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Recipe: Chickpea 'Tuna' Salad

Published:
September 3, 2025
A chickpea “tuna” salad sandwich on wheat bread, sliced in half.

Looking for a brain-friendly recipe that’s both delicious and easy to make? The dietitians at the John Theurer Cancer Center recently teamed up with ShopRite’s Inserra Dietitian Team to share how the MIND Diet can help support memory and cognitive health. One tasty example from their demo: chickpea “tuna” salad.

The MIND Diet blends the best of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, focusing on antioxidant-rich foods and healthy fats like omega-3s. Think leafy greens, berries, nuts, whole grains, beans and olive oil. These foods fuel your body and may even help slow cognitive decline.

Ready to try it at home? Here’s the recipe. 

Ingredients 

Makes 3 servings

  • 1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbsp plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 Tbsp chopped red onion
  • 1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill
  • ¼ cup pickle slaw, relish, or chopped pickles
  • ½ tsp fresh lemon juice
  • ½ tsp Old Bay seasoning
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 6 slices whole wheat bread
  • Optional: leafy greens, tomato, sliced onion, extra pickles

Directions

  1.  Add chickpeas to a food processor and pulse about 5 times until chunky (not smooth).
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together mayo, yogurt, mustard, onion, dill, pickles, lemon juice, Old Bay, salt, and pepper.
  3. Stir in the chickpeas until well coated.
  4. Divide evenly among 3 sandwiches, layer with your favorite veggies, and enjoy!

Next Steps & Resources

  • Recipe courtesy of the Inserra ShopRite Dietitian Team

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