Kentucky Benedictine Spread

Cooling crisp cucumber is always the answer.

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 0 mins

Total: 20 mins

Servings: 8 to 12

Yield: 2 cups

Benedictine is the name of a French liqueur, but if you travel to Kentucky the word takes on a very different meaning: a savory and creamy cucumber-based spread. Easy, quick, and simple, this spread is made from cream cheese and mayonnaise with a little sharpness from grated onion and plenty of cooling crisp cucumber.

A Brief History of Benedictine Spread

Jennie Carter Benedict, a caterer, restaurateur, and cookbook author from Louisville, Kentucky, is credited with the invention of Kentucky Benedictine spread around the turn of the 20th Century. While benedictine is not common across the US, it is very much alive and well within Kentucky, where it is offered at many restaurants and can even be purchased at grocery stores.

How To Prepare Benedictine Spread

Benedictine is remarkably easy to prepare—all the ingredients are simply mixed together in a bowl. The only trick to making it is to squeeze as much liquid as possible from the grated cucumber. Otherwise, your spread will be too loose. Oh, and go easy on the food coloring (if you’re using it at all). One teeny drop is all you need to give the spread an appetizing light green hue.

Serving Benedictine

While Benedictine was originally created as a sandwich filling, it can also serve as a dip for vegetables like baby carrots and celery sticks. Or serve it with crackers for spreading or pita chips for dipping.

What’s the Difference Between English Cucumbers and Regular Cucumbers?

While both are in the family of slicing cucumbers, English cucumbers are not to be confused with garden cucumbers, also called American cucumbers. American cucumbers are stubbier with thicker (sometimes bitter) skin and larger seeds, while the English cucumbers are longer, leaner, and sweeter with fewer (and smaller) seeds. English cucumbers also have a thinner skin, which is more palatable than their regular counterparts.

Recipe Tips

For a very smooth dip—You can blend Benedictine in a food processor or blender, if you like a smoother texture.
Make it green—Even though it contains a whole cucumber, Benedictine is naturally mostly white. Adding just a small drop of green food coloring can make the spread more appealing, especially if serving it as a sandwich spread on white bread.

Ingredients

1 large English cucumber, peeled and grated on largest holes of box grater (2 cups)
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon grated sweet onion
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Green food coloring, optional
Finely chopped fresh chives

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.
Place 1 large English cucumber, peeled and grated in a clean kitchen towel. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible over the kitchen sink.
Place the squeezed cucumber in a medium bowl and stir in 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened, 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon grated sweet onion, 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, 1/4 teaspoon fine salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper until thoroughly combined. If desired, stir in green food coloring, one tiny drop at a time, until the desired color is achieved.
Garnish with finely chopped fresh chives. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve or up to 2 days.

How To Store

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Some liquid may separate out as the Benedictine sits. Just pour it off or stir it back in.

Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

Modify the flavor—For a nontraditional (but very tasty) flavor variation, add 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill.
Try a different onion—Stir in finely chopped chives or green onions instead of the grated sweet onion.
Give it more body—If the Benedictine turns out a bit runny (this can happen if your cucumber is especially large), stir in more cream cheese or even sour cream or Greek yogurt.

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 12
Amount per serving
Calories	93
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g	12%
Saturated Fat 4g	21%
Cholesterol 21mg	7%
Sodium 126mg	5%
Total Carbohydrate 2g	1%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 1mg	4%
Calcium 22mg	2%
Iron 0mg	0%
Potassium 55mg	1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.