I’ve really been trying to be the normal one at work these days.
You see. My first week, I brought in veggie burgers, pizza, and chickpeas in mint sauce for lunch.
Not all on the same day. But still.
If we’re being honest. I got weird looks. And zero marriage proposals.
There is some kind of conclusion to be drawn from such statistics. I’m sure of it.
So last week, I thought I’d normalize myself.
“Blend in.”
And what I came up with was sandwiches. Sandwiches are totally rational lunch items, right?
I think yes.
Open up my crisper drawer, check out the goings on. And what do we have but an abundance of the most boring vegetable known to man – the CUCUMBER!
(Thank you CSA for providing me with pound upon pound of water and cellulose and almost zero nutritional value. I appreciate it.)
And not only was it sitting in my crisper. But it was shriveling there. SHRIVELING. And no one wants a shriveling phallus-shaped object in their fridge.
I promise.
And then it dawned on me. The only two sandwich toppings that could make cucumbers worth ingesting.
Ricotta. And smoked salmon. Yum.
Throw some CSA dill into the mix that had been sitting on my counter for…days. Let’s go with days.
And you’ve got yourself some sandwich.
Definitely awesome enough to make your co-workers think you’re a superlative sandwich-eating sane person. Until you write a post like this. At which point. You’re on your own.
Smoked Salmon and Ricotta-Dill Sandwich with Cucumbers
Serves 4, an Eats Well With Others Original
Ingredients
- 8 slices multi-grain bread
- 1 (15 oz) container part-skim ricotta
- 1/4 cup dill
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 cucumber, sliced
- 8 oz smoked salmon
Instructions
- Place two slices of bread on a plate.
- In a large bowl, mix together the ricotta, dill, salt and black pepper.
- Spread one slice of bread with 1/4 cup of the ricotta-dill mix. Then top with smoked salmon, cucumber, and second slice of bread.
- Repeat with remaining bread and ingredients.
I am submitting this to Souper Sunday, which is hosted by Deb over at Kahakai Kitchen!
Sandwiches are definitely more “normal” unless they’re smoked sandwiches with dill ricotta… not your average sandwich for sure!
Good seeing you yesterday. Hope your trip back was good! 🙂
hahaha, love this. i thought i’d be “that girl” at my new job (AKA i prepared quinoa salad and black beans to bring all week to eat) but there’s another “that girl” already who eats non-sandwich-y things too! heyyynow. i love it. but anyway, i love me some salmon and and cheese-type food on bread. or just the original cream cheese and lox is great too. and sorta normal. thumbs up.
wow! great way to use those cucumbers!
For what it’s worth, shriveled cucumbers are way better than weirdly slimy ones. 😉 Great looking sandwich – love the rosy colour of that salmon.
The dill with the ricotta against the salmon sounds AMAZING! what a fun and different take on sandwiches that can tend to be boring and bland! Love it-
Love this sandwich, Joanne. 🙂 If you took off the top slice of bread it would be almost like the traditional Danish open-faced sandwiches I grew up with. 🙂
Such a funny story – one day your co-workers will recall the healthy lunches you brought in and realize that you were just ahead of the game ;). Lovely sandwich and a great way to use up the cucumbers that are overflowing this time of year!
Fresh dill and salmon is one of my favourite combinations. This sandwich looks gorgeous – moist, healthful and summer fresh – love it!
I love that you went with ricotta cheese! I try to make my lunches look normal from time to time, but it just isn’t worth it. You should have seen the reaction I got eating out of a peanut butter jar last week for breakfast.
That looks absolutely mouth watering.
That is totally my kind of sandwich! I love finding ways to incorporate different veggies and such into sandwiches… makes it so much more satisfying.
Whoa….I’ve never thought of using ricotta like that before. I usually do some sort of cream cheese/yogurt thingy with my cucumbers. Love this combination with smoked salmon. I’m pinning this one for sure. For the record, I say keep doing your thing and being fabulous. You don’t want to attract someone who’s only idea of dessert is vanilla cupcakes and milkshakes, right?
I love cucumber on sandwich. I posted a version of a recipe of yours today, it was awesome beyond belief! I actually made it a long time ago, I just couldn’t find my notes with the changes and calorie count until recently! I so need to make it again!
I am so hugely jealous- Cucumbers are one of my favorite veggies, and I eat one a day, or more, just about every single day. We try to grow them in the garden every year, but no luck so far. It’s just too shady… This year, we only got one scraggly little vine, no flowers or anything. I wish I could sign up for just a cucumber CSA share!
A terrific sandwich, I like the ricotta and dill mixture to pair with the smoked salmon here.
Cucumber with yellow skin? I haven’t seen those yet I think
“And no one wants a shriveling phallus-shaped object in their fridge.” HA!! This is an awesome combo…and this sammich, wow…you’re just so normal. ;P
Yo quiero, yo quiero! Hehehe. That, my girl, looks amazing!
Joanne – I suggest you try to bring a nice Japanese bento next time to blow your colleagues’ mind off. They would be envious!
lovely! I know just what you mean about those CSA cukes. I can’t seem to find very many uses for them. This looks like a great way to put them to use.
Yummy now that’s what I call a sandwich! That’s okay…I’m not much of a normal lunch bringer myself. Especially when I bring my bento lunches. My husband doesn’t like cucumbers (I can’t even sneak them in anything) so we don’t have them around much only when I make tzatzki!
Great minds think alike. In fact, I just had a smoked salmon and cucumber sandwich on homemade bread for breakfast. And for breakfast yesterday, and lunch the day before.
(but I use cream cheese instead of ricotta)
Despite my aversion to cucumbers, i.e. I detest them, I love the other components of this sandwich. This beats my lunch anyday!
Not your average but it looks delicious. Never would have thought to use ricotta, but it looks delicious. Could I have a slice of onion on mine?
Amazing photos! Makes me feel like I could reach over a grab the sandwich
Perfect summer sammie. Way to fit in. 😉
I personally love the cuke. It brings the cold crunch to the sammie without overpowering the featured ingredients.
Joanne, this is MY kind of lunch. Seriously- any day.
Smoked salmon and dill. Together forever. I just moved to Rome and this was the first sandwich I made here too! Only with dill cream cheese not dill ricotta. This is a globally delicious sandwich.
Are you sure you aren’t Jewish? This is my kind of meal!!!!! I love Smoked Salmon. Great way to use up the plethora of cucumbers I’m sure we both are getting!
It was definitely the mention of ricotta that made me drool just a little.
I am a slave to the ricotta.
holy yum.
-Monique, AKA Mo Diva, AKA IareTheFoodSnob
This is one of my absolute favorites lunches and breakfasts! I havent used ricotta before though, I must try that next time!
Me neither but ricotta sounds great! I usually use cream cheese. Cucumber and onion delicious. Thanks for ideas!
You should get some proposals from this one. I love cold smoked salmon and plan to try smoking some this winter if I can get my smoker to run cool enough.
now that’s a sammich.
i thought at first those were dill pickles. i mean why not right?
great combo kid! love it!
I love the ingredients — good combination. Your original sandwich would be a hit in any restaurant. I actually crave cucumbers during hot weather, and the cukes here add a nice crunch and coolness. Excellent original sandwich, Joanne!!
That is one stellar sandwich. Nothing beats salmon in any form–smoked, baked, pan-fried–I love the stuff.
This looks so yummyy!! I love salmon, this looks like the perfect sandwich!
I am not a huge fan of smoked salmon but this sandwich makes me want to give it a try!
I have a real weakness for smoked salmon and your use of it in this sandwich is flawless. I hope you enjoyed every bite of it. Have a great day. Blessings…Mary
You made this look so good! I have never tried smoked salmon but have heard other people say it is really good!!
“And no one wants a shriveling phallus-shaped object in their fridge.”
HA HA HA HA HA!!!!
Wouldn’t you know, the cucumber plant seems to be the only thing producing in our garden. And I don’t even like cucumbers. . .
Now that’s a sandwich! Sounds like the perfect lunch.
smoked salmons are my fav in salad and sandwich too .. i love the combination of ricotta with dill!! should definitely try this salad once 🙂
This is a favorite with caramelized onions. Have you ever swapped out dill for fennel fronds? It’s also good!
I can’t imagine you not getting marriage proposals!! Beautiful woman, smart as fuck-all, great cook….
Love the sammies….mmmmmm….healthy fare that is super appealing!
For your remaining cucumbers I suggest using them with some sliced radishes atop an everything bagel with cream cheese.
Joanne, your sandwich looks delicious, I never thought in ricotta for sandwich, always leaning 🙂
Love the smoked salmon and the refreshing cucumber…perfect for the warm days.
Have a wonderful week ahead!
did this help you fit in? lol, i’m not a huge fan of cucumbers (unless it helps me eat hummus), but lately i’ve fallen for throwing them in smoothies 🙂
“And no one wants a shriveling phallus-shaped object in their fridge. “
I think I strained something laughing at that. Too dang funny! The sandwich looks great even if it is laden with shrinky dink cukes 🙂
this looks great, but I say you’re crazy for not liking cucumber. they’re my favorite!
I love cucumbers! I’m so surprised you find them boring. They go so perfectly with tomatoes and feta. I find celery pretty boring. I am always struggling to find interesting things to bring for lunch… I’m sure I get a lot of weird looks too.
I can tolerate dill under certain circumstances. Smoked salmon is a gray area for dill acceptance 🙂 If it makes you feel any better, my schoolmates in elementary school (and probably all through high school) thought I was a mutant for some of the lunches I would bring, haha. Manti was pretty popular. They would look at me inquisitively, and then eventually I would convince them to try it and then they would request I bring it for lunch more often. People just don’t know what they’re missing! Haha
I’ve never been a fan of cucumbers, but after this post I’m willing to have another try.
?
Camila Faria
Multigrain breag – good call. I love the stuff! Stud reckons its like eating bird seed. I like seeds so screw that lol
The sandwich sounds delicious and thank goodness out of the ordinary and not a boring one. I wouldn’t want to keep a shriveled up cucumber around either……!!!!!
What a beautiful and delicious sandwich. I love the yellow cucumbers!
I don’t know if this sandwich will help you fit in, but it looks fantastic. I love the cute yellow cucumber.
Cucumber is the perfect veggie for these hot days. I am curious, what do others bring for lunch? Just sandwiches?
i <3 smoked salmon. it makes me wish i was jewish forever haha smoked salmon & cream cheese on bialys are delicious. you need to get a bialy for your next sammiewhich
You are too funny! I actually adore cucumbers. This sandwich looks lovely, but I actually throw cucumbers in everything from cold noodle salads to sloppy joes.
That’s too funny…I guess a sandwich is a normal lunch sort of thing. However this is no ordinary sandwich, deliciously perfect!
This is not your average sandwich! I love how you used ricotta where others would of used cream cheese – you’re a girl after my own heart.
you are funny! yes…cucumber has one of the least nutrition compared to other vegetables.
Well, if I need more “moisture” on a particular day, I would eat cucumbers!
Aw, this is reminiscent of my Open-Faced Smoked Salmon On Rye. And for the record, I could eat that AND this every single day of my life. Whether it’s hot or not!
Wonderful looking sandwich..love the classic salmon & dill combo..I like to add tomatoes & cuke combo together in a sandwich..I guess thats the only way I can eat cucumbers!
Joanne, this sandwich looks amazing. I want some smoked salmon. Right now. Great way to use your dill and cucumber.
I had no idea that cucumbers weren’t that great for you! Haha. I always thought they were! Well now I feel better for not liking them that much. 😉
This sandwich looks gooood! I love how unique it is.
I usually avoid packing a sandwich for lunch but that’s one I’d be happy to gobble up! I get questions about my lunches fairly regularly as well – I think they’re just jealous 🙂
That is such a healthy meal.
I can relate. For years I got weird looks. Then I started packing my husbands lunches and the poor thing didn’t exactly have an easy time making friends. We’re the weird couple…
That is sone fabulous sandwich! Really droolworthy. I am a sucker for smoked salmon.
Cheers,
Rosa
You have a knack of making the simplest dishes look so enticing. And does that cucumber have a brownish skin? Looks like a crunchy gherkin!
wow great sandwich always looking for new ideas 🙂
let’s all help creating a world where sandwiches like this are the normal lunch!! i am totally in :-).
Oh anything u make here , i am ready to make regular or any way u want it , coz its way way too good to miss!
All ur goodies are!
*hungry***
I hear you in regard to cucumbers. It’s not that they’re especially high in nutrients, but I guess they are next to zero calories and help us from munching on others things that are ten times worse or at least that’s what I tell myself.
This looks like a gourmet sandwich if I ever saw one. Not sure you’ll be able to convince anyone that you’re a normal eater;-)
I’m the weird one at work, too. I just tell myself everyone else is jealous. Or something. What a great way to make cucumbers flavorful!
I have some great, wild, canned salmon I think this recipe would work great woth. I have ricotta on hand, too! 🙂 Great-looking recipe, Joanne!
Smoked salmon is one of the best reasons to use cucumbers ever…and cucumber tea sandwiches…those are scrumptious as well. Don’t try to pass yourself off as normal…I don’t think it will fly anyways and normal is so boring.
I think you would fit in ANYWHERE with that lovely sandwich. Who doesn’t like smoked salmon, right? 😉
I am having this tomorrow with the smoked salmon in my fridge!
Your posts honestly make me laugh out loud!! This sandwich looks absolutely phenomenal!
Thank you for making me feel totally lame for loving cucumbers! Haha. This looks like a great sandwich to this lame cucumber-loving chica.
Dear Joanne, This is a sandwich that my daughter would love!!!! Blessings, Catherine xo
But there is fiber in cukes, so that’s a small plus. This sandwich looks wonderful and reminds me of the Danish open-faced sandwiches my father’s family always served, although I’m quite sure they didn’t use ricotta 🙂
Now see, even though I know they are not a nutritional powerhouse, I love the cucumber–especially in hot weather as they are so cooling.
😉 But… of course putting them in a sandwich with salmon is even better. 😉
Thanks for sharing it with Souper Sundays.
Love this sandwich
I’m drooling over this creamy, dilly, salmon sammie! What a nice creation, Joanne!
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