Chickpea Tuna Salad

Chickpea “tuna” salad is a playful, vegan twist on a classic favorite that’s packed with extra protein and nutrients. This recipe captures the essence of a traditional tuna salad while remaining entirely plant-based and tastes homemade from a mix of parsley, dill and spices.

Tender chickpeas take center stage, offering a satisfying texture reminiscent of flaked tuna combined with crunchy vegetables and a creamy, tangy dressing. Then, it’s lightly mashed to create a spreadable salad perfect for sandwiches, wraps or a bed of greens for a healthy lunch any day of the week.

This dish is not only delicious but perfect for those following a vegan lifestyle or living with a dairy intolerance. The best part? It can be made ahead of time and stay fresh in the fridge for a few days so you can enjoy mock tuna salad whenever you want.

Ingredients for Chickpea Tuna Salad

• Chickpeas: Garbanzo beans, aka chickpeas, give this vegan tuna salad the same consistency as actual tuna salad once mashed and sneak in 14 to 15 grams of protein at the same time.
• Onion: Onions are classic tuna salad ingredients for crunch and texture. Any kind will work here, including white, yellow, shallots or green onions.
• Celery: You’ll need 1/2 cup of finely chopped celery for an herbaceous, peppery bite.
• Vegan mayo: Dairy-free vegan mayonnaise will be the binder for your salad. Make your own vegan mayo from scratch or grab a jar from the store.
• Relish: The secret sauce to this chickpea tuna salad is 2 tablespoons of dill pickle relish although you can go the store-bought route to save time.
• Fresh herbs: We like a mix of minced fresh parsley and snipped fresh dill for this recipe for a punchy peppery bite.
•  Dijon mustard: Along with vegan mayo, a tablespoon of Dijon mustard will keep your salad moist and deepen the flavor.
• Paprika: This spice adds a bit of heat.

Directions

Step 1: Mash the chickpeas

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Rinse and drain the chickpeas. Add the chickpeas to a large bowl and mash them to your desired consistency.

Step 2: Combine the rest of the ingredients

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Next, stir in the onion, celery, mayonnaise, dill pickle relish, parsley, fresh dill, mustard, salt, paprika and pepper, mixing gently until well combined.

Step 3: Refrigerate

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Cover the bowl, then refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.

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Chickpea Tuna Salad Variations

• Make it Mediterranean: Swap some or all of the vegan mayo for tahini. This creamy dressing is perfect with chickpeas and gives the salad a Middle Eastern flavor.
• Spice it up: Chickpeas rely on other spices and herbs to give them flavor since they are a blank canvas. In addition to a few dashes of paprika, you can enhance this salad with raw or roasted garlic, hot sauce or a seafood-friendly seasoning like Old Bay.
• Add more veggies: Celery, onion and pickles are classic tuna salad ingredients, but you don’t have to stop there. Chopped bell peppers, shredded carrots and minced olives would be great along with briny capers.

How to Store Chickpea Tuna Salad

You can leave the remaining chickpea tuna salad in the same bowl covered in the fridge or transfer leftovers to storage containers with lids for grab-and-go lunches and snacks. Since there’s no tuna in this salad, only dense chickpeas that absorb moisture well, it will hold up better and taste great the next day.

How long does chickpea tuna salad last?

Chickpea salad leftovers will last in the fridge for four to five days. If you find yours turning a bit watery, drain the salad before serving it. On the flip side, if it’s tasting a bit dry, try mixing in a little more vegan mayo and mustard to freshen things up.

Can you freeze chickpea tuna salad?

Yes, but we don’t recommend doing so. Between the vegan mayonnaise, briny ingredients and garbanzo beans, you’re running the risk of the texture being completely different once you thaw the salad.

Chickpea Tuna Salad Tips

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How do I make vegan tuna salad taste better?

Try pulsing the chickpeas with the other ingredients in a food processor for a mashed, slightly chunky texture that resembles real tuna salad.

Should I chill chickpea tuna salad?

We highly advise doing so. Just like other salads that are best served chilled rather than warm, the flavors in this vegan tuna salad will start to develop after 30 minutes or so. Let it hang out in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.

How should I serve chickpea tuna salad?

There are so many ways! Try mock tuna salad rolls up in tortillas, scoop out the insides of cucumbers or zucchinis to create boats (you may want to cook the zucchinis for this one) or make a “tuna” salad melt with vegan cheese and two slices of bread.