My first vegan tuna salad sandwich

I've been seeing recipes for vegan tuna salad replacements since the day I went vegan, but it's taken me all these years to actually get around to making one. I was kind of ambivalent towards tuna when I did eat it, but still, if you see me, feeling free to pop me one in the jaw for that mistake. Actually, don't - that would be kind of mean.

Back to the tuna salad thing. I found a recipe in my stash for Save the Tuna Salad from Crazy Sexy Kitchen which had been reprinted somewhere and I'd torn out. (For your viewing pleasure, it's been reprinted online here too).

I'd had it for a while, but I'd never come across one of the main ingredients, kelp powder.

When I stumbled across it in a Brighton health food shop the other day, I sprung into action and - moving so fast I was practically a blur - set some almonds and sunflower seeds to soak. At high speed or something.

A few hours later, I blended them up with a bit of gherkin, herbs, lemon juice and onion. So far, so pleasant.

Then, the magic happened. I added the kelp powder. Shizz is like pixie dust or something - it just made everything better. I mean, I'm not sure it tasted fishy or anything, but it sure was gooooooood. Why did I wait so long?!

9 comments

Allysia26 July 2013 at 09:15
I can't believe you went this long without having vegan tuna! And I find kelp really potently fishy, at least in smell. Hope it was a good sammich! I think my favorite is still an old recipe from Sarah Kramer, uses tofu. Om nom.
Anonymous26 July 2013 at 09:38
I've never had vegan tuna salad either! But it's not because I couldn't be bothered, it's because I'm afraid of the fishyness. I've heard kelp powder can be really fishy and I just ain't down with that. Maybe I should just stop being a baby and try it ;)
Ingrid26 July 2013 at 09:51
Yay! Now I can leave comments again! I couldn't on your former format, so I am enjoying the new re-vamped "Flicking the Vs". I need to buy some kelp powder; I think that will really take my mock tuna to a new level - as it did yours. :)
foodfeud26 July 2013 at 16:29
I think I've had vegan tuna before, but not with kelp powder. maybe just pickles.
I'm with Ingrid, I COULD leave comments before but it was kinda difficult. This format is a lot easier. I could even comment with a vegan tuna sandwich in one hand.
Andrea26 July 2013 at 16:38
My vegan "tuna" is always from chickpeas. I should say 'usually' not 'always'. I have to use kelp powder VERY sparingly so as not to make it too fishy. I have some nori powder that I haven't tried yet, but am curious how it will taste. I should give it a try in a tuna-like salad.
Cadry's Kitchen27 July 2013 at 06:16
I can't believe this is your first vegan tuna sandwich! They were in my regular rotation when I first went vegan; although, like Andrea, I always use chickpeas. I don't add any kelp or nori, though. Even just the smell of those ingredients turns my stomach because of the fishiness. Still, it's a delightful sandwich with just roughly mashed chickpeas, diced pickles, Vegenaise, and the smallest squeeze of mustard. It's good to know this nut and seed based one is also a win!
Mel30 July 2013 at 03:11
It took a while for me to get on the vegan tuna sandwich train because I never liked tuna (or seafood) at all. Like Andrea and Cadry, the one I've made uses chickpeas as the base and I can't recall if it has nori or dulse flakes. Thankfully neither of these ingredients are overly fishy for me - perhaps I need to get my hands on some kelp powder for the sake of former seafood lovers more than me.
urban vegan30 July 2013 at 04:19
I'm with you here. I never really cared for tuna in my "pregan" days, but I love mock tuna salads. Pixie dust, indeed! I also like the chickpea base.
Theresa1 August 2013 at 15:19
Andy got a job, about a year and a half ago, on a research project about seaweed. Not even the edible kind, but the kind that can be made into biofuel. But he's become a man possessed, and he says we should be eating seaweed *at least* once a week because it is so super good for you. Another seaweed recipe will probably win me some favours at home!