Vegan Tuna Pasta Salad – Try My Fav Recipe

Hey, can I let you in on a little secret? I recently discovered the most amazing dish that’s going to blow your mind – the Vegan Tuna Pasta Salad. I know, I know, it sounds a bit out there, but trust me, this salad is an absolute game-changer.

Tender pasta, a creamy, tangy dressing, crisp veggies, and the star of the show – a brilliant vegan “tuna” made from shredded artichokes and chickpeas that tastes just like the real deal. I’m not kidding when I say it tastes just like the real deal. It’s mind-blowingly delicious and packed with plant-based protein, fiber, and essential nutrients.

But wait, there’s more! This salad isn’t just a flavor bomb; it’s also a nutritional powerhouse. It’s the kind of meal that leaves you feeling light, energized, and ready to take on the world.

Even my most skeptical meat-eating friends couldn’t get enough of this salad (and they were shocked when I told them it was vegan!). It’s the perfect dish to bring to your next potluck or BBQ, guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. Just be prepared to share the recipe.

So, are you ready to give this plant-based twist on a classic a try? Your taste senses, and body will appreciate you! Trust me, this Vegan Tuna Pasta Salad is a must-try.

Why You’ll Absolutely Love This Vegan Tuna Pasta Salad?

Let me lay out a few reasons why this dish is about to become your new summer obsession:

• Veggie-packed: Loaded with a variety of crisp, fresh vegetables for a nutritious crunch in every bite.
• Creamy, tangy dressing: The completely plant-based dressing has a creamy, tangy flavor that enhances the other ingredients.
• Gluten-free option available: It can easily be made gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta or swapping it for quinoa or rice.
• Meal-prep friendly: It keeps nicely in the refrigerator, making it an easy and tasty choice for hectic weekday lunches or quick meals.
• Simple to cook: Just a few ingredients and minimal prep work are required, making it a hassle-free and satisfying meal.
• Flavor-packed and satisfying: Despite being plant-based, this salad delivers an amazing taste sensation that will leave you craving for more.

Alright, let’s dive into the magical ingredients that come together to create this vegan tuna pasta salad.

Ingredients You’ll Need to Prepare the Salad

Here are some details about the tasty ingredients that go into this delicious vegan tuna pasta salad recipe:

• Hearts of Palm
• Chickpeas
• Green Onions
• Green Peas
• Celery
• Grape Tomatoes
• Baby Bell Peppers
• Whole-Grain Pasta
• Dijon Mustard
• Cashew Mayo
• Parsley
• Fresh Lemon Juice
• Seaweed
• Black Salt

See the recipe card for quantities.

How to Make the Vegan Tuna Pasta Salad?

Now, let me lead you through the simple steps to make this flavor-packed, plant-based vegan tuna pasta salad as enjoyable as possible by using delicious ingredients.

1. Begin by placing the chickpeas and hearts of palm in the bowl of a large food processor fitted with a chopping blade.
2. Pulse the chickpeas and hearts of palm a few times until they’re roughly chopped into chunky pieces. Be careful not to over-process or blend them into a paste.
3. Toss the roughly chopped chickpea and hearts of palm mixture with the grape tomatoes, baby bell peppers, celery, green onions, and green peas in a large mixing bowl.
4. While preparing the other ingredients, cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
5. To make the “mock tuna” dressing, combine Dijon mustard, fresh lemon juice, and half of the cashew mayonnaise in a separate small bowl.
6. Pour the mustard-mayo dressing over the veggie mixture and stir everything together until well combined. Set this aside for now.
7. After cooking the pasta, strain it in a colander and thoroughly rinse it with cold water to end the cooking process and allow it to cool fully.
8. Make sure to toss and move the pasta around in the colander, letting cold water run through to cool all the noodles evenly.
9. Combine the cooled pasta with the veggie “tuna” combination in a large bowl.
10. Add in the remaining cashew mayo and fresh chopped parsley.
11. Gently toss everything together until the mayo is evenly distributed and all ingredients are well incorporated. Remember to add salt and pepper as needed.
12. Garnish with additional chopped parsley for an added burst of color and flavor.

There you have it, vegan pals! A delightfully refreshing and satisfying vegan tuna pasta salad that’s sure to become a new favorite. Feel free to get creative with ingredients and put your spin on this versatile dish.

Substitutes & Variations for Vegan Tuna Pasta Salad

Getting creative in the kitchen can be so much fun, especially when it comes to finding tasty substitutions for all your favorite dishes. Now, I’m going to share some awesome alternatives and variations for a classic vegan tuna pasta salad.

• For the “tuna,” Artichoke hearts or canned asparagus chunks instead of hearts of palm.
• We can use white beans, lentils, or roasted nuts instead of chickpeas.
• Finely diced red onions or shallots are the best alternative to green onions.
• Frozen or canned peas (cooked and cooled) both can be used instead of fresh peas.
• Add extra veggies, diced bell peppers of any color, celery, carrots, and radishes for crunch and color.
• To make mustard choices, you can use tone-ground, whole-grain, or Dijon mustard.
• You can use the bottled lemon juice or a splash of vinegar.
• Seaweed alternatives are the dulse flakes or crumbled nori sheets.
• Use regular salt and pepper instead of black salt.

Well, you can mix and match these substitutions to make your own signature version of vegan tuna pasta salad.

What do other people say on Reddit about Variations?

Moving further, let’s see what the Reddit community has to share about putting a personal spin on vegan tuna pasta salad.

Comment
byu/elote69-420 from discussion
inEatCheapAndHealthy

Comment
byu/elote69-420 from discussion
inEatCheapAndHealthy

Vegan Tuna Pasta Salad – Try My Fav Recipe

A delicious and refreshing plant-based twist on the classic tuna pasta salad with all the creamy, tangy deliciousness taste!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 379 kcal

Equipment

• 1 Pot Boiling pasta
• 1 Large Mixing Bowl
• 1 Spatula
• 1 Knife
• 1 Cutting Board
• 1 Strainer
• Measuring cups & spoons
• 1 Food Processor optional
• 1 Fork or masher (if not using the food processor)

Ingredients

  

• 1 Cup Sliced Hearts of Palm
• 1 Cup Cooked Chickpeas
• 4 Chopped Green Onions
• 1 Cup Green Peas
• 2 Stalks Chopped Celery
• 1 Cup Grape Tomatoes
• 4 Chopped Baby Bell Peppers
• 2 Cups Cooked Whole-Grain Pasta
• 2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
• 1/2 Cup Cashew Mayo
• 1/4 Cup Chopped Parsley
• 2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 Sheet Crumbled Seaweed
• 1 Teaspoon Black Salt

Instructions

 

• Begin by placing the chickpeas and hearts of palm in the bowl of a large food processor fitted with a chopping blade.
• Pulse the chickpeas and hearts of palm a few times until they’re roughly chopped into chunky pieces. Be careful not to over-process or blend them into a paste.
• Toss the roughly chopped chickpea and hearts of palm mixture with the grape tomatoes, baby bell peppers, celery, green onions, and green peas in a large mixing bowl.
• While preparing the other ingredients, cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
• To make the “mock tuna” dressing, combine Dijon mustard, fresh lemon juice, and half of the cashew mayonnaise in a separate small bowl.
• Pour the mustard-mayo dressing over the veggie mixture and stir everything together until well combined. Set this aside for now.
• After cooking the pasta, strain it in a colander and thoroughly rinse it with cold water to end the cooking process and allow it to cool fully.
• Make sure to toss and move the pasta around in the colander, letting cold water run through to cool all the noodles evenly.
• Combine the cooled pasta with the veggie “tuna” combination in a large bowl.
• Add in the remaining cashew mayo and fresh chopped parsley.
• Gently toss everything together until the mayo is evenly distributed and all ingredients are well incorporated. Remember to add salt and pepper as needed.
• Garnish with additional chopped parsley for an added burst of color and flavor.

Video

Notes

• For best flavor, marinate the jackfruit for at least 30 minutes before shredding.
• Add more or less plant-based mayo/yogurt to adjust the creaminess.
• Garnish with fresh dill, lemon zest, or vegan parmesan for extra flavor.

Disclosure: That video isn’t mine; I included it to give you a visual guide for making Vegan Tuna Pasta Salad. I hope to create my own tutorial video in the future when I have a larger budget.

Dressing Tips For Your Vegan Tuna Pasta Salad

Let’s get creative and dress up your vegan tuna pasta salad with some mouthwatering flavors. I’ve got a few tasty ideas that you’ll love.

First up, the dressing. Instead of going the traditional mayo route, how about we whip up a tangy lemon-dill vinaigrette?

The bright lemon and fresh dill will complement the heartiness of the pasta and “tuna” perfectly. And for an extra creamy twist, you could blend up a cashew-based dressing. So rich and velvety!

A couple of quick tips – if you don’t have a food processor, no worries! Just mash the chickpeas with a handy masher or fork. I recommend using two forks to shred the palm hearts in a tugging motion. To make prep even easier, use a vegetable chopper for any diced veggies you’re adding in.

When it comes to the cashew mayo, I’d recommend only adding half when making the vegan tuna mixture and then using the remaining mayo when you assemble the whole salad. That way, you get the perfect creamy coating.

Oh, and for the best flavor, let the assembled salad chill in the fridge for about an hour before digging in. This allows all those delicious flavors to mingle and enhance. Your vegan tuna pasta salad will keep nicely in the fridge for up to 5 days too!

I’m getting hungry just thinking about all those incredible flavors. Let me know if you need any other tips or ingredient suggestions to make your salad absolutely irresistible.

Frequently Asked Questions