Description
This creamy tuna pâté is a smooth, savory spread made with canned tuna, cream cheese, lemon, and herbs. It’s rich, tangy, and perfectly balanced with garlicky notes and fresh crunch from gherkins and chives—an elegant appetizer that’s ready in just 10 minutes.
Ingredients
2 cans (5 oz / 145 g each) tuna in brine or spring water, drained
3 oz (90 g) full-fat cream cheese
Zest from ½ large lemon
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (or more to taste)
1 tsp garlic paste (or 1 clove garlic, minced)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tbsp finely diced gherkin (dill pickle)
1 tbsp chives, finely chopped
Instructions
- Drain the tuna thoroughly and press out excess liquid with a fork to keep the pâté creamy, not watery.
- In a food processor, combine tuna, cream cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth but slightly textured.
- Transfer to a bowl and fold in diced gherkin and chopped chives.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- Before serving, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and garnish with extra chives or gherkin slices if desired.
Notes
Add 1 tsp Dijon mustard for extra tang.
Swap gherkins for capers for a brinier taste.
Use half Greek yogurt and half cream cheese for a lighter version.
Blend in dill or parsley for more herbal freshness.
Serve with crackers, baguette slices, or cucumber rounds.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
