This vegan tuna is simply amazing. It’s so easy to make and tastes remarkably close to actual tuna, no really it does. It’s wonderful on sandwiches for a vegan tuna salad sandwich!
So what is this craziness? Vegan tuna? What’s next? Hahaa, I don’t know, I’m just getting started with the vegan meat substitutes.
And let’s just say this vegan tuna is not only completely delicious it also tastes like real tuna. The taste is spot on. But the texture? Well, the texture isn’t very tuna-like at all. But the taste is so good, you won’t mind.
The base of this recipe is mashed chickpeas and I think you can already guess that mashed chickpeas will not equal the texture of real tuna in any universe.
However, when you add all kinds of deliciousness to your mashed chickpeas, like vegan mayo (of course), finely chopped nori, lemon juice, chopped capers, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, dijon mustard, tamari and white vinegar, well it tastes a LOT like tuna salad.
And spread thickly on an open sandwich this makes a really tasty and filling meal.
How To Make Vegan Tuna
- It’s super easy and fast! Drain a can of chickpeas and add them to a container or mixing bowl.
- Mash the chickpeas with a fork and then add in vegan mayonnaise, finely chopped nori, finely chopped red onion, lemon juice, finely chopped capers, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, tamari, dijon mustard, white vinegar and salt and pepper.
- Mix in and you’re ready to serve!
Vegan Tuna Ingredients:
- Canned Chickpeas: These form the base of our recipe and create the texture so we can then add all our flavorings.
- Nori Sheets: A chopped up sheet of nori adds some ‘fishy’ flavor (in a good way).
- Vegan Mayonnaise: What is a vegan tuna salad without mayonnaise? Use any vegan mayo that you like. Some good brands are Hellmans and Just Mayo. Or you can even make your own vegan mayo!
- Red Onion: Chopped red onion provides crunchy texture and plenty of flavor. A regular white or brown onion will also work fine, but I love the flavor of a red onion for this recipe.
- Lemon Juice: Provides the tang!
- Capers: Chopped capers also provide some wonderful ‘fishy’ flavor (again, in a good way!).
- Garlic Powder: Adds depth of flavor.
- Nutritional Yeast Flakes: This has so many uses, it can create cheesy flavor or it can create eggy flavor or, in this case, it can add to the fishy flavor. No really, it’s amazing stuff! Nutritional yeast flakes might as well be called magic flakes when it comes to vegan recipes.
- Tamari: We used tamari for this recipe but you could also use soy sauce if that is what you have on hand.
- Dijon Mustard: Like nutritional yeast, this can be quite a magic ingredient creating amazing flavor in vegan recipes.
- White Vinegar: This must be white vinegar, it can’t be subbed for apple cider vinegar (okay, it can, in a pinch). White vinegar adds the perfect tang to this and strikes just the right note.
- Salt and Pepper: Because, of course. Enough said.
How To Serve Vegan Tuna
This is really delicious served on slices of bread with lettuce and sliced tomato and a generous amount of vegan tuna on top! It’s also divine served on crackers.
Vegan Tuna Salad
If you want to add more ingredients to make it more of a ‘salad’ then chopped up celery and cucumber is the way forward!
Storing and Freezing
Leftovers keep very well in a covered container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Just give it a good stir again before serving in case any slight separation has occurred (it’s okay if this happens).
You can also freeze some if you like. Just freeze in a freezer safe container and when you want to use it again, thaw it in the fridge.
More Delicious Chickpea Recipes!
- Vegan Chickpea Burgers
- Vegan Chickpea Salad
- Vegan Chickpea Curry
- Vegan Omelette (made with Chickpea Flour)
- Vegan Meatloaf
- Vegan Meatballs
Vegan Tuna
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 4
Description
This vegan tuna is simply amazing. It’s so easy to make and tastes remarkably close to actual tuna, no really it does. It’s wonderful on sandwiches for a vegan tuna salad sandwich!
Ingredients
- 1 15oz (425g) Can Chickpeas (Drained)
- 1/4 cup (60g) Vegan Mayonnaise
- 1 Nori Sheet (Finely Chopped)
- 1/4 cup Red Onion (Finely Chopped)*
- 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- 10 Capers (Finely Chopped)
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast
- 1 Tbsp Tamari*
- 1/2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1/2 tsp White Vinegar
- Sprinkle Sea Salt
- Sprinkle Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Add the chickpeas to a mixing bowl and mash them with a fork.
- Add in vegan mayonnaise, finely chopped nori, finely chopped red onion, lemon juice, finely chopped capers, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, tamari, dijon mustard, white vinegar and salt and pepper.
- Taste test and add more salt and pepper if needed.
- Mix in and you’re ready to serve!
Notes
*This is roughly half a small red onion.
*You can switch tamari for soy sauce if you prefer.
*Leftovers keep very well in the fridge for 2-3 days.
*This is divine served on open faced sandwiches with lettuce and sliced tomato and makes enough to top 4 slices of bread.
- Category: Savory, Side, Gluten-Free
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the Recipe
- Calories: 181
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 677mg
- Fat: 10.3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7g
- Carbohydrates: 16.6g
- Fiber: 4.8g
- Protein: 5.8g
Keywords: vegan tuna, vegan tuna salad
I have been vegan 25 years and this is the BEST vegan tuna I’ve ever had! I didn’t have capers, and I used extra onion and mustard. It looked strange coming together in the food processor, but I was thrilled with the result. I might add some celery next time. My kids have always been vegan, and I told them now they know exactly what tuna tastes like. 😉
★★★★★
That’s so awesome Christie! Thanks so much for the wonderful comment!
I’ve made this so many times now and it’s such a good recipe. Both of my non-vegan housemates really like this tuna alternative.
★★★★★
Thanks Zoe!
Just wanna say i’ve made this 4 or 5 times already!! But sometimes without lemon, most of the time without nori sheet and I don’t put capers bc idk what that is n we most prolly dont have it in our country and also i tried putting in pineapple tidbits(without the juice it comes with bc we used to put pineapple tidbits on the non vegan ver.) and it always turns out rlly good every single time!! I luv this recipe!! Hope someone tries the one with pineapple tidbits bc its really good. It balances the taste of sweet n kinda salty. This is my fave recipe!! I always do lots of ur recipes 💓💓
★★★★★
Awesome! Thanks so much Jennie!
Hi! Is there any chance I can substitute the chickpeas with cannelloni beans?? Or any other kind of bean?
This recipe looks so delicious!
I think cannelloni beans would work!
Best vegan tuna recipe I have ever tasted. It’s on regular menu rotation.
★★★★★
Awesome! Thanks so much Theresa!
I absolutely love this recipe!! It will definitely be a staple in our house!
★★★★★
Wonderful! Thanks so much Meghan!
This recipe is truly delicious! I took one bite and was amazed!
★★★★★
Thanks so much Yolanda!
Only started my plantbased journey just over a week ago.
I’ve just made this and I love it!!
Can’t wait to have this worh a sweet potato jacket later
★★★★
Great! I think it will be a delish topping for a sweet potato!
This is definitely my go-to recipe for vegan tuna. All the right ingredients and you can easily customise by adding sweetcorn for example or adapting the herbs and spices. Highly recommended recipe – super yummy and quick to put together. Thank you x
★★★★★
Awesome! Thanks a million Jess!
This recipe is out new go to for tuna. It’s, hands down, the best tuna recipe we have come across so far!
Yay! Thanks Erin!
I tried a chickpea salad recipe about a month ago that was so unappetizing I threw it away. However, this recipe here is Delicious! Thank you!
★★★★★
So glad you enjoyed it Marcia!
Just wanted to say, I’m so glad I found your blog. Been vegan for about a month now, and have already made a bunch of your recipes, but this is the best so far. Superb.
Thanks so much Joe!
So I just made this like 5 minutes ago. I always hate when people leave reviews of their *adapted* versions BUT I needed to make lunch in a pinch, didnt have chickpeas, so I grabbed a 20oz can of jackfruit and followed the remaining ingredients to a T (ok, with the addition of celery seed but only because that’s how I prefer tuna salad). I was in a hurry so I pulsed it all together in a food processor and D*MN I couldn’t be happier this is so close to tuna (including texture with the jackfruit!!) I could cry. Granted it’s been a few years but it’s satisfying my craving for a tuna sandwich. Thank you so much for saving the day.
Oh that’s great to hear that it works so well with jackfruit! Thanks for sharing Courtney!
I was MORE than surprised 😯 when I made this recipe. I couldn’t find nori at the market and was concerned it wasn’t going to taste good (I am a MAJOR tuna lover) but when I say it has the same flavor as tuna, I am telling the honest truth. My vegan transition is forever changed by this recipe.
★★★★★
That is awesome! Thanks so much for sharing Lisa!