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    Home » Recipes » Vegan Salad Recipes

    Vegan Tuna Salad

    By: Amy Katz · Published: Aug 25, 2022 · Last modified: Aug 25, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe - Print - Pin
    Special diet: gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free option, vegan
    Two halves of a sandwich stacked on a plate with text overlay Vegan Tuna Salad.

    If you miss the tuna fish sandwiches you grew up with, this Vegan Tuna Salad made with chickpeas is for you. It's easy to prepare in 10 minutes!

    Stacked vegan tuna salad sandwich halves on a plate.

    Growing up I ate a lot of tuna salad. Whether it was on slices of toasted bread or in a big salad, I never got tired of it.

    So when I stopped eating fish, it was one of the things I really missed.

    Thankfully, I soon learned that chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans, are a great substitute. Similar to the way hearts of palm mimics fresh fish in vegan ceviche, the mild flavor and texture of mashed chickpeas resembles flaky canned tuna in this fish-free salad recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing
    • FAQ
    • More salads with chickpeas
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • It's full of flavor yet only requires 6 ingredients.
    • You can make in 10 minutes to enjoy right away or as part of your meal prep routine.
    • It's easy to customize to make it your own.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for this recipe with text labels on a cutting board: Can of chickpeas, bottle of yellow mustard, jar of pickle relish, jar of capers, bunch of celery, jar of vegan mayo, and salt and pepper grinders.

    Capers: To give the salad a seafood-like taste without being overly "fishy".

    For the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    Instructions

    Step 1: Mashing the chickpeas in a food processor and in a mixing bowl with a potato masher.

    Step 1: Roughly mash the chickpeas so they look flaky like tuna. It's okay if some of the beans remain whole. You can either use a food processor with the pulse button, or mash them by hand. A potato masher or the back of a fork work well.

    Steps 2 and 3: Adding the rest of the ingredients to the bowl and mixing everything together.

    Step 2: Add all of the ingredients to a medium mixing bowl.

    Step 3: Mix well to combine. Taste and adjust the seasonings, if needed. Enjoy right away, or cover and refrigerate for later.

    Variations

    I've kept this Vegan Tuna Salad recipe simple so that you can enjoy it as written or customize it to suit your tastes. The flavors are how I remember tuna salad tasting, but feel free to add ingredients your family used in the traditional version, such as any of the following:

    • Add vegetables such as diced red onions, shredded carrots, or diced bell peppers.
    • Use Dijon mustard in place of yellow.
    • Add more briny flavor with chopped green or black olives.
    • Give it a brightness with a squeeze of fresh lemon.
    • Prefer a fishier taste? Add some dulse flakes or crushed nori seaweed sheets.
    • Season it with garlic powder, onion powder, Old Bay seasoning, or nutritional yeast.
    • Add fresh or dried herbs such as parsley or dill.

    Serving suggestions

    Chickpea tuna salad served on a plate of lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
    A scoop of chickpea "tuna" salad over romaine lettuce leaves, cherry tomatoes, and sliced cucumbers drizzled with Vegan Cashew Ranch Dressing.

    Enjoy Vegan Tuna Salad for lunch or dinner in a sandwich, on a bed of greens and vegetables, or simply as is with your favorite sides. It's also nice as a snack with crackers or rice cakes and some fresh fruit.

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      Air Fryer Hand Cut Fries with Seasoned Salt

    Storing

    Leftover salad will last covered and refrigerated for up to 4 days. For best results, do not freeze.

    FAQ

    Are chickpeas and garbanzo beans the same thing?

    Yes, they are one in the same. The word chickpea is derived from Latin, while the word garbanzo is derived from Spanish.

    Can dried chickpeas be used instead of canned?

    If you want to use dried beans, cook them in advance before making this recipe. You will need ½ cup of dried chickpeas which will be approximately 1½ cups when cooked.

    What is vegan mayo made of?

    Traditional mayonnaise is made with eggs, oil, and some type of acid, usually vinegar or lemon juice. Vegan mayo leaves out the eggs, making it free from animal products and cholesterol free. It may contain modified food starch or aquafaba (chickpea cooking liquid) as a thickener instead.

    More salads with chickpeas

    • Bowl of Chickpea Cucumber Salad next to tomatoes, red onion, and fresh parsley.
      Chickpea Cucumber Salad
    • Chickpea Spinach Salad (15 Minute Recipe)
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    • Serving bowl of eggplant salad with serving utensils and gray napkin.
      Mediterranean Grilled Eggplant Salad

    And for even more recipes, join the Vegan Mediterranean Diet Recipes Facebook group for support, inspiration, and fun.

    If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars! ★★★★★

    📋 Recipe

    Two sandwich halves stacked on a plate with a pickle next to them.

    Vegan Tuna Salad

    If you miss the tuna fish sandwiches you grew up with, this Vegan Tuna Salad made with chickpeas is for you. It's easy to prepare in 10 minutes!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate Email recipe + ingredient list
    Special diet: gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free option, vegan
    Course: Salad, Sandwich
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 3
    Calories: 195kcal
    Author: Amy Katz

    Equipment

    • Food Processor
    • potato masher

    Ingredients

    • 15 ounces chickpeas, (garbanzo beans) rinsed and drained (1½ cups)
    • 2 Tablespoons vegan mayo
    • 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
    • 1 Tablespoon sweet pickle relish
    • 1 Tablespoon capers, roughly chopped
    • ½ cup celery, diced small
    • salt and pepper, to taste
    US Customary - Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • In a medium mixing bowl, mash the chickpeas with a potato masher or the back of a fork until they are mostly broken up. Or use a food processor with the pulse function, then transfer the mashed chickpeas to a medium mixing bowl. It's fine if some of the beans are still whole.
    • Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl and mix until well combined.
    • Serve immediately or refrigerate for later.

    Notes

    Leftover salad will last covered and refrigerated for up to 4 days. For best results, do not freeze.
    Enjoy in a sandwich, on a bed of greens and vegetables, or simply as is.
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    Nutrition

    Calories: 195kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 594mg | Potassium: 253mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 163IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutritional information is an estimation only.

    This post was originally published Jul 18, 2017 and focused on the vegan grocery bargains I found at a local discount chain. The recipe, photos, and content have been improved for better user experience.

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    About Amy

    Amy Katz is a vegan recipe developer, photographer, and Certified Vegan Nutrition Health Coach. She loves sharing delicious plant-based Mediterranean diet recipes that home cooks of all levels can enjoy. Her easy vegan recipes have been featured on HuffPost, LIVESTRONG, Healthline, Parade, VegNews, BuzzFeed, MSN, Greatist, Country Living, Insider, Brit+Co, Well+Good, and more. She lives in Orange County, California with the love of her life, Brad, and their adorable black cat, Ozzy.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    All commentsI made thisQuestions
    1. JoAnn M Lakes

      December 02, 2020 at 8:37 am

      5 stars
      Nice recipe, simple and to the point.

      Reply
      • Amy Katz

        December 02, 2020 at 4:38 pm

        I'm glad you enjoyed it, JoAnn!

        Reply
    2. Robert

      February 03, 2020 at 3:29 am

      5 stars
      This is a fantastic recipe--have tried similar, but none used capers--what a great touch. Seems like it's more flavorful about 3 or 4 hours after preparing--flavors all seem to have fused at that point!

      Reply
      • Amy Katz

        February 03, 2020 at 9:27 am

        Thank you, Robert! I'm so happy you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    3. Tracy

      January 10, 2019 at 8:45 am

      5 stars
      This is one of the best lower fat "tuna" recipes. I did add more capers to to pump up the saltiness, (3oz jar). I also used my Cuisinart to mash everything. Amazing.

      Reply
      • Amy

        January 10, 2019 at 12:09 pm

        Thank you, Tracy! I love capers, too. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Angie

      September 07, 2018 at 1:34 pm

      This is really good. I made it for myself and my daughter and we both love it

      Reply
      • Amy

        September 07, 2018 at 1:40 pm

        Thanks so much, Angie!

        Reply
    5. Gwen

      July 18, 2017 at 9:14 am

      Lunch is always a struggle for me and I'm always looking for new school lunch ideas for my kids to keep them excited about their lunches. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Amy

        July 18, 2017 at 10:44 am

        Thanks, Gwen! I hope the kids enjoy it.

        Reply
        • Gwen

          July 27, 2017 at 1:56 pm

          5 stars
          Amy, just wanted to circle back and let you know that I made this recipe and it's SO GOOD! I've been having it for lunches this week. Definitely a keeper, thank you 🙂

          Reply
          • Amy

            July 27, 2017 at 3:01 pm

            Thank you so much, Gwen! You made my day!

            Reply

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    Hi, I'm Amy! As a Certified Vegan Nutrition Health Coach, my passion is creating vegan Mediterranean diet recipes to inspire everyone to choose plant-based meals more often. At Veggies Save The Day you'll find simple delicious recipes that are easy to make any night of the week.

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