This plant protein rich vegan ‘tuna’ sandwich made with chickpeas is THE ultimate sandwich for everyone, whether you’re vegan or an avid fish lover. Chunky chickpea filling combined with crunchy cucumbers, crispy lettuce, and creamy avocado makes it a perfect marriage of textures and flavours.
I must say, when I first heard of ‘vegan tuna’, I was really sceptical about how on earth you can make chickpeas taste fishy… Oh boy, I was so wrong! This vegan tuna sandwich is all about pairing the right flavours and textures to make it taste like the most epic plant-based sandwich you’ve ever tried!
I’m still in the process of transitioning to a plant-based diet and although I’ve cut out meat in the last year or so, leaving out fish has been quite a difficult one for me. I really believe in intuitive eating and that food cravings are a way of our bodies to communicate with us and tell us what they need. So, when I was having sushi cravings last week, this vegan ‘tuna’ sandwich definitely hit the right spot!
WHAT’S IN THE VEGAN ‘TUNA’?
- Chickpeas (I used tinned chickpeas. Just make sure you rinse & drain the chickpeas well).
- Capers. I’d strongly recommend using these as that’s the main ingredient that gives this sandwich that ‘fishy’ kick.
- Dijon mustard (you can also use English mustard)
- Vegan mayo
- Chopped up nori sheets (or any other seaweed)
- Juice of fresh lime
- Fresh dill (feel free to replace with any other herbs of choice, however dill goes so well with fish, so it’s a great pairing for this sandwich)
HOW TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE VEGAN ‘TUNA’ SANDWICH
- Use good quality chunky bread (I used wholegrain multi-seeded loaf)
- Don’t skip mashed avocado! Creaminess of avocado will contrast with chunkier texture of chickpeas and crunchy cucumbers. Marriage made in heaven my friends! And just because avocado makes everything better, right?!
- Slice your cucumber quite thick to add that perfect crunch to your bite.
- Be generous with those lettuce leaves, the greens are your friends and they add a lovely crispy texture to this sandwich.
THIS EPIC VEGAN ‘TUNA’ SANDWICH IS:
- Crunchy
- Crispy
- Rich in plant protein & healthy fats
- Satiating
- Great for kids, as well as adults (whether you’re a fish lover or not)
- Perfect for a packed lunch, picnic or a meal prep
If you’re making these sandwiches in advance, here’s a good tip for you to keep your sandwich fresh. Wrap your sandwich in paper kitchen towel and gently spray it with water on both sides to dampen the paper towel a little. Put the sandwich in a zip lock bag and keep it in the fridge. This way your sandwich will stay fresh & crispy the next day.
If you need some more inspiration for quick, easy and healthy lunch or dinner ideas, check out
- 15-minute Cheesy Polenta
- Super Easy Spring Greens Salad
- Chickpea Waffles
- Nourishing Edamame Noodle Soup
- 15-minute Green Pesto Pasta
As always, if you recreate this recipe, I’d be delighted to read your comments and hear your feedback. Be sure to drop a comment here on the blog, tag me in your photos on Instagram @Fit Foodie Nutter, Facebook or Pinterest so I don’t miss them. It gives me so much joy seeing your takes on my recipes!
Thank you for visiting my blog. I’ll see you next week.
Stay safe and keep well.
Healthfully yours,
Tania x
THE ULTIMATE VEGAN ‘TUNA’ SANDWICH WITH CHICKPEAS
Ingredients
For vegan tuna:
- 400 g tin chickpeas rinsed and drained
- 2 tbsp capers
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 3 tbsp vegan mayonnaise I used Hellmans
- 2 nori sheets finely chopped
- Juice of half a lime
- A handful of fresh dill finely chopped
- Salt & pepper to taste
For the sandwich:
- 4 slices of bread gluten free if necessary
- ½ cucumber thickly sliced
- 1 avocado
- Juice of ½ lime
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 3-4 lettuce leaves
Instructions
- Place rinsed and drained chickpeas in a big mixing bowl and mash with a potato masher to ‘smash’ into smaller pieces. You can also use a food processor, which will be a lot quicker. Just ensure you don’t over-process the chickpeas to retain that chunky texture.
- Add the rest of the tuna ingredients into the mixing bowl and mix until well combined. Season with salt & pepper.
- In a separate small bowl, mash the avocado with a fork. Mix in lime juice, salt & pepper and set aside.
- To assemble the sandwich, spread mashed avocado evenly on the bread slices. Layer with lettuce leaves, tuna mixture, cucumber slices and add the second slice of bread on top. Voila!
Dannii says
What an epic looking vegan sandwich. I am definitely making this for my next picnic.
Tania says
Thank you Dannii! Enjoy your picnic and a beautiful summer season where you are I hope:) x
Charla says
I love the concept of a vegan “tuna sandwich” using chickpeas such a great plant based alternative. Count me in!!
Tania says
Thank you Charla! I couldn’t believe how ‘fishy’ it tasted when I tried it for the first time!
Michelle says
This looks delicious! I used to love tuna sandwiches, and have been looking for a good veggie alternative for ages. So glad I found this one it sounds perfect!
Tania says
Thank you Michelle! I hope you’ll enjoy this veggie alternative a lot:)
Traci says
We are all over this vegan tuna sandwich! It’s so easy and perfect for picnics or busy day lunch. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Tania says
Thank you Traci! It’s a great sandwich for all the summer picnics for sure! Have a great summer x
Jill says
I love capers. And chickpeas. I think I’ll give this sandwich a go!
Sisley White says
This is the most epic sandwich I have ever seen in my life! It is so beautiful and I bet really delicious too.
Tania says
Thank you Sisley! It was an epic sandwich indeed! x
Laura says
I’m sold on the chickpea salad sandwich. It’s brilliant, and so tasty!
Tania says
Thank you so much Laura! x
Sharon says
I LOVE tuna but I also loe to have vegan options for healthy lunches, this recipe covers both of these.
Tania says
Thank you Sharon!
Toni says
Such a delicious sandwich!! This quickly became a favorite at my house!
Tania says
Thank you so much Toni! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Sue says
I never thought to use capers to give that “tuna fish” taste – brilliant!
Tania says
Thank you Sue! It’s a great ingredient to use for the ‘fishy’ flavour!