Tuna pinwheels

These veg-packed tuna pinwheels are perfect for school lunchboxes!

They're made with canned tuna, canned chickpeas, cucumber, peppers, tomatoes and cream cheese, all rolled up in a tasty tortilla wrap and cut into bite size slices.

Using canned chickpeas and canned tuna saves loads of time and makes it super convenient to throw together a lunch that's quick, tasty, affordable and nutritious.

Here's how to make them!

Instructions

Put the cream cheese, tomatoes, red and yellow pepper, chickpeas, cucumber, spinach, tuna and a pinch of pepper in a mixing bowl.

Stir until well combined.

Spread the mixture onto the tortillas, almost to the edges.

Roll the tortillas up.

Cut into 2cm (4/5 inch) slices (the very ends on the tortillas tend to unfurl, so you can eat them as a chef’s treat!)

Serve in a lunchbox or on a plate with plenty of extra fruit and veg to nibble on.

If packing in a lunch box, be sure to pack in a well-fitted container so that the pinwheels don't get knocked around. The lunchbox pictured is a Yumbox.

You should place the lunchbox in an insulated bag with a freezer block to keep your pinwheels cool until you're ready to enjoy them.

Important note: Always give food at an appropriate size and shape for your baby or child. Cut small, round foods, like grapes and cherry tomatoes, into small pieces. Always keep babies supported upright while eating and supervise your baby when they're eating in case they start to choke. The NHS has some excellent advice on feeding babies. Always consult your health professional if you have any concerns.

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect tuna pinwheels

Are tuna pinwheels easy to make?

Tuna pinwheels are so easy to make! This veggie packed lunch can be made in about 10 minutes.

All you need to do is chop the tomato, cucumber, spinach and peppers, then mix them well with the cream cheese, tuna and drained chickpeas.

Next, you'll spread the filling evenly over a couple of tortillas and roll. Cut each roll into 2cm (4/5inch) slices or pinwheels and you're done, ready to serve them as part of a healthy meal, or pack them into a lunch box with some extra fruit and veg for the kids to nibble on at school or nursery.

Will I need any special equipment to make tuna pinwheels?

All you need to make these tuna pinwheels is scales to weigh your ingredients (although I tend to eyeball it!), a chopping board and knife, and a bowl and spoon to mix everything together.

If you're packing your pinwheels into a lunchbox, you'll also need a section or container that they can fit snuggly into so that they don't get rattled around on the way to school.

If you're packing them for lunch, you will also need a cool pack and insulated bag to make sure your pinwheels stay safely chilled until lunchtime.

How can I tell if my canned tuna has gone off?

In this recipe, you'll use tinned tuna. Tinned food often has a very long Use By date, which makes it great for stocking up but can mean tins are forgotten about at the back of the cupboard or pantry.

Always heed the Use By date on food - anything past that date should be discarded.

Next, check that the can hasn't been damaged. If all looks good, open your tin.

When you open the tin, the tuna will smell fishy, of course, but it shouldn't smell rotten or too pungent - this is a sign it's gone bad. The colour of tinned tuna can range from quite pink through to pinky grey. If in doubt, throw it out.

Once you've opened a tin of tuna, any leftovers need to be kept in a non-metallic, sealed container in the fridge and used within 2 days of opening. You should also check the label for any specific instructions.

How can I tell if cream cheese has gone off?

Cream cheese can go off very quickly if not stored correctly.

First, make sure the cheese has been stored correctly and placed in the coolest part of the fridge as soon as it arrived home from the supermarket.

Next, check the Use By date and never eat food past this date, even if it looks and smells fine.

When cream cheese goes bad, it will typically start to go mouldy and might smell bad. It might also look hardened, yellow or release excess liquid. If in doubt, throw it out.

If there are any signs of mould on your cream cheese, you should discard the whole tub. Cream cheese is a soft cheese so, unlike hard cheese, any mould spores can easily permeate throughout the cheese.

Are tuna pinwheels suitable for vegetarians?

No, these tuna pinwheels contain fish so would not be suitable for vegetarians.

You can easily make this recipe vegetarian by replacing the tuna with something else. How about two boiled eggs, mashed up with a fork? Or you could use some grated vegetarian cheddar.

Are tuna pinwheels suitable for vegans?

No, these tuna pinwheels are made with tuna fish and dairy cream cheese so would not be suitable for vegans.

If you want to make these pinwheels vegan, you could use extra veg like a grated carrot, or courgette instead of the tuna, and use a vegan plant-based alternative to cream cheese, or hummus instead of the dairy cream cheese.

You could even experiment with using tinned jackfruit in place of tuna, along with some dill and lemon juice for a fishy flavour, but I haven't tested this yet.

Are tuna pinwheels gluten-free?

For these tuna pinwheels, I've used wheat-based tortilla wraps, so these are not gluten-free.

If you want to make this recipe gluten-free, simply use gluten-free wraps instead.

Make sure to check the labels on all other ingredients to be certain they are safe for a gluten free diet, and if you plan to use alternative fillings you will of course need to check the labels on these too.

Are tuna pinwheels keto-friendly?

Since this recipe contains chickpeas and flour tortillas, the levels of carbohydrate are probably too high for these pinwheels to be considered keto-friendly.

To make this more keto-friendly you could leave out the chickpeas and swap the tortillas for a keto wrap. These are often made with almond flour, so wouldn't be suitable to take into some workplaces and schools.

Are tuna pinwheels healthy?

Tuna pinwheels are jam-packed with a variety of different veggies and with tuna and cream cheese, they add up to a healthy, nutritious lunch with a good amount of protein and carbohydrates to give the kids energy for the afternoon's activities.

Are tuna pinwheels safe to eat while pregnant?

Make sure the cream cheese is made from pasteurised milk.

At the time of writing, the NHS recommends that pregnant people should not eat more than 4 medium-sized cans of tuna a week (about 140g a can when drained), so factor this in if you're planning to eat these pinwheels.

As long as all the ingredients are in good condition, and the pinwheels are made safely and hygienically they shouldn't pose a risk to pregnant people.

Important note: A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. If you have any concerns please speak to a health professional. The NHS has some great resources and information on foods to avoid whilst pregnant.

Are tuna pinwheels suitable for babies and toddlers?

Once little ones are over 6 months old, and eating solid foods happily then these pinwheels make a great lunch with lots of different textures and flavours for them to try.

Always give food at an appropriate size and shape for your baby or child. Cut small, round foods, like grapes and cherry tomatoes, into small pieces. Always keep babies supported upright while eating and supervise your baby when they're eating in case they start to choke. The NHS has some excellent advice on feeding babies. Always consult your health professional if you have any concerns.

What goes well with tuna pinwheels?

Tuna pinwheels go really well with grapes and carrot sticks. And why not make a few cucumber sticks whilst you're preparing the pinwheels too?

Slices of apple are lovely too. You can stop apple slices going brown by brushing them with lemon, orange, or even apple juice.

Remember that all food, including accompaniments, must be cut to an appropriate size for your child.

Can I make this recipe with different vegetables?

Yes! This recipe is so flexible, you can just use whatever you have in the fridge, or cupboard as long as it's not too crunchy.

Cube softer salads and grate harder veg - anything that's safe to eat without cooking goes!

Try to keep the amounts the same as in the original recipe so as not to overload the tortillas.

Tinned sweetcorn is delicious, grated carrot or courgette work well, or how about chopped up sugar snap peas and broccoli?

Can I add extra tuna to this recipe?

I think the balance of tuna in this recipe is enough. Any more may overpower the vegetables, and as one of the more expensive ingredients its easier on the purse to just use one tin.

That said, if you do want to add more tuna then you can. Just remember you will probably need to switch it for some of the veggies, or use an extra tortilla, otherwise the pinwheels will be overloaded and more likely to fall apart.

How should I store tuna pinwheels?

Tuna pinwheels should be stored in the fridge where possible. Pop them into a suitable container, or keep them well covered on a plate.

If you're making these for a packed lunch pop them into a suitable size lunchbox or container that the pinwheels can fit snuggly into so they don't unravel. Next, put the container into an insulated bag with a cool pack to keep it cool until lunchtime.

How long do tuna pinwheels recipe keep?

Tuna pinwheels are best enjoyed on the day of making. They will keep for a day in the fridge if chilled immediately. However, the wraps will start to go soggy so these are best enjoyed as fresh as possible.

Can I leave tuna pinwheels out on the counter?

No, tuna pinwheels contain fish, cream cheese and fresh vegetables so it's essential that you keep them in the fridge, or in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack to help keep them cool until lunch.

Can I make tuna pinwheels ahead?

Tuna pinwheels are best enjoyed on the day of making. You can whip these up in the morning, or the night before if your morning routine is tight for time.

When making the night before, pack into lunch boxes and keep in the fridge. If you can, put in the insulated lunch bag in the fridge too, leaving it open so that when you come to add the cool pack and zip it up, it will help keep the pinwheels cooler for longer.

Can I freeze tuna pinwheels?

Tuna pinwheels have too many fresh veggies with high water content so you should not try to freeze them.

If you have left over, unused tortilla wraps these can be frozen. They freeze well and defrost in no time - just don't try to separate them while frozen as they tend to stick together and break.

Can I make these tuna pinwheels in a different quantity?

You can easily make more or fewer tuna pinwheels depending on how many lunches you need to make.

Head down to the recipe card below and you'll see the servings is set to 14 pinwheels measuring about 2cm (4/5inch) of an inch each, which is how many you get out of two large tortilla wraps, plus the extra little end bits. This yield might be slightly different depending on the size of your wraps.

To change the quantity of pinwheels, simply click on the number of servings, and adjust the pop up slider up or down to get the number you want to make. All the ingredients will update automatically.

Can I make tuna pinwheels in full size wraps?

Yes, if you are making these for your lunch too, or serving to older children, you might prefer to keep your tortilla whole rather than cut into slices.

My preferred way to fold them is to fold in an inch or so on both sides and then roll the tortilla up so that the filling is sealed inside.

If you'd prefer to just roll them as per the recipe but not cut them, you can use a small piece of tin foil to wrap the cut ends and half way up the wrap, if you like. This will help hold everything together and make it easier for the kids to eat.

Why did my tuna pinwheels fall apart?

If rolled correctly, these pinwheel should hold together surprisingly well, but they can be quite delicate if not wrapped tightly.

When you're spreading the mixture out, try to get it evenly distributed over the whole tortilla, leaving only 1-2cm (1/2inch) around the edge.

Roll the wraps as tightly as you can, I find its easiest to roll them away from me. Start at the edge closest to you, folding it up and away from you and then rolling all the way to the top of the board.

When you come to cut the pinwheels, cut them with the open end of the wrap on the underside, touching the board, and use the sharpest knife you have

Find a lunchbox that will hold the pinwheels closely together so they don't roll around in the box, this will help keep them together on the journey to school, nursery or work. Why not fill any extra space in the box with celery sticks and strawberries?

Remember to cut any foods to the appropriate size for your children.

Can I add flavours to this dish?

These tuna pinwheels are pretty flexible and can be easily changed for different tastes, and to work with whatever sandwich-friendly fillings you have in the fridge.

Play around and see what combinations you can come up with. You could get the kids to pick their favourite veggies to add in too.

Here's a few ideas to get you going:

• Cream cheese with apple, spinach, cucumber, yellow pepper, celery, chickpeas and grated carrot.
• Hummus with grated courgette, tomato, spinach, kidney beans, tinned sweetcorn, red pepper and grated cheese.
• Cream cheese with tuna, tinned sweetcorn and peas, celery, broccoli, radishes, and cooked green lentils.

Remember, you need a soft element like cream cheese or hummus or even butternut squash mash to bind everything together.

Crunchier veg such as carrots work better grated rather than chopped up, and you can use other tinned fish or grated cheese.

Don't forget tinned elements can be great to use too. You could try different canned beans or pulses as well as canned sweetcorn or peas.

What is the origin of tortilla pinwheels?

Tortillas hail from Southern America, while pinwheels are a popular dish in North America, created to use up leftovers such as of chicken, tuna, veg, and pickles. This basic principle has evolved over time with endless iterations. What different combinations will you create?

Who came up with the tuna sandwich?

The tuna sandwich tells the story of an evolution in American lunches.

Beginning life somewhere in the early 1900s, traditionally the canned fish of choice was sardines and tuna wasn't very popular at all. That is until a terrible sardine season meant supply was short.

Tuna was marketed as an alternative to the mild meat of chicken and was used in a similar way, which in America is often combined with mayonnaise, pickles, and celery to make chicken salad.

In the interests of creating a more portable lunch, the tuna salad eventually found itself between two slices of bread and this simple meal quickly grew in popularity, where it remains today.

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