This Chickpea Tuna Salad is going to blow your mind! Trust me when I say it's one of the best sandwiches I've had in such a long time! It's inspired by the viral Tunacado - Joe and the juice sandwich...but better!
It makes the perfect healthy lunch and is so easy to make! It's also great for meal prep as you can make a batch of the chickpea tuna salad and you have an easy lunch for days! You can eat it in a sandwich, wrap, lettuce cups and it's even great with crackers for a snack.
The traditional Tunacado uses Basil Pesto, but here I've made this with Sun Dried Tomato Pesto which is unreal as a sandwich spread! The flavors work so well!
Using chickpeas in replacement of tuna is a great alternative to make a vegetarian or vegan tuna salad! It's high in protein and fiber to keep you full. It doesn't taste like actual tuna, but it does have a similar look and texture. If you prefer actual tuna, I also have a Healthy Tuna Salad recipe I've shared before.
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Ingredients and Substitutions
- Chickpeas are the star and the base of the chickpea salad of course! They’re also known as Garbanzo beans. They're a great vegan tuna salad alternative as they are high in protein and fiber
- Green onions add a nice crunch and have a light taste. You can also use red onion or a clove or garlic as a substitute which will have a stronger taste
- Fresh parsley gives a lovely freshness. Chives or cilantro would be great too. I recommend using fresh herbs
- Lemon juice brings a nice tang and light acidity. I always prefer a fresh squeeze
- Mayonnaise, I’ve used kewpie mayonnaise but you can also use vegan mayo to keep this as a vegan chickpea tuna salad. If you want to keep it mayo free, you can also use Greek yogurt.
- Sriracha sauce is added for a little spicy kick. You can substitute it with your favorite hot sauce or even red pepper flakes.
Sandwich filling (Tunacado remake)
- Thin slices of bread - I’ve used wholegrain bread. You can sue rye bread or even sourdough
- Sun dried tomato pesto is used as the spread rather than the classic basil pesto which is in the traditional Joe and the Juice Tunacado. I like to make my own Sun dried tomato pesto which is super easy to make
- Tomato slices, here I’ve used an ox’s heart tomato but any tomatoes will work
- Avocado of course! Ensure to use a ripe avocado which brings a natural creaminess to the sandwich
How to make Chickpea Tuna Salad (Tunacado)
Here are my easy steps to make this delicious and addictive chickpea tuna in no time.
- Start by draining the chickpeas and on a chopping board, use a potato masher or the back of a fork to mash them. You would want a tuna-like consistency, so make sure to not leave any whole chickpeas. Chop parsley and slice some green onions and add all to a bowl
- Add remaining ingredients to the bowl (mayonnaise, sriracha, sprinkle of salt and lemon juice)
- Stir together until well combined, it should resemble tuna (as pictured)
- Add in a sandwich (like I have, as a tunacado) or eat with crackers or lettuce cups
More Healthy Sandwiches
- Greek wrap
- Vegan Sandwich
- Grinder Salad (Viral Tiktok Recipe)
- Homemade Crunchwrap
- Healthy Tuna Salad
- Wrap Ideas (8 fillings)
I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to rate the recipe, comment and share your Chickpea Tuna Salad photo on Instagram so I can share the love
Recipe
Chickpea Tuna Salad (Tunacado)
Ingredients
Chickpea Tuna
- 1 can chickpeas drained
- 2 green onions sliced thinly
- ½ lemon
- 2-3 tablespoon mayonnaise (I’ve used kewpie mayonnaise but you can also use vegan mayonnaise)
- 2 teaspoon sriracha (or more or less, depending how spicy you like it)
- Handful chopped fresh parsley
- Sea salt
Sandwich (Tunacado)
- 2 slices thin bread (I’ve used wholegrain bread)
- 1 tablespoon sun dried tomato pesto
- 2 slices tomato
- ½ small avocado sliced
Instructions
Chickpea Tuna
- Place the drained chickpeas on a chopping board and using a potato masher or fork, mash the chickpeas. You can leave a little texture but don't leave any whole chickpeas. Then add to a large bowl
- Add the sliced green onions, chopped parsley, mayonnaise, sriracha, sprinkle of salt and lemon juice. Stir together until well combined and the mixture is similar to “tuna” salad consistencyEnjoy with crackers, lettuce cups or as a sandwich (like below)
Sandwich (Tunacado)
- To make the tunacado sandwich, toast bread in a toaster or a fry pan with a drizzle of olive oil. To assemble, spread on the sun dried tomato pesto on one side, add the chickpea tuna salad, sliced tomatoes and avocado slices. Add a sprinkle of salt, add the top slice of bread and enjoy!
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