Rice Paper Tunacado

By Snejana Andreeva

on Aug 18, 2026

5 from 3 reviews
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a person showing the inside of a crispy Rice Paper Tunacado melt

Macros

305 Calories
18g Fat
13g Carbs
22g Protein
4g Fiber

Ever have a craving hit you 🚨 that only tuna, avocado, and something crispy can fix? Okay, maybe not, but I bet you do now 😏. And that’s exactly how this Rice Paper Tunacado happened 💥. The filling is creamy tuna and avocado with a little pesto for good measure, and instead of bread or lettuce, it gets wrapped 📦 in rice paper and sent straight to the air fryer. What comes out is shatter-crisp on the outside and soft and rich 🫠 on the inside.

5 from 3 reviews

Rice Paper Tunacado

a person showing the inside of a crispy Rice Paper Tunacado melt
Creamy tuna and avocado wrapped in rice paper and air fried until shatter-crisp. This is a 15-minute lunch with the most creamy filling and the crispiest outer shell.
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Makes: 2
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
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VideoEquipmentIngredientsInstructionsNotesNutrition

Video

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 can tuna, drained
  • ½ ripe avocado
  • 1 tablespoon pesto
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tablespoon yogurt
  • ¼ cup cheddar cheese, to taste
  • 2 sheets rice paper
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil

Instructions

  • Add the tuna (drained if needed), avocado, pesto, yogurt, and a pinch of salt to a bowl. Gently mix — don't overmix, or the filling turns to mush. Divide th mixture in two.
    A hand holds a fork over a colorful floral plate containing tuna, avocado, ricotta cheese, and pesto, with sunlight casting shadows across the scene.
  • Dip a sheet of rice paper in water for 2-3 seconds on both sides. Lay it flat on your work surface.
    Two hands hold a translucent circular sheet above a decorative plate with green floral patterns, with sunlight casting shadows across the surface.
  • Add a little grated cheese to the center, followed by the tuna-avocado mixture, then more cheese on top.
    A floral-patterned plate holds a small pile of shredded cheese and a scoop of tuna salad, lit by sunlight.
  • Fold into an envelope ✉️ packet, tucking in the sides first. Repeat this step for the second one.
    Two hands fold a rice paper sheet filled with shredded cheese and herbs on a decorative plate with a black floral pattern.
  • Brush lightly with olive oil on both sides.
    Two hands hold a rectangular block of rice and green vegetables wrapped in translucent paper, over a decorative white plate with a dark floral pattern.
  • Place in the air fryer and cook at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes, until deeply golden and crisp.
    Two hands place two rectangular pieces of food topped with shredded cheese, wrapped in plastic, into an air fryer basket.
  • Let it cool for a minute or two so the filling sets, then slice and enjoy while the rice paper is still crackly.
    a person showing the inside of a crispy Rice Paper Tunacado melt

Nonna’s Notes

  • Rice paper texture: Dip, don’t soak. This will make or break the recipe.
  • Tuna swap: Canned salmon works just as well if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Best eaten fresh: The crisp fades fast, so this isn’t really a make-ahead meal.
  • Air fryer times vary: Start checking around the 8-minute mark depending on your model.

My Notes

Add your personal notes here!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Rice Paper Tunacado
Serving Size
 
1 each
Amount per Serving
Calories
305
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
18
g
28
%
Saturated Fat
 
5
g
31
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
8
g
Cholesterol
 
48
mg
16
%
Sodium
 
451
mg
20
%
Potassium
 
430
mg
12
%
Carbohydrates
 
13
g
4
%
Fiber
 
4
g
17
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
22
g
44
%
Vitamin A
 
426
IU
9
%
Vitamin C
 
5
mg
6
%
Calcium
 
152
mg
15
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

A golden, spiral-shaped pastry topped with sesame seeds sits on a plate lined with newspaper-style paper, with a fork beside it. Sunlight highlights the flaky texture of the pastry.

Rice Paper Burek

20 mins 5.0
Colorful vegetable and cracker platter with green avocado dip

Tunacado Dip

5 mins 5.0
A hand holds a flaky pastry filled with creamy cheese and spinach. Another portion of the same pastry sits on a white plate, all on a wooden table background.

Rice Paper Spanakopita

20 mins 5.0

Why You’ll Love Rice Paper Tunacado

🥑 Creamy meets crunchy: The tuna-avocado filling stays soft while the rice paper shatters like a chip.
⏱️ Fast & no fuss: Takes hardly any ingredients or time.
🧀 Melty cheddar holds it together: It keeps every bite gooey.
🍽️ Scaleable: Solo lunch or scale it up for multiple people.

Ingredients

🐟 Tuna: I use Safe Catch tuna because it’s wild-caught and mercury-tested.
🥑 Avocado: Go for ripe but firm. Too soft and the filling turns liquidy and won’t hold its shape.
🌿 Pesto: Store-bought is completely fine here.
🥄 Yogurt: Plain, full-fat yogurt is the perfect sub for mayo and keeps things tangy instead of heavy.
🧀 Cheddar: Sharp cheddar for bite, but mozzarella or pepper jack both work if you want something meltier or spicier.
🍚 Rice Paper: Found in the Asian aisle of most grocery stores. Dip it quick and don’t soak it, or it’ll tear on you.
🫒 Olive Oil: A light brush before air frying is what gets you that golden, cracker-like crisp.

Nonna’s Tip 🥑🐟

Dip the rice paper in water for only 2-3 seconds, not longer. An oversoaked sheet turns sticky and nearly impossible to fold 🙃.

Variations and Substitutions for Rice Paper Tunacado

  1. Swap canned tuna for canned salmon 🐟 if you prefer.
  2. Add a small spoonful of sriracha or chili crisp 🌶️ to the filling for heat.
  3. Swap cheddar 🧀 for pepper jack for spice, or mozzarella for extra stretch.
  4. Make mini versions instead of one large one for an appetizer.

Best Served With

Rice Paper Recipes

Common Questions

Can I make the filling ahead of time?

Yes, the tuna mixture keeps in the fridge for up to a day. Just wrap and air fry when you’re ready to eat.

My rice paper keeps tearing. what am I doing wrong?

It’s almost always over-soaking. Dip it fast (2-3 seconds) and lay it flat right away.

Is there a dairy-free version?

Swap the yogurt for a dairy-free version and skip the cheese, or use a plant-based shredded cheese.

Can I use a different protein?

Canned salmon or even shredded rotisserie chicken can both work in place of tuna.

How do I store leftovers?

This one’s really best fresh. The rice paper loses its crunch quickly. If you do have leftovers, reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes to bring some crisp back.

5 from 3 votes

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3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Não fiz ,mais algo me chamou a atenção o 🥑 abacate hum deve ficar maravilhoso com certeza irei fazer.

    Reply

  2. 5 stars
    My daughter and I had these for lunch today and they were so good! Def going in the lunch rotation. Simple and delicious.

    Reply