Mango Avocado Tuna Lettuce Cups

Tuna salad is one of those dishes that every home cook has a version of, and most of us grew up with the mayo-and-celery kind. This one takes a different turn. Lime juice and zest wake up the mayonnaise, the mango brings a soft sweetness, and the avocado makes the whole bowl feel rich without any cooking at all. It is the sort of thing you can put together in the time it takes the kettle to boil.

A little food fact worth knowing: avocado is one of the few fruits that is high in monounsaturated fat, and it has a buttery texture because of that. It also starts to brown once you cut it, which is why I fold it in gently at the end and keep the cubes fairly big. Mango is the opposite in some ways. It is naturally sweet and juicy, so a half of a medium fruit goes a long way. If your mango is very ripe and soft, dice it last so it does not turn the bowl to mush.

A few small tips from my own kitchen. Drain the tuna well, pressing the flakes gently in a sieve, because extra liquid will thin the dressing and make the lettuce cups soggy. Bibb lettuce is lovely here because the leaves are cupped and sturdy enough to hold a spoonful, but any crisp leaf will do. Chill the leaves in cold water for ten minutes beforehand if they have gone a bit floppy. Keep the pistachios for the very end so they stay crunchy rather than softening into the salad. If you are after a similar cup-style snack with a bit of heat, try Chilli Chicken Mince Lettuce Cups for another easy option.

For leftovers, the tuna mixture keeps in a sealed container in the fridge for a day, though the avocado will darken a little. Give it a squeeze of extra lime before you pack it. I would not keep the lettuce cups assembled for later, but the filling makes a fine lunch on its own, spooned over a handful of greens or into a wrap.

To serve these as a light meal, I like a bowl of plain brown rice or a few slices of crusty bread on the side, so the cups feel a bit more filling. If you want more of a fresh, sunny spread, try Smoky Chipotle Mango and Black Bean Salad next to them, or a grilled fish like Grilled Barramundi with Mango Avocado Salsa for a dinner with the same bright flavours.