Cheesy Tuna Lumpia – An Instant Crispy Cheesy Snack

Cheesy Tuna Lumpia is a quick modern twist inspired from the Classic Pork-Vegetable Filipino lumpia. These crisp golden bars are perfect for any occasion, from being a simple afternoon snack, to serving these as appetizer, or even as a quick lunch by frying these up then topping these over rice with sauce and veggies on the side to make it into a fill meal.

During this period, I want to add cheese in almost any dish or food item I have on hand. This is the reason why regular and quickmelt cheese is always on top of my grocery list. If some of you craves for chocolates, I crave for cheese! One of my top cheesy food items is the cheesy tuna lumpia. Aside from it being cheesy, this lumpia variant is very easy to make, especially as it only uses canned tuna as the main protein. This finger food can both be enjoyed as a snack or as an ulam. Yum!

Cheesy Tuna Lumpia Ingredients :

• Canned Tuna – our instant meat, quick, easy, and budget friendly.
• Carrot – adds color and subtle sweetness into the recipe.
• Lumpia Wrapper – creates very crisp outer layer that everyone loves.
• Eggs – binds the filling together and keeps it moist while being fried.
• Garlic and Onions – aromatics to make the recipe even more delicious.
• Breadcrumbs – helps make the filling easier to handle. Soaks up any other liquids and helps keep the filling moist even after frying.
• Salt and Black Pepper – to taste.
• Liquid Seasoning – gives the dish it’s very rich umami flavor.
• Kinchay – gives the filling a slightly herbal-peppery taste.
• Cheese – grated, gooey goodness.
• Oil – for deep frying.

Cheesy Tuna Lumpia Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cans (180 grams) tuna
• 1 small carrot (minced)
• lumpia wrapper
• 2 medium eggs
• 3 cloves of garlic (minced)
• 1 medium onion (minced)
• ¼ breadcrumbs (or crushed crackers)
• salt to taste
• black pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon liquid seasoning
• 1 bunch kinchay (chopped)
• ½ cup grated cheese
• oil (for deep frying)
• 1 teaspoon liquid seasoning (optional)

Directions:

1. Open the cans of tuna and separate the oil and the tuna flakes. Set aside.

2. Crush to crackers to make some breadcrumbs. Set aside. Crack the eggs in a bowl.

3. On a large bowl, combine the tuna flakes, onion, garlic, carrots, kinchay and breadcrumbs. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper. Add the eggs and mix until well combined.

4. Add a few drops of liquid seasoning if you want. Then, add the grated cheese and mix again. Combine a tablespoon of cornstarch with water to create a slurry. This will be used to seal the wrappers later.

5. Prepare the lumpia wrapper. Add one or two scoops of the lumpia filling and place it on one end of the wrapper. You may add a large strip of cheese if you like it super cheesy. Wrap and roll the wrapper and make sure to secure all sides. Seal the end of the wrappers using the slurry made earlier.  Do these steps with the rest of the ingredients.

6. Heat a lot of oil in a pot. Deep fry the lumpia until golden brown and crispy. Then, transfer them to a strainer or paper towel to drain excess oil. Transfer the cheesy tuna lumpia to a serving plate.

7. Serve and enjoy these with your favorite sweet chili sauce. Yum!

What is Cheese

Cheese is a dairy product that is made from milk, most commonly cow’s milk but also from the milk of other animals such as goats, sheep, and buffalo. The process of making cheese involves curdling or coagulating milk to separate the solids (curds) from the liquid (whey). These curds are then typically aged, salted, and sometimes flavored to develop a wide variety of cheese types, each with its own taste, texture, and aroma.

Cheese can vary greatly in taste and texture, ranging from soft and creamy to hard and crumbly. It is a versatile ingredient used in various culinary applications, including as a topping for pizzas and pasta, a filling for sandwiches and burgers, a component of cheese platters, and as a stand-alone snack. Popular cheese varieties include cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, brie, gouda, and many others, each offering a unique flavor profile and culinary versatility. These adds a unique texture and flavor to dishes. Whether it’s the creaminess of melted cheese over pizza or the sharpness of grated cheese on spaghetti, the variety of cheese types allows for different taste experiences.

A versatile ingredient that can be used in a wide range of dishes, from savory to sweet. Filipinos have creatively incorporated cheese into traditional Filipino recipes and street food, such as cheese-stuffed lumpia, cheese-topped spaghetti, and cheese-filled pandesal.

Other Yummy Canned Tuna Recipes!

Recipe Video :

Cheese is my only go to when I’m craving for some dairy. A lot of people asked me why I look for cheese instead of just drinking fresh milk. Well, this lady wants cheese! While it may seem funny, I buy the small Eden block of cheese and eat it as it is whenever I crave for dairy.

I enjoy my cheesy tuna lumpia as a snack but I also love having it with some hot steaming rice or alongside pancit canton or bihon. Yum!

Tuna Lumpia Recipe in Tagalog

Mga Sangkap:

• 2 lata (180 grams) ng tuna
• 1 maliit na carrot (hiniwa)
• lumpia wrapper
• 2 medium na itlog
• 3 butil ng bawang (hiniwa)
• 1 sibuyas (hiniwa)
• ¼ tasa ng breadcrumbs (o dinurog na crackers)
• asin
• paminta
• 1 kutsaritang liquid seasoning
• 1 bunch ng kinchay (hiniwa)
• ½ tasa ng grated cheese
• mantika (pang-prito)
• 1 kutsaritang liquid seasoning (optional)

Mga Hakbang:

1. Buksan ang mga lata ng tuna at ihiwalay ang oil at tuna flakes. Isantabi.
2. Durugin ang mga crackers para maging breadcrumbs. Isantabi. Buksan ang mga itlog sa isang bowl.
3. Sa isang malaking bowl, ilagay ang tuna flakes, sibuyas, bawang, carrots, kinchay, at breadcrumbs. Timplahan ng kaunting asin at paminta. Sunod na ilagay ang mga itlog at haluin ng mabuti.
4. Pwede mong lagyan ng ilang drops ng liquid seasoning. Huling ilagay ang grated keso at haluing mabuti. Paghaluin ang isang kutsarita ng cornstarch at tubig para makagawa ng slurry. Gagamitin ito mamaya para masarhan ang mga lumpia wrapper.
5. Ihanda ang lumpia wrapper. Maglagay ng isa o dalawang scoop ng lumpia filling sa isang side ng wrapper. Pwede mong lagyan ng isang strip ng cheese kung gusto mo itong sobrang cheesy. I-wrap at roll ang wrapper at siguruhing maayos ang pagkakasara sa lahat ng gilid. Isara ang dulo ng wrapper gamit ang slurry. Gawin ang mga steps na ito sa iba pang ingredients.
6. Magpainit ng maraming mantika sa kawali. I-prito ang lumpia hanggang maging crispy at golden brown. Pagkatapos, ilipat ang mga ito sa isang strainer o paper towel para tumulo ang sobrang mantika. Ilipat ang cheesy tuna lumpia sa isang serving plate.
7. Ihain at enjoyin kasama ang iyong paboritong sweet chili sauce. Yum!