Vegan Tuna Salad with Chickpeas

Craving a plant-based twist on classic tuna mayo? Dive into our vegan tuna salad with chickpeas! It's not only scrumptious but also a breeze to whip up. Packed with protein and veggies, it's an excellent choice for a speedy, nutritious lunch, perfect for meal prep enthusiasts.

I grew up eating tuna salad on top of patacones (baked green plantain fritters) for dinner.

Comfort food holds a unique place in everyone's heart. It's the kind of meal that transports you back to your family kitchen, evoking memories of dishes lovingly prepared by parents or grandparents.

Our vegan tuna salad is crafted to mimic the familiar taste of traditional canned tuna, making it a perfect foundation for a variety of vegan summer recipes and meal prep options. Think of it as a versatile star, much like our popular grill-friendly vegan chickpea burgers.

Jump to:

• 💚 Why you will love it
• 🧾 Ingredients
• 🍽 Equipment
• 🔪 Instructions
• 💡 Expert tips
• 📖 Variations
• 🥢 How to serve
• ❓ FAQ
• 🥡 Storage
• 📚 More chickpea recipes
• 🥪 More plant-based sandwich recipes
• 🎥 Video
• 📋 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews and Comments

🧾 Ingredients

You will only need some pantry staples to make it.

• Chickpeas (cooked or canned): These protein-packed legumes are the star of the show, mimicking the texture of tuna while providing a neutral canvas for flavors to shine. Plus, they're rich in fiber and essential nutrients like iron and magnesium.
• Celery: Adds a satisfying crunch and earthy notes that contrast well with the creaminess of the dish. It's also packed with antioxidants and vitamin K, which is good for bone health.
• Shallot: This culinary gem provides a gentle, yet pungent aroma, delivering a sophisticated edge over regular onions. Bonus: shallots contain more antioxidants per serving than onions or garlic.
• Capers: These tiny buds bring a salty and briny zing to the salad, enhancing its overall depth of flavor. Plus, they contain a handful of beneficial phytonutrients. Learn more about the benefits of capers.
• Vegan Mayonnaise: Creamy and rich, it binds all the elements together and gives that comfort-food feel without the dairy. It's a flavor harmonizer and adds a luscious texture.
• Mustard: With its tangy kick, mustard elevates the dish and adds complexity to the flavor profile. It also contains antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.
• Fresh Lemon Juice: It brightens up the whole salad with a zesty tang and helps balance the richness of the vegan mayo. Lemon juice is also a great source of vitamin C and aids in digestion.
• Apple Cider Vinegar adds a subtle tartness and enhances the freshness of the salad. It also has various health benefits, including stabilizing blood sugar levels.

Kosher salt and pepper to taste.

Substitutions

Original Ingredient	Suggested Substitute
Chickpeas	White Beans
Vegan Mayonnaise	Cashew Cream
Dijon Mustard	Stone Ground Mustard or regular mustard
Lemon Juice	Lime Juice
Red Onion	Shallots or white onion
Celery	Fennel
Capers	Chopped Green Olives
Fresh Dill	Fresh Parsley

🍽 Equipment

You just need a large bowl and a potato masher (or fork).

🔪 Instructions

To make a chickpea tuna salad, we replace the canned tuna with chickpeas, keeping some of its texture, and then use the same ingredients in your regular tuna salad recipe.

Start by finely chopping the celery, shallot, and capers.

Step 5: Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

📖 Variations

Making this mock tuna salad is easy and can be fully customized to your liking.

• Spicy - add chili pepper flakes instead of black pepper if you want to make it super spicy. We like black pepper better because it simply elevates the flavor without making it spicy.
• More veggies - serve your vegan tuna salad as an appetizer, over radicchio, arugula, leafy greens, or romaine leaves; reduce the carbs content of your dish.
• Kid-friendly - place the chopped shallots or onion to soak in water with a drop of vinegar to lower its intensity for at least 15 minutes. Two hours for maximum results.
• Fishy - if you miss some of the sea flavors, add some finely chopped nori algae (seaweed).
• Creamier - we like using just about the right amount of vegan mayo, 2 tablespoons as the recipe is written; add a third for an even creamier result.
• Extra texture and flavor - add chopped sun-dried tomato.

For those who adore a warm, comforting dish, this vegan tuna pasta bake is a must-try. This variation takes the classic flavors of our vegan tuna salad and combines them with pasta, baked to perfection with a golden, crispy top. It's an ideal meal for cozy evenings or when you're in the mood for something heartier.

🥢 How to serve

• Appetizer - on top of lettuce, radicchio, red bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, or pita chips. Sprinkle some fresh parsley on top.
• Lunch - make a sandwich with rye bread or your favorite crusty bread like an Italian Artisan bread.
• Salad - make a tasty salad by combining the chickpea mixture in a large bowl with cooked elbow pasta and romaine lettuce. You can drizzle some extra virgin olive oil on top.

❓ FAQ

🥡 Storage

Store this vegan mock tuna in the fridge. Suitable for 2-3 days.

You can freeze your vegan tuna salad in an airtight container, but it doesn't stand up well to freezing for more than 3 months.

📚 More chickpea recipes

If you’re looking for a delicious, vegan way to add some extra protein to your day, give our chickpea tuna mayo recipe a try and enjoy its fresh flavor in endless combinations.

Not only is this dish packed with plant-based protein, but it’s also incredibly easy to make and absolutely delicious. In just minutes, you can have a hearty meal that will help you easily meet your daily protein goals. So what are you waiting for? Give this vegan chickpea tuna mayo a try today!

Other recipes, including healthy garbanzo beans powered with plant protein that you can find on this site are our easy hummus recipe, the roasted red peppers hummus, heart of palm ceviche, and the saffron garbanzo beans stew made in only one pot.

If you like simple dishes with chickpeas, try out this Traditional Spanish Chickpeas with spinach tapa or these spicy roasted chickpeas.

🥪 More plant-based sandwich recipes

• Vegan egg salad sandwich made with protein-rich tofu and cauliflower.
• Chickpea vegan burger is a delicious option for grilling season.
• Treat your family to a delicious street food classic, a fantastic wrapped homemade crispy falafels.

⭐ If you try this recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!

🎥 Video

📋 Recipe