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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Vegan Tuna

    Published: Dec 15, 2022 · by Puja Verma

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Vegan tuna is a simple plant-based recipe made from chickpeas, homemade mayo, and fresh vegetables. Once mixed, this salad is creamy, tangy, and satisfying! Serve it on a sandwich or wrap, use it as a dip for crackers, or eat it over a bed of greens.

    Vegan tuna salad on a wooden serving spoon.

    Why you’ll love this recipe 

    • Versatile: With so many different ways to use vegan tuna, you'll have no shortage of options to choose from.
    • Healthy: Both plant-based and gluten-free, it’s a healthy alternative to traditional tuna. As a bonus, you don’t have to worry about mercury exposure!
    • Quick & easy: This recipe can be whipped together in less than 15 minutes, making it great for a weeknight dinner, simple lunch, or easy meal prep idea.
    • Minimal ingredients: Less than 10 ingredients are required for this recipe, most of which you probably already have in your kitchen!

    What is vegan tuna?

    For those of you who enjoy the flavors and textures of tuna salad but want to cut down on fish consumption, vegan tuna is such an easy plant-based substitute! The most popular (and flavor-rich) recipes are made with chickpeas, which emulate the flaky texture of tuna.

    In this recipe, I’ve done exactly that! Canned chickpeas, vegan Kewpie mayo, celery, onions, garlic, pickled beets, and nori furikake are combined, creating a tuna rendition that may make you switch to vegan tuna salad for good!

    I will note that this recipe is not for vegan tuna steaks like you’d expect for sushi or poke bowls. But, it’s extremely delicious nonetheless! Serve it on its own, over garden salads, tucked inside a sandwich, and more.

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    Vegan tuna ingredients laid out in separate dishes.
    • Chickpeas: Use canned chickpeas for convenience and a closer replication of canned tuna. Alternatively, cook your own chickpeas from dry for a creamier texture and flavor.
    • Vegan Kewpie mayo: To bring the salad ingredients together! For a rich, creamy, and subtly sweet flavor, use vegan Kewpie mayo. If you don’t feel like making your own, use store-bought vegan mayo.
    • Celery: Provides a savory crunch that balances the creaminess of the chickpeas and mayo. You can also add or replace the celery with carrots or corn kernels for bursts of sweetness.
    • Onions: I love to add a mixture of green and red onions. Feel free to use one or the other, or use white, yellow, or spring onions instead.
    • Pickled beets: I highly recommend adding pickled beets to your vegan tuna salad for sweet and tangy flavors. But, regular pickles, pickled carrots, pickled radishes, or capers and relish are all delicious as well! 
    • Nori furikake: Imparts a fishy flavor that emulates canned tuna. It’s not 100% necessary, so you can omit the nori furikake if you don’t have any on hand. or substitute it for seaweed sheets.
    • Garlic powder: For extra savory, hearty, and toasty flavors that perfectly round out the salad. You can also use fresh garlic cloves if you don’t mind a more pungent taste. 
    • Salt & pepper: Salt enhances the flavors of the salad, and black pepper adds a mild kick! If you want, try lemon pepper in place of regular pepper for a brighter element.

    Instructions

    Smashed chickpeas in a mixing bowl.
    Diced red onions, beets, celery, seasoning and mayo in a mixing bowl.
    • Step 1: Wash and drain the chickpeas thoroughly, then place them in a mixing bowl. Roughly mash the chickpeas with a potato masher or fork. You can also pulse them in a food processor if you have one.
    • Add the diced celery, onions, pickled beets, chopped green onions, seasonings, and vegan Kewpie mayo to the mashed chickpeas.
    Vegan tuna salad in a serving bowl with a wooden serving spoon in it.
    • Step 2: Mix everything until well combined, taste the salad, and adjust the seasonings to suit your preferences.

    How to serve vegan tuna

    With how quick-to-make and versatile vegan tuna is, you’ll likely never run out of ways to serve it! These are my favorites:

    • Salad: Serve it over top of a bed of spinach, a garden salad, or a kale salad.
    • Sandwich: Make a classic vegan tuna salad sandwich or open-faced toast. Alternatively, try a tuna melt paired with tomato soup for an indulgent and comforting meal.
    • Wraps: Fill your favorite type of flour tortilla with vegan tuna, stuff it inside a pita, make lettuce boats, or wrap it in collard for a lower-carb option.
    • Crackers & chips: Serve your vegan tuna as a dip with tortilla chips, crackers, pita chips, rice cakes, or rye crisps.
    • Vegetables: For a light option, pair it with veggie sticks like celery, carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, or radishes.
    Close up of a stalked vegan tuna sandwich.

    Storage

    Vegan tuna makes great leftovers that will get you through a busy week with little-to-no effort. Keep these storage times in mind:

    • Fridge: Transfer the salad to an airtight container and store it for up to 2-3 days. 
    • Freezer: Vegan tuna salad freezes well for up to 3 months. Transfer it to freezer-safe bags or containers before adding it to the freezer.
    • Thaw: When you’re ready for your next meal, thaw the salad in the fridge overnight and it will be ready by morning.

    Variations

    • Herbs & spices: In place of, or in addition to, the garlic powder, add onion powder, chives, parsley, dill, cilantro, cayenne pepper, nutritional yeast, or lemon zest.  
    • Curried: Completely change the flavor profile of this vegan tuna salad by adding curry powder, raisins, cayenne pepper, parsley, lime juice, and Dijon mustard.
    • Other legumes: Instead of chickpeas, try using other legumes like Lima beans, Fava beans, Cannellini beans, or Navy beans.
    • Seeds: To replicate heart-healthy omegas normally found in tuna, add a tablespoon or two of hemp or chia seeds.
    • TVP: Try using texture vegetable protein in place of chickpeas for a higher protein, legume-free version.
    • Mayo-free: Instead of mayo, use tahini, olive oil, or hummus for a change in texture, flavor, and nutritional value. If your hummus is thick, squeeze in some lemon juice or a touch of vinegar, and mix it until you reach your desired sauce consistency.
    Vegan tuna in a lettuce cup over a wooden surface.

    Top tips

    • Vegetable size: Cut all of the vegetables to a similar size for an even distribution of flavors and the perfect texture in each bite.
    • Mash the chickpeas beforehand: Don’t add vegetables to the chickpeas before mashing them! This makes the mashing process much easier.
    • Drain and rinse chickpeas: Remember to drain and rinse the chickpeas thoroughly, especially if they are canned. This removes the sudsy brine they come in, making them easier to digest.

    FAQ

    What is vegan tuna made from?

    Vegan tuna is often made from a combination of chickpeas, vegetables, seaweed, and mayonnaise. However, there are other recipes that incorporate different legumes, shredded jackfruit, or even textured vegetable protein (TVP).

    Is plant-based tuna healthy?

    Yes, plant-based tuna is a healthy alternative to store-bought tuna. It’s full of fiber and protein, and it’s free of mercury.

    Similar Recipes

    If you enjoyed this vegan tuna salad recipe, be sure to check out some more of my favorite salads like these:

    • Kani salad: A vegan twist on the popular Japanese dish that features hearts of palm in place of crab meat.
    • Harvest salad: A simple salad filled with butternut squash, apples, arugula, and pecans.
    • Watermelon feta salad: Refreshing watermelon cubes topped with vegan feta.
    • Pickled beet salad: Clementine oranges, spinach, and vegan cheese mixed together. 
    Tuna salad on a large wooden spoon.

    Vegan Tuna

    5 from 3 votes
    Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
    Total Time: 10 minutes mins
    Serving Size: 4 people
    Author Puja Verma
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    DESCRIPTION

    Easy peasy vegan tuna salad made with mashed chickpeas and creamy homemade mayo. Serve it as a side salad, dip with crackers, layered in a sandwich or wrap. A simple and satisfying recipe that everyone will love.

    INGREDIENTS
      

    • 15 ounces chickpeas 1 can
    • ½ cup vegan kewpie mayo or preferred vegan mayo
    • ¼ cup celery finely diced
    • ¼ cup green onions finely chopped
    • ¼ cup red onion finely diced
    • 2 tablespoon pickled beets finely diced
    • 1 tablespoon nori furikake optional
    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt or per taste
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

    METHOD
     

    • Finely dice the onions, celery, pickled beets.
      Note: Feel free to substitute pickled beets with any other preferred pickle or relish.
    • Wash and drain chickpeas and place them in a mixing bowl. Roughly mash with a potato masher or fork.
    • Add all the rest of the ingredients to the mashed chickpeas. Mix to incorporate. Taste and adjust seasoning or add more mayo, if desired.

    NOTES

    • Vegetable size: Cut all of the vegetables to a similar size for an even distribution of flavors and the perfect texture in each bite.
    • Mash the chickpeas beforehand: Don’t add vegetables to the chickpeas before mashing them! This makes the mashing process much easier.
    • Drain and rinse chickpeas: Remember to drain and rinse the chickpeas thoroughly, especially if they are canned. This removes the sudsy brine they come in, making them easier to digest.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 1473kcal | Carbohydrates: 137g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 83g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 1335mg | Potassium: 1504mg | Fiber: 35g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 237IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 240mg | Iron: 13mg
    Course: Appetizer, Condiments, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: vegan tuna, vegan tuna salad
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Puja from Green Heart Love

    I’m Puja! I love creating, developing & exploring vegan recipes made entirely from whole food & plant based ingredients.

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