Chickpea 'Tuna' Salad

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Chickpea Tuna Salad is the perfect plant-based recipe that uses canned chickpeas, vegan mayo, celery, and spices for additional flavor. Great on sandwiches or paired with a salad for a delicious lunch!

This week I decided to clean out my pantry. I must admit that it was becoming a bit of a mess. I wasn’t able to find anything in there. Boxes of pasta covered the canned food, snacks were thrown around everywhere and it looked like a hurricane of food took place in there.

Yes, I was embarrassed that I had let it get that way.

No, I did not take any pictures of the mess to show you.

While sorting through the mess, I was able to organize and toss anything that had gone bad into the trash. Afterwards, I felt a real sense of accomplishment as I stood in the doorway admiring my awesome pantry organization skills. It reminded me that I should clean and organize things more often.

Along the process, I was also able to find several cans of chickpeas tucked away on a bottom shelf in the back corner. Those poor little cans of neglected chickpeas. I immediately had to make use of them in a delicious chickpea 'tuna' salad. 

Have you ever heard of it? Well, it's similar to a tuna salad but instead of using canned tuna, chickpeas are used instead. This recipe is perfect if you're looking to eat more plant-based recipes and is an excellent source of protein and fiber. This recipe only requires a food processor or large bowl, fork, and arm muscle if you don’t have one.

Let's get started!

WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE NEEDED TO MAKE CHICKPEA SALAD?

1. Chickpeas (canned)
2. Mayo
3. Celery
4. Red onion
5. Dijon mustard 
6. Lemon juice 
7. Salt 
8. Ground black pepper
9. Cayenne pepper

HOW TO MAKE THIS EASY CHICKPEA SALAD RECIPE?

DO THE CANNED CHICKPEAS NEED TO BE COOKED BEFORE USING IN THE RECIPE?

No, it is not necessary to cook the canned chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, before using them for this particular recipe. They are actually pre-cooked and just need to be drained and rinsed before using. 

Chickpea Salad

LaKita Anderson

Chickpea Tuna Salad is the perfect plant-based recipe that uses canned chickpeas, vegan mayo, celery, and spices for additional flavor. Great on sandwiches or paired with a salad for a delicious lunch!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 0 mins

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 130 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• ⅓ cup vegan mayo
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ¼ cup red onion, chopped
• ⅓ cup celery, chopped
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

 

• Place 1 can of chickpeas, ⅓ cup mayo, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ¼ cup chopped red onion, ⅓ cup chopped celery, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, and ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper into a food processor and pulse until incorporated and combined.
• You may have to stop the food processor a few times to scrape down the sides to make sure everything is combined, but please be careful not to over mix.
• Continue the process of pulsing until fully combined but the texture is still chunky or similar to tuna salad.
• Stop the food processor and remove the chickpea salad in a small bowl to serve. Spread the mixture evenly on a slice of toast, topped with spinach (or any green you prefer), and sliced tomato.
• Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 130kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 302mgPotassium: 49mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 68IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg

*All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

Keyword chickpea salad

Tried this recipe?Mention @SimplyLaKita or tag #SimplyLakita

Original post date 07/06/2016. Updated 06/11/2021. Updated photos are by Gabby of Cookie Dough Diaries

WANT A FEW MORE EASY CHICKPEA RECIPES? TRY THESE:

• Spicy Chickpeas
• Spicy Chickpea Gyros
• Chickpea Scramble
• Curry Hummus

Have any comments, questions, or other ideas for this Chickpea Salad? Please share them in the comments below!