These tuna cucumber bites use mashed chickpeas and yogurt for a filling that sits on cucumber rounds. The chickpeas add some fiber and help thicken the mixture without mayo.
Tips for tuna cucumber bites
Drain the tuna well before using it. Use a wide cucumber for a sturdier base, and assemble just before serving so the filling does not soften the rounds.
High Protein Tuna Cucumber Bites
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 fork
- 1 strainer
- 1 knife and cutting board
Ingredients
- 2 (5 oz) cans canned chunk light tuna in water Drain well; use cans yielding about 4 oz fish each.
- 2/3 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- 5/8 cup canned chickpeas Drained and rinsed; 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp.
- 1 large cucumber with peel About 14 oz; cut into 20 sturdy rounds.
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Drain both cans of tuna well. Drain and rinse the chickpeas, then measure 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp.
- Mash the chickpeas thoroughly with a fork in a mixing bowl. Stir in the yogurt, lemon juice and black pepper. Fold in the tuna, breaking up large pieces, until the mixture holds together. The chickpeas should be well mashed rather than left as loose whole beans.
- Cut the washed cucumber into 20 sturdy rounds, roughly 1/2 inch thick. Pat dry. Serve any end pieces alongside the bites.
- Divide all filling evenly among the 20 rounds. Serve five bites per person with any cucumber end pieces. If you get a different number of rounds, divide the cucumber and filling into four equal portions.
- Serve right away, or keep the filling and cucumber chilled separately until eating. There are no crackers, cheese or extra toppings in the estimate.
Notes
Storage and meal prep
Keep tuna filling covered at 40°F or below and use within 3 days as a conservative development plan, or sooner if another ingredient requires it. Store cut cucumber separately and use within 1–2 days for texture. Assemble close to eating. Refrigerate within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F; use ice packs for packed snacks. Serve cold. Do not freeze assembled bites.
Ingredient notes and swaps
The estimate uses a named drained chunk-light tuna label. Albacore, tuna in oil or another brand needs a matching calculation. Different yogurt can change thickness and protein. Cooked-from-dry chickpeas need a matching reference rather than inheriting the canned estimate. Keep other tuna recipes as alternatives in a meal plan, rather than assuming tuna should be eaten daily.
About the nutrition
Nutrition is estimated from the listed amounts and documented reference foods. Brands, portions and ingredient swaps can change the numbers. This development recipe has not been kitchen tested.
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