Choose cooling sandwiches for the perfect picnic

We’re all keeping our fingers crossed for fine weather for the upcoming Bank holiday weekend.  If by some chance the weather is hot, recent research has shown that your choice of sandwich could keep you cooler than ice cream! The high water content in cucumber sandwiches is best at keeping the body hydrated, whereas ice cream shocks the system & shuts down part of the body that help keep us cool. Blogger Sumayya enjoyed very hot temperatures in Pakistan & shares some delicate yet spicy “ribbon sandwiches” from her childhood.

Blog post & photography by Sumayya Jamil aka Pukka Paki  

With sunshine 365 days of the year, picnics were never a novelty in Pakistan neither was the mid-day 35 degree plus temperatures conducive to them! However the best time of the day was sunset when the unrelenting sun would hide it’s exhausted face behind clouds and set gracefully leaving a orange glow in the sky. Nothing could beat the 30 minute drive to the beach to settle on the warm sands of Karachi’s gorgeous beaches and bite into my mother’s ribbon sandwiches, (as their 2 layers resemble a two-tone ribbon!) laced with a buttery coriander chutney in one layer and a buttery egg mayo in the other.

And there I would sit for a while soaking in the sunset while admiring the beautiful golden sky and the balmy enveloping breeze. But, my best memories of these delightfully surprising sandwiches are my childhood birthday parties added a pretty colour to the birthday spread. 

I share these ribbon sandwiches which are perfect for the English picnic season with or without the sun shining, there’s no reason not to make these to enjoy over a cup of Earl Grey (again more cooling that a cold drink with its tannin as a cooling agent) or enjoy as an afternoon snack - a great alternative to a classic cucumber sandwich. The bursts of mint coriander chilli (spicy food helps perspiration, the body’s way of keeping cool) with a twist of egg mayo add an interesting kick to a regular old sandwich and its pretty “ribbon” look makes it fun and different - Simple picnic flavours, Pakistani-style.

To make about 24-30 small finger sandwiches (about 4 from one sandwich)

Ingredients:

For the ‘Green’ ribbon - Coriander butter chutney:

1 large bunch fresh coriander leaves
10 mint leaves
1 small green chili (de-seeded if desired)
75 g of salted butter, softened
1 tsp brown sugar

For the ‘Yellow’ ribbon - Egg mayo butter:

3 hard boiled eggs
2 tbsp free range egg mayonnaise 
70 g of salted butter, softened
2 tsp french mustard
1 large crushed pepper
1-2 drops of yellow food colour

A loaf of fresh soft white bread

Method:

1. To make the coriander chutney butter filling place the coriander, mint, chilis and sugar in a small blender and create  a fine paste, and you will need to add very little water in order to create a chutney. It is important not too make a very watery chutney otherwise the sandwiches get soggy. Pour into a bowl and add the softened butter. Stir until everything is mixed well, add seasoning if desired. 

2. To make the egg mayo butter filling, in a food processor blend together the egg, mayonnaise, butter and yellow food colour until you have a smooth paste. Pour into a bowl and add pepper and season further if desired. Both fillings can be refridgerate for using later, though you will need to bring them to room temperature before spreading.

3. To make the sandwiches - Take 3 slices of bread, On 2 slices of bread spread about 1 tbsp of coriander chutney butter and then sandwich together. Next spread about 1/2 tbsp of egg mayo butter on the top of one side of sandwich with the coriander chutney butter and 1/2 tbsp on the third slice of bread. Sandwich this on top the the egg mayo sandwich. You now have a three bread slice sandwich.

4. To finish, cut the crusts off and then cut up to 4 finger sandwiches (i.e. not triangles but straight rectangular sandwiches, cut lengthways). Serve immediately or cover in cling film and refrigderate, but bring to room temperature before serving.

Blog post & photography by Sumayya Jamil aka Pukka Paki 

You can find more delicious picnic recipes in our collection at Great British Chefs and if you need some cooling cucumber recipes we’ve a great selection too.