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Vegan Chickpea Tuna Casserole
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Vegan Chickpea Tuna Casserole

This super nostalgic dish is one of Eddie's childhood favourites: creamy sauce, tender noodles, and a crispy crust for the ultimate comfort meal.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 4 -6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Vegan

Ingredients

For the casserole
  • 3 cups bowtie noodles 280 g/10 oz
  • 1 cup frozen peas 250 mL/150 g
For the Roux
  • 2-3 tbsp vegan butter or neutral flavoured vegetable oil
  • 1 onion ~100 g/4 oz, diced, small
  • 2 ribs 90 g/3 oz celery, diced
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour can sub tapioca or cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 cups broth or pasta water + bouillon
  • 1 tbsp mushroom broth powder can omit if using seasoned broth or bouillon
  • 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning can add whatever spices/herbs you have if you don't have this
  • 2 tbsp nori cut into small slivers
  • 1 cup vegan cheese
  • 2 cups soy milk can sub any milk alternative
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt you can add more, the sauce needs to be salty enough to carry the pasta
  • 2 cups chickpeas cooked
  • 1/2 saltines I also like panko crumbs or potato chips!, for the crust

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat your oven to 190C (375F)
  2. Cook your pasta noodles to a fairly firm al-dente, as the noodles will continue to cook when you bake. Blanch your peas when your noodles are al dente, heat through for a couple minutes, then drain and set aside.
  3. In a pot over medium heat, prepare the creamy sauce by melting the butter, then sauteing your diced onion and celery until tender and the onion is translucent.
  4. Add the flour and mix to create the roux. Add a splash of water (or broth) to loosen the mixture and allow the flour to thicken.
  5. Stir in the remaining water, then mix again to incorporate the flour mixture.
  6. Once fully incorporated, add the mushroom broth powder (omit if using broth), nutritional yeast, Old Bay seasoning, nori slivers, and vegan cheese.
  7. Once the cheese has melted down, stir in the soy milk and heat through until thickened.
  8. Taste and season with salt. The sauce should be well seasoned because it has to carry the seasoning for the pasta as well.
  9. Flake your cooked chickpeas with a fork, you can leave some (or all whole) if you like, but flaking adds a bit of that tuna-like texture.
  10. In a 9x13 casserole pan, combine the cooked pasta, peas, chickpeas, and sauce and stir to coat the noodles completely.
  11. Top with crushed saltines, crushed potato chips, or panko crumbs to make a crust, and spread out evenly.
  12. Bake for 30 minutes until bubbling and top of crust is golden brown.
  13. Remove and serve!

Notes

  • To make this gluten-free, replace the noodles with your favourite gluten-free pasta, and sub out the flour for tapioca starch or cornstarch.