and picnics.”
– npbista
I had my first chutney cheese butter sandwich at six years old while traveling from Nigeria to India on Air India. At 6, I vividly remember opening up the sandwich on the plane and seeing what was in it because it was that good.
Did I mention that I love plane food too? I know, I’m so weird. It gets me so excited when I travel internationally.
I am obsessed with chai and anything that has to do with chai. I get so excited about the fun snacky food that goes with chai, in this case, vegetarian tea sandwiches.
For your next afternoon tea party, be sure to try out these delicious and easy finger sandwiches.
3 Indian-inspired Tea Time Sandwiches
- Cucumber Sandwich with chutney, cheese, and butter. A classic sandwich with some added desi flavor.
- Egg Salad Curry Sandwich is prepared with classic ingredients in addition to butter, green chilies, and curry powder.
- Veggie Cream Cheese Sandwich flavored with red bell pepper, olives, chives, cilantro, green chilies, chat masala, and more.
Table of Contents
- What are Afternoon Tea Party Sandwiches
- Why You’ll Love These Delicious Tea Sandwiches
- Step by Step – How to Make Tea Party Sandwiches
- Expert Tips on Making Desi Tea Party Sandwiches:
- Serving Suggestions
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Indian Afternoon Tea Recipes!
- Afternoon Tea Party Sandwiches (Indian-inspired) Recipe
What are Afternoon Tea Party Sandwiches
Tea parties are incomplete without finger sandwiches. Afternoon Tea Party Sandwiches are crustless dainty sandwiches with delicious sandwich fillings ideal for afternoon tea. Tea Sandwiches, also referred to as finger sandwiches, originated in the United Kingdom.
For those of you who don’t know, the British had a significant influence on the Indian Tea Culture that is still present in India. Our version of “tea time” is Masala Chai, where water, tea leaves, spices, and milk are boiled resulting in the best Indian Chai. I was inspired by the English Afternoon Tea and decided to add a desi spin to things.
Out of all the savory finger sandwiches, My favorite combo is the classic Cucumber Tea Sandwich. Desify it by adding some chutney and chat masala and you’ve got an Indian-inspired Cucumber Tea Sandwich.
Why You’ll Love These Delicious Tea Sandwiches
- Best Vegetarian Finger Sandwiches
- They’re simple and delicious
- Dainty & Delicate
- Indian-inspired Tea Sandwiches
- Perfect for an Afternoon Tea Party
- Classic for Mother’s Day
- Ideal for a Baby Shower or Bridal Shower
Step by Step – How to Make Tea Party Sandwiches
Cucumber Chutney Cheese Sandwich
1. Take 2 slices of white bread. Spread a generous amount of butter, about 1 tbsp per sandwich.
2. Spread cilantro chutney on both sides.
3. Add thinly sliced cucumber to one slice of bread.
4. Any white cheese on the other side – I used Trader Joe’s unexpected cheddar (you can use muenster, white sharp cheddar, or pepper jack cheese).
5. Sprinkle chaat masala to taste.
6. Close the sandwich. Using a serrated knife, slice the crust off.
7. Slice the sandwich into 3s and enjoy!
Egg Salad Curry Sandwich
1. Make the egg salad – begin by boiling the eggs. Then combine the hard-boiled eggs, sour cream (or mayo if you wish), chives, curry powder, salt, and black pepper.
2. Mash the eggs. Mix well.
3. Take 2 slices of white bread. Spread a generous amount of butter, about 1 tbsp per sandwich.
4. Spread a generous amount of egg salad on one side of the bread.
5. Close the sandwich. Slice the crust off.
6. Cut into threes.
7. Enjoy!
Veggie Cream Cheese Sandwich
1. Use cream cheese at room temperature.
2. Add red bell pepper, cilantro, olives, Indian green chilies, chaat masala, salt, and black pepper.
3. Mix well.
4. Take 2 slices of bread. Add a generous amount of veggie cream cheese on one side.
5. Close the sandwich. Slice the crust off. Cut into threes.
6. Enjoy!
Expert Tips on Making Desi Tea Party Sandwiches:
- Make sure you use soft white bread for these sandwiches, I love Pepperidge Farm and Wonder Bread.
- For other bread options – you can opt for rye, pumpernickel, or whole wheat, just make sure the bread is relatively soft.
- The butter and cream cheese should be used at room temperature.
- Make sure the cucumber slices are thinly sliced.
- Finely chop the veggies used in these sandwiches.
- Prepare the sandwich and then cut the crust off.
- You can slice these into long rectangular pieces or triangles – I prefer long rectangular.
- These sandwiches can be made a day ahead, just make sure you tightly wrap them in plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out.
Serving Suggestions
Check out my post on How to Host an Indian Afternoon Tea Party where I suggest what to make with High Tea Sandwiches.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best bread to use is soft white bread for this recipe. I love Pepperidge Farm and Wonder Bread. Alternatively, you may also use Pumpernickel Bread which tastes amazing.
2. Do I need to slice off the crust of the bread?
Yes. Crustless bread makes the most delicious tea sandwich recipes. You don’t need to discard the crust, you can enjoy it on the side while making the sandwiches – this is something that I do.
Instead of chives, you can add parsley, cilantro, or basil. They would all taste great in the egg salad sandwich.
More Indian Afternoon Tea Recipes!
- Indian Afternoon Tea
- Mango Mousse
- Quinoa Bhel Salad
- Rava Dhokla
- Eggless Mawa Cake
- Rose Water Cake with Almonds and Rose Buttercream
Tried this recipe? If so, please leave a comment & rate this recipe. That would mean so much to me. If you’re on Instagram, please tag me so I can see your creations. I’m happy to share and mention you. Thank you!
Afternoon Tea Party Sandwiches (Indian-inspired)
INGREDIENTS
Cucumber Chutney Cheese Sandwiches (amount needed per sandwich)
- 1 tbsp butter, spread on both slices
- 5 slices cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1 tsp cilantro chutney, linked recipe here
- 3 pieces unexpected cheddar cheese
- to taste chat masala
Egg Salad Curry Sandwiches (makes 2-3 sandwiches)
- 3 eggs, boiled
- 1 tbsp sour cream, or mayo
- 1/2 tsp curry powder, I used Trader Joe's brand
- 1 tbsp chives, finely chopped
- 2 green chilies, finely chopped
- to taste salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper, little more if need be
- 1 tbsp butter, per sandwich, spread on both slices
Veggie Cream Cheese Sandwiches (makes 3-4 sandwiches)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, I like Philadelphia brand
- 2 tbsp red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp kalamata olives, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp chives, finely chopped
- 2 green chilies, finely chopped
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- to taste chat masala
INSTRUCTIONS
Cucumber Chutney Cheese Sandwich
- Take 2 slices of white bread. Spread a generous amount of butter, about 1 tbsp per sandwich.
- Spread cilantro chutney on both sides.
- Add thinly sliced cucumber to one slice of bread.
- Any white cheese on the other side – I used Trader Joe’s unexpected cheddar (you can use muenster, white sharp cheddar, or pepper jack cheese).
- Sprinkle chaat masala to taste.
- Close the sandwich. Using a serrated knife, slice the crust off.
- Slice the sandwich into 3s and enjoy!
Egg Salad Curry Sandwich
- Make the egg salad – begin by boiling the eggs. Then combine the hard-boiled eggs, sour cream (or mayo if you wish), chives, curry powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Mash the eggs. Mix well.
- Take 2 slices of white bread. Spread a generous amount of butter, about 1 tbsp per sandwich.
- Spread a generous amount of egg salad on one side of the bread.
- Close the sandwich. Slice the crust off.
- Cut into threes.
- Enjoy!
Veggie Cream Cheese Sandwich
- Use cream cheese at room temperature.
- Add red bell pepper, cilantro, olives, Indian green chilies, chaat masala, salt, and black pepper.
- Mix well.
- Take 2 slices of bread. Add a generous amount of veggie cream cheese on one side.
- Close the sandwich. Slice the crust off. Cut into threes.
- Enjoy!
There’s no mention of olives in the ingredients list so I’m confused what kind and how many you are referring to
HI Nancy – So sorry about that.. I added 2 tablespoons of chopped kalamata olives to the recipe card.
Hi. The sandwiches look delicious! Is there a substitute for butter (not margarine nor I can’t believe it’s not butter, etc.) besides cream cheese to spread on the bread to keep the bread from becoming soggy?
HI Kaycee, so often times I make this sandwich without butter for myself (unless it’s a party or something). If you lightly toast the bread, then spread chutney, cucumbers, and all. Slice and enjoy! I would eat these 5-10 minutes of making them so they’re not soggy. You can also do this with untoasted bread, however it may be a bit soggy. Hope that helps.
What type of green chilies do you use in the Egg Salad Curry Sandwiches, Veggie Cream Cheese Sandwiches, and the Cilantro Chutney?
Hi – That’s Indian green chili, also known as Thai green chili. It’s very spicy so you literally use one. Alternatively, you may use Serrano Peppers which is super spicy too. I would use 1/2 a serrano pepper (with seeds) if you like spice, without seeds if you can’t handle spice. Hope that helps!
In my country, we make sandwich with boiled potatoes, chopped raw red onions, green chillis, tonnes of butter, crushed pepper and lemon. We use buttered bread for this sandwich. After seeing you cream cheese sandwich, I tried the sandwich with cream cheese instead of butter, my brother loved it. Thank you.
We also make egg sandwich with the above ingredients and boiled eggs.
I mean spread cream cheese on bread instead of butter
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Love the sandwich recipe, its easy full of flavor and brings backs memories from my childhood.. its a big hit in my house for easy dinner and picnic
So glad you enjoyed them. Thanks for sharing. xoxo
Loved these tea snacks, brought back so many memories~
Omg Nisha, these were all amazing! I was just planning on making the cucumber ones for Mother’s Day, but then ended up making all of them, and they were such a hit with all my family. I doubled the recipe for the veggie cream cheese recipe and it was perfect! I am being asked to make them again.
Loved these recipes they were super simple and packed a punch. Cilantro ones were my fav
What I like about this is the way you gave idea, how to plan ahead! She goes to that extra mile and help us so we do not have to even think / worry.
I don’t see the cilantro chutney recipe link can you please add that ? Thanks!
Doing it now. Thank you!
https://www.honeywhatscooking.com/cilantro-chutney/