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    Home » Recipes » Sandwiches

    Chickpea Tuna Salad (Tunacado)

    BY Ayeh Manfre · UPDATED: Apr 23, 25 · PUBLISHED: Mar 16, 23 · 13 Comments

    JUMP TO RECIPE

    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!

    Sandwich stack of chickpea tuna salad

    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 or pita chips 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 and the viral Matthew McConaughey Tuna Salad which are must trys!

    This recipe is such a fun twist on the viral sandwich by making it a vegetarian or vegan tunacado sandwich so everyone can enjoy it!

    Table of Contents
    • Ingredients and Substitutions
    • Sandwich filling (Tunacado remake)
    • How to make Chickpea Tuna Salad (Tunacado)
    • Tips to make Chickpea Tuna Salad
    • Storage
    • What to serve with Chickpea Tuna Salad?
    • More Healthy Sandwiches
    • More Chickpea Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments
    Layers to show chickpea tunacado sandwich

    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. Another great addition is adding finely chopped celery for more crunch and freshness
    • Fresh parsley gives a lovely freshness.  Chives, cilantro or fresh dill 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, sriracha aioli or even red pepper flakes. 

    Sandwich filling (Tunacado remake)

    • Thin slices of bread - I’ve used wholegrain bread. You can sue rye bread, sourdough bread or gluten-free bread. You'll need thin flatbread to get close to the Tunacado copycat
    • 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  
    Close up of chickpea tuna mixture in a bowl

    How to make Chickpea Tuna Salad (Tunacado)

    Here are my easy steps to make this delicious and addictive chickpea tuna in no time.

    Steps on how to make chickpea tuna
    1. 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
    2. Add remaining ingredients to the bowl (mayonnaise, sriracha, sprinkle of salt and lemon juice)
    3. Stir together until well combined, it should resemble tuna (as pictured)
    4. Add in a sandwich (like I have, as a tunacado) or eat with crackers or lettuce cups
    Chickpea tuna salad sandwich with tomato and avocado

    Tips to make Chickpea Tuna Salad

    • Mash your chickpeas on a chopping board to make it easier to mash. You can use a potato masher or even a fork to achieve the texture you like, but its best not to have any whole chickpeas left as they will fall out
    • If you want the same Joe and the Juice Tunacado sandwich consistency, you’ll need a food processor or a blender. Their sandwich is a tuna mousse so its blended or pulsed to a smooth consistency with the other ingredients. I personally prefer a little texture in my chickpea tuna salad
    • Another great addition is adding chopped celery for more crunch and freshness. Make sure to chop the celery nice and finely
    • To easily make it a vegan tuna salad, use a plant-based mayonnaise and ensure to make it a vegan pesto and you're good to go
    • Make your bread extra crunchy by toasting the pieces of bread in either a panini press or a skillet with extra virgin olive oil until each side is golden brown. You can also press the bread down in the pan

    Storage

    • Store the chickpea tuna salad in an airtight container in the fridge and it will hold for 3-4 days. 
    • I like to make a double batch of the chickpea tuna salad for meal prep. It makes a super easy lunch as all you'll need to do is assemble the sandwich on the day

    What to serve with Chickpea Tuna Salad?

    There are so many ways to enjoy this chickpea tuna salad! Here are some of my favortie ways to serve it:

    • Sandwich
    • Wrap
    • Bagels
    • Lettuce cups
    • Crackers
    • Pita chips or corn chips
    • On a salad
    Half of chickpea tunacado sandwich to show the inside

    More Healthy Sandwiches

    • Avocado Egg Salad
    • Greek wrap
    • Chopped Italian Sandwich
    • Falafel Wrap
    • Halloumi Burger
    • Grinder Salad (Viral Tiktok Recipe)
    • Homemade Crunchwrap
    • Healthy Tuna Salad
    • Wrap Ideas (8 fillings)

    More Chickpea Recipes

    • Falafel
    • Chickpea Stew
    • Hummus Recipe
    • Jennifer Aniston Salad
    • Persian Patties

    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 sandwich stack

    Chickpea Tuna Salad (Tunacado)

    4.75 from 16 votes
    This Chickpea Tuna Salad is nutritious, easy to make and a great alternative to tuna. It's perfect for sandwiches, wraps or even as a snack
    Author: Ayeh Manfre
    Course: dinner, lunch, Snack
    Cuisine: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings: 3
    Calories: 155kcal
    Print
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time0 minutes mins
    Total Time10 minutes mins

    Video

    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 consistency
      Enjoy 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!
    ⭐️ Final Step! Would love if you left a rating and comment to let me know how it went. Your feedback helps inspire others and means alot ❤️

    Notes

    Nutritional value is for the Chickpea Tuna Salad only

    Nutrition

    Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 355mg | Potassium: 175mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 218IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg
    Keywords: hero sandwich, tuna salad, tunacado

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      Caesar Wrap
    • Mini focaccia topped with rosemary and flakey salt
      Mini Focaccia
    • Matthew McConaughey Tuna Salad with a pita chip dipped in
      Matthew McConaughey Tuna Salad
    • Cottage Cheese Bagels with different toppings
      Cottage Cheese Bagels

    Comments

      4.75 from 16 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Emma says

      March 21, 2023 at 1:22 am

      5 stars
      Really good! Also added in some spinach which was nice

      Reply
      • Ayeh Manfre says

        March 22, 2023 at 5:11 am

        Oh yum love that!!

        Reply
        • Ashley EmCee says

          September 18, 2023 at 3:06 am

          5 stars
          Love this recipe so much!! I love to add pickled red onion and sometimes a sprinkle of feta. When I'm out of fresh herbs, I sub dried, and soak them in the lemon juice while I'm prepping everything else. Such a treat!! And I save the drained juice in an ice cube tray for vegan baking! Nothing wasted and always tasty! Thanks so much Ayeh

          Reply
      • Ashley EmCee says

        September 18, 2023 at 3:05 am

        5 stars
        Love this recipe so much!! I love to add pickled red onion and sometimes a sprinkle of feta. When I'm out of fresh herbs, I sub dried, and soak them in the lemon juice while I'm prepping everything else. Such a treat!! And I save the drained juice in an ice cube tray for vegan baking! Nothing wasted and always tasty! Thanks so much Ayeh

        Reply
        • Ayeh Manfre says

          September 18, 2023 at 4:24 am

          So lovely to hear this Ashley! The pickled onions addition sounds amazing too 🙂

          Reply
    2. Tiffany B says

      May 29, 2023 at 12:28 am

      5 stars
      Love this! Tried it with Rao's brand sundried tomato pesto, and it was really good, but I finally made my own and it's delicious! Love this quick and easy recipe! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Ayeh Manfre says

        June 04, 2023 at 1:27 am

        So happy you loved the recipe Tiffany and especially that you made the pesto too yay!!!!

        Reply
    3. Lily says

      June 04, 2023 at 8:36 am

      5 stars
      This is so, so good.

      Reply
      • Ayeh Manfre says

        June 07, 2023 at 6:41 am

        So glad you loved it Lily 🙂

        Reply
    4. Farida Haque says

      September 19, 2023 at 5:47 pm

      5 stars
      Looks so delicious thank-you I will try

      Reply
      • Ayeh Manfre says

        September 19, 2023 at 7:59 pm

        Wonderful to hear 🙂

        Reply
    5. Sarah says

      September 22, 2023 at 10:48 am

      5 stars
      Just made this with shallots, and kewpie mayo with a dash of sriracha. Will be my new work lunch go to

      Reply
      • Ayeh Manfre says

        October 02, 2023 at 7:42 pm

        Oh yum!

        Reply
    Ayeh about me picture

    Hi, I'm Ayeh!

    Hey everyone! I love creating easy everyday recipes with a healthy twist that anyone can make. I will show you that you can eat delicious food, using wholesome ingredients that make you feel good from the inside out!

    About Me →

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