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.
For more vegan seafood-y recipes try our vegan fish, vegan shrimp, vegan scallops and vegan crab cakes. You’ll also love our vegan chicken salad (also made with chickpeas).
How To Make Vegan Tuna
You will find full instructions and measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. This is a summary of the process to go along with the process photos.
- 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 Ingredient Notes:
- 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). An easy way to ‘chop’ it is with a scissors.
- 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 distilled 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
- Chickpea Meatballs
- Vegan Falafel
- Vegan Chicken Salad
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below!
Vegan Tuna
Ingredients
- 15 ounce Can Chickpeas Drained, or 1 and ½ cups cooked chickpeas
- ¼ cup Vegan Mayonnaise (60g)
- 1 Nori Sheet Finely Chopped
- ¼ cup Red Onion Finely Chopped (about half a small red onion)
- 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- 10 Capers Finely Chopped
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast
- 1 Tbsp Tamari or Soy Sauce
- ½ Tbsp Dijon Mustard
- ½ 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!
Video
Notes
- We used one 15-ounce (425g) can of chickpeas, drained. If you would prefer to use cooked chickpeas (not canned) then the amount to use is 1 and ½ cups.
- Nori – an easy way to ‘chop’ nori is with a scissors.
- 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.
Lee says
While this recipe does not taste just like tuna, it’s delicious and is definitely the closest thing I’ve had to tuna since going vegan! We used sweet relish instead of capers and made tuna melts using Chao cheese with lettuce and tomato. These sandwiches are addicting and I keep wanting another one!
Alison Andrews says
So glad you enjoyed it Lee! Thanks so much for sharing!
CompassionateChristina says
Can’t believe how easy and delicious this is! My non vegan bf and picky kids love it!
Alison Andrews says
Fantastic! So happy to hear that!
Lindsay Gillman says
This is delicious and a great addition to my vegan staples – in sandwiches or salads and great in a jacket potato! Thank you
Ida says
Yummo! This tastes so good. Definitely not exactly the same texture, but once you let it sit for a minute or so the flavour is awesome. Can’t wait to have this in a sandwich to go! 🙂
Alison Andrews says
So glad you enjoyed it Ida!
Elizabeth says
This recipe is absolutely delicious!
Alison Andrews says
Thanks Elizabeth!
Jadzia says
I am planning to make this. It sounds delicious. I was wondering if I can substitute the nori for seaweed, like the ones they sell in snack packs?
Alison Andrews says
Yes I think so, nori is dried seaweed so it should be fine. 🙂
Amy M. says
Love it! Made this yesterday and added more lemon juice and vinegar (I like mine really tangy), as well as some sweet relish. It was soooo good, definitely hit the spot for my tuna craving! Thank you for this recipe!
Alison Andrews says
Wonderful! Thanks so much Amy!
Madpie says
Best sandwich spread ever. Didn’t change a thing. It has become my favourite quick lunch recipe.
Alison Andrews says
Fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing!
Doris Awali says
Absolutely delicious. Tastes just like tuna if you add Nori. Loving It Vegan are my favourite recipes. Thank you for sharing them.
Alison Andrews says
So happy to hear that! Thanks Doris! 🙂
Yas says
Thank you so much for this recipe! I tried it today for the first time and it’s delicious.
I love your blog and I am already excited to try out more recipes! 🙂
Alison Andrews says
Awesome! Thanks for sharing Yas!
Isa Gaiya says
super easy, super fast and super delicious recipe.
Alison Andrews says
Thanks Isa!
VW says
Delicious! My husband, who tends not to care for vegan “knock-offs,” loved it. It’s a recipe that I will definitely make again. And it’s one to keep in mind when I’m preparing food for non-vegan friends and family. A real crowd-pleaser, I think. Yes, it really does taste very much like tuna!
Alison Andrews says
Awesome, thank you!
Rebekah says
Loved it. Added it to shell pasta and had my own, vegan tuna mornay.
Alison Andrews says
Awesome! 🙂
Vicky says
This is better than actual tuna! Thanks so much.
Alison Andrews says
Thanks so much Vicky! 🙂
Liam says
Used this as the filling in maki. Was hard to stop eating it on the way from the mixing bowl to the rice. Probably going to try it on a baked potato tomorrow. Unbelievable how satisfying it is.
Alison Andrews says
That sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing Liam!
Anouk says
THIS IS INCREDIBLE! I’m eating it as we speak! I’ve wanted to make chickpea tuna for ages but never got around to it. I didn’t have any nori and it still tastes amazing, I’ll definitely add it next time though. I’m going make a ‘tuna’ melt tomorrow with vegan cheese and the leftovers, I used to love them and this will definitely hit the spot!
Thanks so much for the recipe! 🙂
Alison Andrews says
Yay! So happy to hear that, thanks Anouk!