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This Vegan Tuna Sandwich is satisfying, delicious, and completely customizable. It takes just 20 minutes to prepare and it's perfect for make-ahead lunches.
My mom always packed my lunch growing up and I really loved it. A few times, she packed me a tuna sandwich and although it was delicious, it made quite an offensive odor at lunchtime, and the other kids let me know it. That wasn't fun, so we reserved them for home enjoyment after that.
This Vegan Tuna Sandwich is just as creamy, tangy, and delicious! It's not missing a thing except that fishy smell.
I've been packing this is my son's lunch and he comes home with an empty lunchbox every time. He loves it! It's protein-packed and nutritious, so I feel good about sending him to school with it.
Does Vegan Tuna Taste Fishy?
The mixture doesn't taste fishy at all on its own, but I prefer a subtle ocean-like flavor, so I add a small amount of seaweed such as Kelp, Dulse, or Nori. Don't worry though, your sandwich won't stink as tuna does, so it's a great sandwich to take to work or school.
However, if you're not into ocean flavor, you can omit the seaweed and add a sprinkle of Old Bay Seasoning. It's delicious!
Does it have the same texture as tuna fish?
It doesn't have the same texture as tuna, but it's pretty close. I shredded a combination of hearts of palm and chickpeas to replicate the flaky fish texture and it worked nicely. Plus, the chickpeas add a nice dose of protein that tuna does. This truly is the best replacement!
Add-in ideas
- Red onion or green onion
- Bell pepper
- Olives, pickles, capers, or pepperoncini
- Fresh dill or parsley
- Cumin, cayenne pepper, or smoked paprika
- Sunflower seeds
Serving Suggestions
- As a salad topper
- In a sandwich
- With crackers or veggie sticks
- In lettuce wraps
More Vegan Seafood Recipes to try
I love to hear from you
If you make this Vegan Tuna Sandwich, let me know what you think by ★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. It would really make my day. You can also follow me on Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @veganhuggs and hashtag #veganhuggs so I don’t miss it.
Vegan Tuna Sandwich
Ingredients
- 15.5 ounces canned garbanzo beans , drained and rinsed
- 14.4 ounces canned hearts of palm , drained and rinsed, then cut in half lengthwise
- ⅓ cup vegan mayo , more to taste
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic , more to taste
- ½ teaspoon dried dill , more to taste
- ½ teaspoon sea salt , more to taste
- Fresh ground pepper , to taste
Optional Add-Ins
- 1 stalk celery , finely diced
- ½ small red onion , finely diced
- 1.5 teaspoons dulse granules or kelp granules (see note)
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning , more to taste
To Serve
- 6-8 slices of bread (gluten-free if preferred)
- 3-4 pieces butter lettuce or preferred lettuce
- 1-2 large tomatoes , sliced (optional)
- 6-8 small pickle slices (pickle chips) (add to toothpick on top or put inside sandwich)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- In a food processor add the garbanzo beans and hearts of palm together. Pulse 4-5 times to shred it up enough to break down the beans, but don't pulse too many times or it will turn to mush (scrape sides as needed). It should have a tuna-like consistency. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine mayo, garlic, dill, salt, pepper, and optional Old Bay and Dulse/Kelp granules. Now add the garbanzo bean/hearts of palm mixture and optional celery, and onions. Combine well. Taste and add more seasoning or mayo if preferred.
- Line a slice of bread with lettuce and tomato, then spread the mixture on the other slice. Close the sandwich together and cut diagonal. Use a toothpick to secure each half and add a pickle slice on top, if preferred. Repeat with the additional sandwiches. Serve with potato chips and enjoy!
Recipe Equipment
Notes
- This recipe will yield about 3-4 sandwiches.
- 'Tuna' mixture add-in ideas: (just pick a few) diced pickles, chopped olives, or chopped pepperoncini, jarred jalapeño slices, fresh-cut parsley or dill, sliced green onion, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika or cumin, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1-2 teaspoons dijon mustard, relish, squeeze of lemon, capers, sunflower seeds, fresh jalapeño (diced and deseeded).
- Sandwich add-on ideas: sliced avocado, thinly sliced red onion, vegan cheese, shredded purple cabbage, thinly sliced carrots, sprouts, sliced cucumbers, sliced bell pepper.
- If you can't find kelp or dulse flakes/granules, you can crumble up a small snack-size piece of nori for an ocean-like flavor.
- The mixture will stay fresh in the fridge for 3-5 days stored in an airtight container.
- If you don't have a food processor, you can use two forks to mash and shred the mixture into a tuna-like texture.
Nutrition
mark
so glad to have found this recipe awhile back. i make it fairly often and it rules!!!
Melissa Huggins
Hi Mark, I'm so happy that you like it! Thank you so much! 🙂
Joan
Hi there,
Thank you so much for this recipe.
I can’t wait to try it.
Since I don’t happen to have hearts of palm on hand,I will be using canned jackfruit.
It’s also similar in texture to tuna,so I’m pretty sure it will work with the beans.
Looking forward to making a batch of this treat.
Thank you again.
Joan
Melissa Huggins
Hi Joan, you're most welcome! I love jackfruit and I'm sure it will work great in this recipe. Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Andy
This is amazing! I'm a notorious carnivore, but something about this recipe piqued my interest. I tried it over the weekend, and it's truly fantastic!
Tuna melts are a staple of mine, and I'm 100% honest when I say I might never go back to real tuna now. This is just as tasty, healthier, and cheaper!
Mika
Since it's really hot here in TX this summer, last weekend I was looking for things to make so I wouldn't have to turn on the oven. This was a great recipe and really yummy. I'll be adding to my regular recipe rotation. Also can't wait to try the "crab" cakes! You're right, hearts of palm really does have that texture. Mostly I just want to say thanks. I'm newly vegan (a process that took about a year to convert) and having these recipes makes my life so much easier and interesting in the food department!!
Melissa Huggins
Hi Mika, I'm so happy to hear this! Thank you for making it! It's really hot here in AZ, too. I stay away from the stove as much as possible. Congratulations on your transition! It's definitely a process but such a rewarding one. Have a lovely week and thanks for stopping by 🙂
tricia
can you tell me which ingredient pushed the sodium up so high? i have high blood pressure, so i will leave it out. thanks
Melissa Huggins
Hi Tricia, It looks like the nutrition counter was off. I reentered it and the sodium is now 295 Mg per sandwich. I also checked it on MyFitnessPal to make sure too. Thanks for alerting me. I hope you'll give it a try 🙂
Shirley
This is awesome, thanks
Melissa Huggins
You're most welcome. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Marissa
This looks so good! I will be trying it for sure. I just hope when I go to the store, they still have the Hearts of Palm. It seems when I don't need something, it's there and when I do need it, it's sold out. Lol. I've been craving tuna since I switched over, so I can't wait to try it.
Melissa Huggins
Thank you, Marissa! It's one of my favorite sandwiches. I used to love tuna too. I hope you find the hearts of palm soon. That happens to me all the time. lol:)
Mookie
I looked critically at a bunch of recipes in an effort to get close to a sandwich I ate in LA last month that ruled. This looks like exactly what i'm searching for and will make in a couple days (and probably take to school for lunch on the regular!). Thx!
Melissa Huggins
Hi there, thank you for stopping by. I hope you give it a try, and I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have a great week!
Sandy
This is absolutely the best vegan tuna salad ever! I didn't have dulce flakes so I used Old Bay. It's a keeper! Thank you!
Melissa Huggins
Hi Sandy, thank you so much for making it! I'm happy you liked it! Glad you had Old Bay...it's a life saver 🙂
Stacey
Oh good gravy...i made the tuna sandwhich today and it's off the charts fantastic. All my non vegan family loved it too!!! I've tried other recipes for it and was always disappointed. No disappointment with this recipe...i will continue to make it and share recipe with others. Thank you thank you thank you
Melissa Huggins
Hi Stacey, This is wonderful to hear! I'm so happy you like it...especially your omni friends! It's my son's favorite lunch to take to school, so I make it a lot. Thank you for sharing your feedback. 🙂
Heather
I recommend Creamy Original Chao Slices but they're admittedly on the mild side for this sandwich. Thanks for writing. I'll be back to try out other recipes.
Heather
OK. Made it on a melt - on rye bread with Fieldroast slices, red onion and banana peppers. Very very good. Thanks for helping a newbie vegan!
Melissa Huggins
Wow, that sounds so good! I must go buy some Fieldroast slices this weekend. I didn't realize they made cheese. I can't wait! Thank you for your feedback 🙂
Heather
Thanks so much, Melissa, I'll update you after I try it 🙂
Heather
Hi, Melissa, Can I use it on a mock tuna melt? On rye with a vegan cheese. I will be skipping the nori or kelp. Can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing!
Melissa Huggins
Hi Heather, Yes, you can totally make it into a mock tuna melt. I've made it before and it's delicious! Thank you for stopping by. 🙂
Shayna Medinger
Genius! I've done a chickpea "tuna" salad, and I've done a hearts of palm "crab" salad...but never thought to use the hearts of palm for this!! It's perfect! I chopped the hearts of palm up into a more "flaky" instead of shredded texture, but either way it'd be delicious. Thank you!
Melissa Huggins
Hi Shayna, Thank you so much! I'm so happy it worked out for you. Hearts of palm are quite amazing. I appreciate your feedback 🙂