ASIAN 'CHICKPEA TUNA'

I'm not a vegan however I am completely converted to swapping out tuna for chickpeas. I saw ‘chickpea tuna’ on Tiktok and wasn't very convinced by it. I've eaten plenty of chickpeas in my lifetime and never have I thought that their flavour resembled fish. However, I am always down to try a new trend and this one has actually converted a ‘chickpea tuna’ sceptic into a believer.

Not to toot my own horn here but i don't think its the chickpeas that gives this recipe that ‘tuna’ factor. It's miso. It's salty and umami. And I'm sure someone else has added it to the their chickpea tuna but I don't know them so I think i'm a genius.

This Asian twist on the viral ‘chickpea tuna’ is the one you want to try. Perfect to add to sushi bake, sandwiches or just serve with some seaweed thins.

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ASIAN 'CHICKPEA TUNA'

SERVES: 2-4 /MADE IN: 35 MINS /DIFFICULTY:EASY/MEDIUM/ VEGAN/VEGGIE

INGREDIENTS

• 400g chickpea can, drained

• 1 tbsp white miso

• 1 tbsp mayonnaise (I used Kewpie but can be swapped for vegan or regular)

• ⅓ cucumber, halved, flesh scooped out and sliced 

• 100g radishes, thinly sliced

• 1 half avocado, sliced

• 150ml white wine vinegar

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tbsp caster sugar

• 1 tbsp black sesame seeds

• 1 tsp togarashi powder

• 1 half avocado, roughly chopped

• 6 seaweed thins, cut into strips, extra to serve (optional)

• Furikake, to garnish, (optional)

1. Firstly, pickle your veggies. Mix the vinegar, salt and caster sugar in a bowl and submerge the cucumber and radishes in the pickling liqueur. Leave to one side for 20 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, mash the chickpeas with the back of a fork until they start to form a chunky yet smooth texture.

3. Stir in the miso and kewpie until well combined. Add the sesame seeds and togarashi powder and mix it all together.

4. Drain the pickled vegetables and add to the mixture. Stir in the chopped avocado and seaweed thin strips. Serve as is or shape it into a large ball. Garnish with furikake if using. Accompany with seaweed thins or put it into a sandwich.