Simple & Fresh Cucumber Sandwich

Posted by Judy | Bebe Love Okazu on September 23, 2013 in Blog, Vegetables & Vegetarian | Comments Off on Simple & Fresh Cucumber Sandwich

One of the simplest of sandwiches that I enjoy is a fresh cucumber sandwich on Japanese shokupan (morning toast). It’s reminiscent of a tea sandwich, yet lacks the daintiness that is typically associated with a tea sammy. After all, if you’re only going to eat cucumbers, your sandwich is going to need to be a tad bit on the “hefty” side.

Over the summer I was the happy recipient of fresh organic Japanese kyuri or cucumber from either my parent’s backyard or that of my BFF’s parents’ backyard. Sadly, the season for these homegrown beauties have passed, but as recently as last weekend I found some nice and crisp Japanese cucumbers at my local Japanese supermarket.

Fresh Japanese cucumbers always remind of my paternal grandparents. I used to visit them often in Japan and my Ojiichan’s (grandfather) bountiful garden always provided fresh produce from edamame, potatoes, carrots, shishito peppers, tomatoes, green onions, eggplant, so much more and of course Japanese cucumbers. It’s a part of my life that I grew-up with and miss quite a bit, but enjoying a simple fresh cucumber sandwich brings back wonderful memories.

One of the dishes my Auntie taught me and often made for me at my grandparent’s home was a fresh cucumber sandwich on uber fresh Japanese shokupan. The combination is divine. The secret ingredient might have just been that thin layer of Kewpie mayonnaise (a Japanese brand of mayonnaise that differs slightly in taste from American mayonnaise), or perhaps it was my Ojiichan’s cucumbers that he raised with love.

Whenever I receive a batch of homegrown cucumbers there are three things I like to make: 1) Mom’s pickled kyuri (recipe to be shared at some point in the future); 2) hiyayakko (cold tofu) with very thinly sliced cucumbers on the side; and 3) cucumber sandwiches.

Of course, you don’t need homegrown cucumbers for a simple sandwich such as this one. All you need are Japanese cucumbers which can be readily found at a Japanese or Asian supermarket. English cucumber can also be substituted for Japanese cucumbers.