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.
I’ve been making this forever! I love it so much I by pounds of chickpeas, cook them up, put 1/2 cups in baggies and freeze them. AND…I get nori flakes! I throw it all in the food processor! I think it takes me about 60 seconds! THE BEST!!! Thanks again Alison. Now I’m waiting for those fresh summer tomatoes to stuff with my “tuna”! YUM!
Thanks so much Bonnie! Glad you enjoy the recipe!
LOVE this recipe! thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much Linda!
I’ve never bothered to rate recipes before, but this was too good, I couldn’t just not say so!
every ingredient adds to the flavour and I can’t get enough. I’ve tried a few other vegan tuna recipes but the taste just wasn’t as good.
Sidenote: I increased the recipe and used 1 can of jackfruit and 2 cans of chickpeas. I think the jackfruit adds to the tuna-like texture. i also needed to sub white vinegar with ACV, and just added half because of the strong ACV taste. perfect!
this recipe is my new obsession. so far, i have made a pasta salad with it, and can’t wait to try more!
So glad you enjoy the recipe Tasha! Thank you so much for your amazing review!
i didn’t have some of the ingredients like capers or nutrional yeast but this was delicious!! i think I’ll make this often. not gunna lie… so surprised how good it tasted! absolutely love this! i don’t think I’ve ever left acomment on a recipe before!
That’s awesome Tania! Thank you so much for your review!
Can I give this 20 stars. It is the best ever. I’ll be making this at least once a week. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much Melissa!
Absolutely love this recipe!! Yes it doesn’t taste like real tuna but it is still super delicious and the best home made tuna alternative there is! I did wonder if it possible to freeze this for future use? I also subbed the soya sauce for vegan fish sauce to give it that slightly more fishy taste.
Thank you for your review Alice! And yes, you can freeze it!
I was making vegan tuna with a much simpler recipe before I found yours. Your recipe is fantastic.
I use “aonori” seaweed which is nori that is already finely chopped.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
I was so missing my tuna. This is so delicious hits the spot and I don’t miss tuna anymore! I had it on rye bread with tomato and spinach and a little bit of balsamic drizzle. This is going in my saved recipes.
Yummy! Thanks so much Ruth!
This recipe is wonderful and delicious! My picky vegan family approved. It was easy and quick to make.
Glad to hear you and your family enjoy the recipe!
This is outstanding. Thank you for sharing.
Awesome! Thanks for your review!
could you substitute the chickpeas for any other beans?
my body doesn’t seem to get on too well with chickpeas. butter beans moreso. I guess the only way is to try.
have you tried freezing it?
Hi Oliver! We haven’t tried this recipe with other beans, but you could try butter beans. And yes, you can freeze it.
Absolutely delicious! A find of a recipe.
Best vegan tuna.
Thanks Lisa!
Thank you Alison, another delicious recipe.
So happy you enjoyed it Barbara!
Love it! Make it regularly!