📝 About This Recipe
Transform a humble lunch into a magical garden adventure with these adorable, spiral-shaped Snail Sandwiches. By utilizing a clever rolling technique and vibrant fresh vegetables, we create a nutritious meal that is as visually captivating as it is delicious. Perfect for picky eaters, these 'snails' feature creamy fillings and crunchy veggie antennas that make healthy eating feel like play.
🥗 Ingredients
The Shell (Sandwich Rolls)
- 8 slices Soft White or Whole Wheat Bread (crusts removed, very fresh)
- 4 ounces Cream Cheese (softened to room temperature)
- 8 thin slices Deli Turkey or Ham (circular slices work best)
- 4 thin slices Cheddar Cheese (halved)
- 1/2 Seedless Cucumber (peeled into long, thin ribbons)
The Snail Body & Garden Decor
- 4 pieces Celery Stalks (cut into 3-inch lengths)
- 8 thin strips Carrot Sticks (for the antennas)
- 16 pieces Candy Eyes or Blueberries (to create the faces)
- 8 pieces Cherry Tomatoes (halved, for garden decoration)
- 1 small bunch Fresh Parsley or Curly Kale (to act as 'grass')
The 'Glue' and Flavor
- 2 tablespoons Mayonnaise or Hummus (to secure the eyes)
- 1 teaspoon Yellow Mustard (optional, for internal flavor)
👨🍳 Instructions
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1
Lay the bread slices on a clean cutting board and use a sharp knife to remove all four crusts from each slice.
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2
Using a rolling pin, flatten each slice of bread until it is very thin and pliable; this prevents the bread from cracking when we roll the 'shell'.
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3
Spread a thin, even layer of softened cream cheese over the entire surface of each flattened bread slice, reaching all the way to the edges.
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4
Place a slice of deli meat and a half-slice of cheese on top of the cream cheese, followed by a thin ribbon of cucumber for extra crunch.
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5
Starting from one end, roll the bread up tightly into a cylinder. The cream cheese will act as the 'glue' to keep the spiral together.
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6
Wrap the rolls tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 10 minutes; this helps them hold their shape when sliced.
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7
While the rolls chill, prepare the snail bodies by washing the celery and cutting them into 3-inch segments. Pat them dry thoroughly.
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8
Fill the 'u' shape of the celery stalk with a little extra cream cheese or hummus to provide a base for the shell to sit on.
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9
Remove the bread rolls from the fridge and slice each one into 1-inch thick rounds. You should see a beautiful spiral pattern.
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10
Place one bread spiral upright into the cream-cheese-filled center of a celery stalk. The spiral is the 'shell' and the celery is the 'body'.
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11
At one end of the celery stalk (the head), poke two small holes with a toothpick and insert the thin carrot strips to serve as antennas.
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12
Using a tiny dot of mayonnaise or cream cheese, attach two candy eyes (or small blueberry pieces) just below the antennas.
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13
Arrange the finished snails on a platter lined with parsley or kale 'grass' and scatter cherry tomato 'flowers' around them for a complete garden scene.
💡 Chef's Tips
Use very fresh, soft bread; older bread is dry and will crumble when you try to roll it. For a colorful variety, use different fillings like strawberry jam and cream cheese for a 'sweet' snail version. If the snails are top-heavy, use a toothpick to pin the bread roll to the celery stalk (just warn the kids first!). To keep the vegetables crisp, assemble the snails no more than an hour before serving. Peeling the cucumber into ribbons with a vegetable peeler ensures the roll stays thin and easy to spiral.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Serve with a side of 'Log' snacks (celery with peanut butter and raisins) to keep the nature theme going. Pair with a glass of chilled apple juice or a fruit smoothie. Add a small bowl of ranch dressing on the side for dipping the celery 'bodies'. Present on a wooden cutting board to enhance the rustic, garden-like aesthetic.