If you’re looking for a vegan replacement for tuna salad, look no further! This healthy, plant-based Mock Tuna Salad uses garbanzo beans and tahini.
Even better, this Ocean-Friendly Mock Tuna Salad skips the vegan mayo and uses white miso, grainy mustard, and sweet pickle relish for flavoring instead. There is some added salt and sugar from the spices, but I think it’s worth it to re-create an easy, delicious alternative to a real tuna salad.
I really miss eating tuna, but this recipe takes me back to my childhood when this was a lunchtime favorite. I didn’t even miss the mayo! I can’t tolerate most fish anymore due to a restricted diet, but I’m also concerned about mercury and other contaminants in most fish anymore, including tuna. Getting those omega-3s is important, though, so I do take a supplement to help keep my hormones balanced and fight off depression. I’d love to know if you have an algae-based omega-3 supplement that you love? I’m always looking for suggestions.
As a serving suggestion, you can either wrap this Vegan Mock Tuna Salad in a tortilla like I did yesterday for lunch, scoop it onto toast, or serve it plain or over crisp romaine. The celery and onion provide characteristic crunch, and the gently-smashed garbanzo beans give a nice texture.
Mock Tuna Salad
Prep Time: 10 minutes- Cook Time: 1 minutes
- Total Time: 11 minutes
Yield: 4 1x
Category: Main Dish
Method: No-bake, easy
Cuisine: Vegan, dairy-free, healthy
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
A fresh and easy salad that replaces a traditional tuna salad. This is a healthy vegan version.
Ingredients
- 2 cups garbanzo beans
- 4 celery stalks
- 2 tablespoons unsalted tahini
- 1 tablespoon pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon whole grain mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon white miso
- 1/4 cup red onion
Instructions
- Rinse and drain garbanzo beans and place into a medium-sized bowl.
- Chop celery and add to bowl.
- Add tahini, relish, mustard, miso, and onion to the bowl and stir to combine. Use the flat side of a fork to smash some of the beans.
- Serve over chopped romaine as a salad entrée, wrapped in a tortilla for a wrap, or on toasted bread for a sandwich.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did! This has quickly become a favorite in my household.
Here’s a pinnable image to save this Mock Tuna Salad recipe to you favorite healthy Pinterest board:
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Suzanne says
Looks fantastic Carrie! Is that wrap gluten free?
Carrie says
Hi Suzanne! I was cleaning out the fridge and used a wheat and corn tortilla from Trader Joe’s, but generally I like to use the brown rice tortillas from either TJ’s or Food for Life.
Patty says
Have fun, Carrie!! 🙂
Ceil says
Thank you for the recipe! I used to eat “Tuno” a vegan tuna substitute, but they quit making it. I love sandwiches in the summer, and this looks great. I really enjoy your blog and recipes; thank you for sharing!
Cynthia@OrnamentalStyle says
Thanks for the recipe. I will think of it as “chicken” salad since I don’t like tuna. Have a blast at the getaway, you lucky duck. I look forward to hearing about it. And congratulations on getting the first draft done! That’s huge!
Lairel Wirtanen-Siloy says
I like to think of it that way too! For some reason I think homemade chick peas, in this recipe, really make it taste like a chik’n salad.
Carrie says
I think you’re totally right, Lairel. You could probably add some dried fruit to make it taste more like a traditional chicken salad as well.
Diane says
The wrap looks great, as does the kale salad. I wasn’t able to find the kale salad in the recipe section. ??!! 🙂 (The pic is cute … I see kitty is packed and ready to go too!)
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
This “tuna” salad sounds absolutely awesome! I LOVE chickpeas :).
Kelly @ Vegan Iowan says
I love how simple and clean this recipe is! I’m vegan, and my husband is not, but we agree that tuna from a can is just too sketchy. I look forward to sharing this with him! It looks perfect for a work-day lunch.
Joanna says
Have a fun time in San Diego!!! The recipe sounds so good…I will be making it soon!
Angela says
Congrats on finishing the first draft of your Master’s project! That is a great accomplishment!! And, I really like the categories feature of the app and the redesign. Very nice! I hope YOU have a wonderful, relaxing week and a fun, safe trip 🙂
Ally says
Where can you buy white miso?! I went to fresh market and they didn’t have it :/ Do you have any suggestions. It would be in the spice section correct?
Carrie says
Hi Ally! The white miso I got was in the refrigerator section at the health food store.
Sandy says
Yum – i love the look of that ‘tuna’ salad!
Alex@Veggin' Out says
That tuna salad sounds fabulous! Anything that involves chickpeas immediately grabs my attention 🙂
Jackie says
The pickle relish addition sounds great, I’d love to know which brand you use. Have fun in San Diego – I wish I could go!
Carrie says
Thanks, Jackie! I used an organic relish I got at the health food store. Trader Joe’s also sells one. I would love to find a low-sugar version, or at some point try making my own. 🙂
kimmythevegan says
Oh my goodness Carrie – this sounds super delicious! I love that you skipped on the mayo, I used to love it when I first went vegan, but it’s not super healthy and I rarely eat it now.
I don’t have miso… I should get some. I also like that it’s nut free (much lower fat than other recipes out there).
Hope you have fun at the getaway!
Kelly B says
I made this for my family for dinner tonight and it was a real hit (except for my older daughter but I think it was the texture that she didn’t like) LOL. Anyway, I had my husband try a bite before dinner and asked him what it reminded him of. The only hint I have gave him was ” Think non-vegan” and he answered with “tuna or chicken salad.” Score! I couldn’t find whole grain mustard but mixed dejon and spicy. Came out great! Thank you!
Carrie says
Yay!!! Thanks for letting me know, Kelly. Somebody recommended breaking up a sheet of nori (seaweed) and adding that to the mix for an even more authentic tuna flavor.
Diane says
I just downloaded your app. FYI – I found it in the App Store , not ITunes .
One thing I’m missing from your recipes is calorie and nutrition break down . Do you ever include that?
The recipes are great!
Carrie says
Great, thanks Diane!!! At this point, I don’t have the man-power (woman-power) to do the nutritional analysis, but that might be a future development of the app. Thanks for the suggestion. BTW, would you consider writing a review of Vegan Delish in the App Store? I would really appreciate that. 🙂
Sue says
Hi Carrie,
I finally got a chance to make your mock tuna salad – it’s delicious. The tahini definitely gives it a distinct flavor. Thanks for another great recipe.
Sue
Carrie says
Great, Sue…so glad you liked it!!! 🙂
Mabel says
I love tuna salad! Thanks for this great recipe. 🙂
★★★★★