Vegan tuna is perfect in sandwiches, wraps or with crackers and is ready in 10 minutes or less! Mashed chickpeas have a flaky texture that mimics tuna. It’s a plant based recipe that everyone will love.
Chopped nori sheets add a sea flavor to chickpea tuna that mimics real tuna. When chickpeas are mashed, they become delightfully flaky, becoming the perfect base for vegan tuna salad.
This mock tuna will be a hit with all types of eaters, and is sure to satisfy any tuna sandwich craving.
I love how it’s ready in about 10 minutes. Talk about a quick and easy weeknight meal! Serve with air fryer fries, chips, fruit or a simple salad.
Ingredients for vegan tuna (with substitutions)
- Chickpeas – No substitute here! I used canned, but you can use from-scratch chickpeas as well.
- Nori – Sheets of nori are added for a sea flavor, but leave them out if you don’t want that taste. I love it both ways!
- Pickle relish – I used dill pickle relish, but sweet pickle relish is good, too. Or simply chop a few pickles up very small.
- Celery – May omit if desired.
- Red onion – I like the flavor added with a little chopped red onion, but you can leave it out.
- Vegan mayo – Homemade vegan mayo or store bought, for that creamy taste.
- Soy sauce – May use tamari for gluten free.
- Black pepper
How to make it
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Drain and rinse your chickpeas and add them to a large bowl. Mash the chickpeas with a fork or a potato masher. You don’t want any whole beans left, or very few.
Chop the nori finely. You can also use a food processor or blender, but I found it easiest to simply chop it with a sharp knife. Add the nori and all other ingredients to the bowl.
Stir well. Taste, and add salt as needed.
That’s it! It really couldn’t be easier or faster to make.
My whole family loves this recipe! It’s great for packing in a lunch box, bringing to a picnic, or just as a quick and easy 10 minute meal on busy weeknights.
More chickpea recipes to love
Do you love chickpeas as much as I do? They are so delicious and versatile! Try any of these recipes:
- Chickpea Salad
- Chickpea Burger
- Biscuit Topped Chickpea Pot Pie
- Chickpea Tikka Masala
- 20 Minute Chickpea Curry
How to store leftovers
Store leftover chickpea tuna in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days. It makes a great meal prep recipe for lunches! I do not recommend freezing it.
Vegan tuna melt
To make a tuna melt, spread vegan butter on two slices of bread. Add some vegan tuna and a slice of vegan cheese, then pan fry until warm and melty. Enjoy!
Want more classic sandwiches made vegan?
Vegan Tuna Sandwich
Ingredients
- (2) 15-ounce cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1-2 sheets nori, finely chopped or blended optional, for a fishy flavor
- 4 tablespoons dill pickle relish
- 1/4 cup celery, chopped small
- 1/4 cup diced red onion optional
- 1/2 cup Vegan Mayo
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce, or tamari for gluten-free
- few shakes black pepper
- salt, to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mash the chickpeas with a potato masher (or fork) until they are mostly mashed.
- If using nori for a fishy flavor: Finely chop 1-2 sheets of nori, or use a blender/food processor to chop it up into very small pieces. I found it easiest to simply chop it up with a sharp knife on a cutting board.
- To the bowl with the chickpeas, add the nori, pickle relish, celery, onion, mayo, soy sauce and black pepper. Stir well to combine and add salt, to taste.
- Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes if you can, to let it get cold and let the flavors come together. You can also enjoy it right away.
- Serve on sandwiches, with crackers, on salads on make a tuna melt with some vegan cheese. Enjoy!
- Leftovers: Keep chickpea tuna in a covered container in the refrigerator for 4 days.
Notes
- If you don’t want any fishy flavor, just leave out the nori. I like it both ways!
- For gluten free, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Nutritional information is for the vegan tuna only, not including bread or whatever you serve it with.
- For vegan tuna melts, spread vegan butter on two slices of bread. Add some tuna and a slice of vegan cheese, then pan fry until warm.
Nutrition
*This recipe was originally published in May 2018, and has been republished with new photos and writing.
This is the absolute best chickpea “tuna” salad I have ever had! I did not have nori, but I had furikake seasoning which has nori in it, so I used that instead. Oh my goodness SO delicious! Thank you so much for this recipe
So good!! Just made! Will be a staple sandwich recipe!
Thank you Nora!
You are very welcome! Thank you for sharing your great feedback! This is one of my favorite sandwiches! I’m thrilled this is now one of yours!
Make this all the time. Also add shredded carrots.
I’m glad you are loving the recipe! Thanks for your idea of adding shredded carrots! I appreciate you sharing your feedback and review!
I LOVE this recipe. I find myself craving this delightful blend of flavors. Thank you Nora!
I’m so glad you love it! I agree this is a wonderful blend of flavors, and makes the best sandwich! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
This has become a staple in our house! Delicious, quick, and easy.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful review! I am so glad you are enjoying the vegan tuna!
i have made a bunch of chickpea salads, and this one is a hit. adding tamari was a new idea to me, but woo it adds that something extra! tasty! thank you!
Oh my goodness! This is so good!!!! My husband and I are literally sitting here trying to resist getting a second sandwich. Tuna fish sandwiches were comfort lunches for us growing up and this just filled that need! Thank you for this recipe!!!
You are so welcome! I truly love this sandwich! Thank you so much for sharing your review and comments!
This was INSANELY good! I haven’t made a vegan sandwich yet so I was a little wary in the beginning but I literally couldn’t stop eating this. I ended up using dill pickle relish instead of pickles chopped up. It makes a lot so I will half the ingredients next time since it’s only me eating it but I paired with whole grain bread, tomato, and lettuce – and an additional smear of vegan mayo & relish 🙂 The only question I had was re: mashing the chickpeas – when I rinse them, am I supposed to remove the outer skins? I didn’t this time and it tasted fine but wasn’t sure. Thanks for a fantastic, delicious recipe!
I’m really glad you loved it! I love this sandwich as well! It’s so refreshing! No need to remove the outer skins. Thank you for sharing your review and comments!
very good.
It literally taste like tuna. I am so confused and I don’t know what else to say but it taste just like tuna. I didn’t add anything extra and I didn’t add celery because I didn’t have it and it taste so good. I only used one can of chickpeas and it made a huge amount! I just spread some garlic aoli mustard on some homemade bread, added the “tuna” with some salt and pepper, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth! May I say, even better than tuna? Idk how you came up with this idea but good job!
Hi Jordyn. Right? It’s amazing, isn’t it? This is one of my favorite sandwiches! I’m so glad you loved the tuna sandwich. Thank you for taking your time to share your great review!
I didn’t have dill pickles so I added 1 tsp of dill weed and 1/4 cup diced onions. It was delicious.
Oh yum! Sounds delicious, Steven! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
Great recipe! My whole family enjoyed it! I threw the chick peas in the instant pot with fresh water for 5 mins to remove the canned taste. I added extra celery and some dried herbs. It was delicious. Looking forward to having it again.
Glad you loved the tuna sandwich. This is a favorite in my family! Thank you for sharing!
How do you do it, Nora? Every recipe I try from you is amazing and this is no exception!! I skeptically put the ingredients together and…it tastes like tuna salad. It’s delicious. Thank you so much for all of the time and effort you put into your recipes—it shows!
Thank you, Maddie, for you kind review. It means a lot! I love the vegan tuna as well! Thank you for using my recipes, and for taking your time to share your review!
Really good with tahini instead of mayo too! I add a bit of olive oil if the tahini is too pasty.
I honestly didn’t think that those ingredients would taste like tuna mayo once mixed together – BUT IT DOES 🙂 ?
I couldn’t stop smiling as I was eating it. It was so quick to make too. Thank you again for another delicious recipe :o)
You’re welcome!
that’s so delicious! it reminded me of a very famous savoury tuna pie we have in Brazil. thank you for sharing. Muriel
You’re welcome!
My husband is SO picky and hates like all homemade mock-meat vegan foods. He likes gardein and daiya stuff…He LIKED this recipe! I wouldnt say he loved it for for him to say he liked it and came back for more is shocking in this house! Thanks so much!
That’s so great!
Every since becoming vegetarian the one thing I have really Missed is my tunafish sandwiches. Now I could not even imagine eating a fish or anything with eyes on it for that matter and I’m sorry I waited so long. I don’t even like the taste of meat so I generally don’t make recipes that “taste like the real thing” but this sandwich is one of the best things ever and I’m so thankful I found the recipe. So delicious without the guilt
This recipe is so yummy! My whole family enjoys it 🙂 Question about nutrition facts. Are your nutrition facts for the whole recipe together? Thanks 🙂
I’m so glad to hear that! The nutrition facts are for 1 serving (6 total) of only the “tuna”, not including bread or anything else you might add. Hope that helps!
Another great recipe. Easy to make and tastes delicious.
Made this yesterday with your cashew mayo and just loved it. My favorite is having it on crackers.
Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome!
Best chickpea sandwich recipe I’ve found – actually tastes like tuna! Delicious, thank you 🙂
You’re welcome!
SO GOOD. Seriously I have another portion in the fridge for tomorrow and am trying not to eat it. I added juice from half a lemon & green onion because to me that’s a tuna sandwich. What a healthy alternative to eating mercury and to instead eat chickpeas the ultimate in vegan protein and filling. This will be my go to for packed lunches and salads. Thank you!
That’s so great to hear! Thanks for the comment!
This is so yummy! Added chopped red pepper to mine. Will def make this repeatedly!
I’ve as been a conscious vegan for awhile. Sometimes I’ll have fish,chicken and bite of my husband’s burger (which has been 2 yes)