Tuna Lemon Cups
A standout entrée or light lunch, these Lemon Cups are simple to prepare and filled with flavour. In this version we’ve used a creamy tuna filling, spiked with lemon zest, capers, and mustard but you can experiment with different fillings like our vegetarian suggestions below.
How long will it take?
1 hour
What’s the serving size?
Serves 6
What do I need?
- 6 large lemons
- 185 g tuna in springwater, drained
- 100 g cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp capers, finely chopped
- 1 small stick celery, finely diced
- 1 tbsp finely diced red onion
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped plus extra for garnish
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
How do I make it?
- Cut the tops off the lemons, reserving for serving.
- Flatten the base of the lemons so that they will sit on the plate by cutting off a small piece of the base.
- Use a sharp knife or a spoon to carefully scoop the pulp from the lemon, taking care to leave the peel intact. Reserve 1 tbsp lemon juice, and set the shells aside.
- Make the filling by mixing tuna, cream cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, capers, celery, red onion, lemon zest, and reserved lemon juice. Stir until well combined and creamy, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Spoon the filling into the hollowed-out lemon shells, mounding slightly.
- Place the stuffed lemons in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to firm up and allow the flavours to develop.
- Serve garnished with parsley.
VEGETARAIN VERSION IDEAS
Here are a few delicious vegetarian alternatives that work beautifully in the lemon cups:
- Herbed Cream Cheese & Cucumber - Cream cheese mixed with finely diced cucumber, dill, lemon zest, and a touch of garlic. Light and refreshing, with plenty of crunch.
- Chickpea & Feta Mash - Mashed chickpeas combined with crumbled feta, olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, and a hint of cumin for a zesty filling.
- Ricotta, Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil - Creamy ricotta blended with chopped sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, and a drizzle of olive oil. A bold, Italian-style flavour profile.
- Avocado & Cream Cheese with Chives - A mix of ripe avocado, cream cheese, lemon juice, and chopped chives for a smooth, buttery filling that pairs beautifully with the lemon shell.
