Simple Vegan Tuna Salad

Vegan Tuna Salad… really?

I have to admit it, I was SUPER skeptical the first time I saw a picture of vegan tuna salad. Having grown up eating tuna fish sandwiches for lunch, I could not imagine that anything not containing fish could taste like the tuna I once ate before becoming a vegetarian. I thought my tuna-eating days were behind me.

Then one day, while scrolling through Instagram, I saw a picture of what appeared to be tuna salad but it wasn’t tuna at all!  In fact, it was chickpea tuna salad made entirely of vegan ingredients! OK sure, it LOOKED a LOT like tuna but could it really be a viable substitute for tuna?

The answer, thank goodness, was an emphatic YES!

vegan tuna

Mock Tuna You Won’t Want to Mock!

After experimenting with a few versions of chickpea tuna salad on my own, I created this simple recipe that I swear I could eat every day!

I’m not sure why it took me so long to try vegan tuna salad. Perhaps it was my skepticism and anticipation of being disappointed but when I finally got around to trying this, it was anything but disappointing. I enjoy serving this vegan tuna salad recipe on crackers, in a Buddha bowl, or as a sandwich.

If you ever have a craving for “real” tuna salad, definitely give this mock tuna recipe a try. Odds are it will satisfy that craving, and it’s good for you! Love this recipe? Check out our full collection of vegetarian and vegan recipes for more delicious ideas!

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Vegan Tuna

Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Salads
Cuisine: American, Vegan
Yield: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 12 oz can chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
  • 3 tbsp vegan mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 1/3 cup chopped onion
  • 1 pinch salt

Instructions

  • Rinse chickpeas in a strainer and place in a large bowl
  • Add vegan mayonnaise, chopped celery, and chopped onion
  • Mash the chickpeas to desired consistency (a potato masher works well for this step)
  • Chill for 30 minutes before serving

Notes

You can also use some black salt to add an eggy flavor to your tuna salad.
Rani Black Salt (Kala Namak Mineral) Powder
  • Gluten-free
  • Non-GMO
  • No harmful additives such as anti-caking or anti-dumping agents
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