This vegan tuna salad can be made into a vegan tuna melt or use in a tuna salad sandwich. It’s creamy, delicious comfort food without the fish, eggs, or cholesterol!
A tuna sandwich is one of those things that reminds me of my childhood, and for some reason I just feel like my vegan kids need to know what one tastes like as well.
Does this recipe use chickpeas?
No, this is not one of those chickpea tuna recipes. I have seen a lot of recipes floating around for chickpea “tuna” salad sandwiches. They are delicious. I make them as well, however, I craved the taste and texture of that classic tuna sandwich that I ate as a child. I fiddled around with ingredients and proportions until I came up with something pretty darn close to the taste and texture that I remember!
What do you use instead of chickpeas to make a vegan tuna melt?
I used TVP (textured vegetable protein) for the “tuna.” It is a dehydrated soy protein that absorbs the flavor of whatever you re-hydrate it in. (You can usually find TVP easily at any natural foods store or most major grocery stores in the Bob’s Red Mill section).
Grill it with a slice of vegan cheese and you have a hot, mouthwatering vegan tuna melt! Put a little vegan butter on the outside sides of the bread and grill it on medium heat until it is golden brown and the cheese is melted!
Put it on toast or a roll with some lettuce and tomato, and you have a delicious vegan tuna salad sandwich!
How do you make vegan tuna salad?
- Make a broth out kelp flakes and salt and re-hydrate the TVP in the broth in to give it that fishy taste.
- Allow the TVP to soak up all of the broth and cool down a little.
- Add vegan mayo to the TVP mixture and some finely chopped celery if desired.
- Give it all a good stir and use as you would tuna salad.
This vegan tuna salad is super easy to make and can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for 3-5 days, but you will probably eat it up before then.
You can use any store bought vegan mayo or you can make your own in about 3 minutes using my homemade vegan mayo recipe.
A vegan tuna salad made with TVP and kelp powder for an authentic tuna taste and texture.
- ½ cup boiling water
- 1 tsp kelp flakes
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup TVP crumbles
- ½ cup vegan mayo
- ¼ cup finely chopped celery optional
- 2 tbsp pickle relish optional
- vegan cheese like Tofutti or Daiya shreds or slices optional
- bread of choice
- 1 tsp vegan butter optional (for tuna melt)
- 1 Boil water and pour it into a bowl.
Add the kelp flakes and salt then stir well.
Add the TVP to the water and kelp mixture and stir.
Allow it to sit for about 15 minutes until it absorbs all of the water and cools off.
Add the mayo and mix well.
Add celery and/or pickle relish if desired.
Use as you would tuna salad.
Store unused tuna salad in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Put 2-3 tbsp of tuna salad mixture and vegan cheese of choice between 2 slices of bread.
Spread vegan butter on the outsides of the bread and grill in a skillet on medium low for a few minutes on each side until golden brown and cheese is melted.
- Make sure to allow the TVP mixture to cool before adding vegan mayo.
- To make a tuna salad sandwich, put sliced tomatoes and lettuce and 2-3 tbsp of tuna salad mixture between two slices of bread.
- Vegan tuna salad will keep in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Need a gluten free vegan tuna salad?
The vegan tuna salad itself it gluten free, so if you put it on gluten free bread, you have a gluten free meal!
Don’t forget to pin the vegan tuna salad recipe for later!
Want another great sandwich from your childhood?
Check out my Tofu “egg” Salad!
Creator Of Vegan Recipes, Writer, And Photographer For The Hidden Veggies
This is the closest tasting recipe to real tuna salad that I’ve tried!
This is soooooo good