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Home » Gluten Free

Banana Blossom Vegan Pasta Salad

Published: Jun 24, 2021 by Janelle Hama

Jump to Recipe

Enjoy a colourful and fresh banana blossom (mock tuna) vegan pasta salad that has been tossed in homemade vegan mayonnaise. 

vegan pasta salad in a grey bowl

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Jump to:
  • 😋Why you’ll love this recipe
  • What is banana blossom?
  • ✔️What You’ll Need
  • 🥘Ingredient Notes
  • 🔪Step-By-Step Guide
  • ✔️Variations
  • 💭Pro Tips
  • FAQ
  • 🥘Related recipes
  • Banana Blossom Vegan Pasta Salad (Vegan Tuna Salad)

Here’s an easy recipe to keep in your repertoire, it’s perfect for when you’re stuck on what to eat.

This vegan tuna pasta salad uses banana blossom as a replacement for the tuna and combines fresh vegetable with a lovely hint of sweetness from the cocktail onions and gherkins.

😋Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Easy and quick to make
  • Filling and affordable
  • Healthy and special diet friendly
  • Season friendly - can be enjoyed all year round
  • Great on it’s own or can be eaten as a side

What is banana blossom?

Banana blossom also known as banana flower or banana heart, are the flower of a banana tree and are completely edible. 

These tear drop shaped blooms are a deep purple/maroon that grow at the end of a cluster of bananas. 

They have a host of health benefits and are neutral in flavour. 

Banana blossom can be purchased in fresh, frozen or canned form. 

✔️What You’ll Need

vegan pasta salad dry ingredients laid flat
vegan pasta salad wet ingredients laid flat

🥘Ingredient Notes

Just some quick details about some of the ingredients you’ll need;

Pasta - select your preferred penne or fusilli pasta. I use a gluten free pasta* and I always undercook, by one minute, of what the instructions advise. This helps to keep the pasta al dante.

Banana blossom - this recipe uses the canned variety, which can normally be found at your local Asian grocer. It is also now found at some supermarkets and can also be purchased online*. This will be the natural mock tuna.

Tomatoes - select fresh cherry tomatoes, I love the medley packs, which give a lot of colour to this vegan pasta salad.

Tamari sauce* - this is gluten free and is salty in nature, so be aware of this when adding salt.

Fysh sauce* - the a vegan’s answer to a fish sauce alternative. This helps to give this salad a little umami fish flavouring, helping the banana blossom taste like ‘tuna’.

Vegan Mayonnaise - use as little or as much as you like. I like to make my own, you can find this veg mayonnaise recipe here. This can also be store bought.

Nutritional Yeast* - helps to give a more umami flavour to this vegan tuna pasta salad.

🔪Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1 - Cook pasta as per instructions, set aside.

Step 2 - Chop up all ingredients that need chopping and measure out all other ingredients. Drain all canned or pickled ingredients.

Step 3 - In a large mixing bowl, mix through all the ingredients until well combined.

vegan pasta salad up close with banana blossom chopped up

✔️Variations

Quantities - Adjust the amounts of the ingredients to suit your taste, i.e., if you’d like a little more of something or a little less, go for it. 

N.B., always start with less and build up.

Beans - if you’d like to add these in, adjust the quantities of the wet ingredients and the salt to suit.

Swap vegan mayonnaise for freshly mashed avocado, with or without EVOO.

Pasta - for a more fun pasta shape, try using Farfalle (bow tie), Cavatappi (hollow spirals - like mac n cheese), shell pasta, elbow pasta, Gemelli (rope twist).

Need more flavour boost? Add some garlic or onion powder. Start with a small amount and work it up.

💭Pro Tips

Pasta - should be cool when added to the other ingredients. To quickly cool pasta, rinse it under cold water and drain it before adding it to the rest of the ingredients. 

Avoid overcooking pasta, as this will result in a mushy mess. Check out my full-flavoured baked vegan pasta.

Banana blossom - once drained, these can be chopped or shredded. Easily shred with your fingers or forks.

Mixing - do not vigorously mix the pasta as it might break apart.

Make-ahead - to help save time, cook the pasta ahead of time, which can be store in the fridge for a few days and then add all other ingredients when needed.

Drainage - as this recipe calls for canned and pickled ingredients, I like to drain these using a stackable colander*, to ensure there is minimal wetness and this vegan pasta salad doesn’t end up soggy.

vegan pasta salad in a brown bowl with wooden serving utensils on the side

FAQ

Can I store vegan pasta salad?

Yes. Place vegan pasta salad in a snap-lock container and store in the refrigerator overnight. I think this salad is best consumed within two days, as I personally don’t like soggy tomatoes in salads.

🥘Related recipes

  • Eggless mayonnaise in a white bowl
    Eggless Mayonnaise (Vegan + 5 Minutes)
  • a plate of penne pasta with mushroom sauce and a fork
    Easy Vegan Mushroom Pasta Without Cream
  • Vegan Broccoli salad up closed
    Vegan Broccoli Salad (With Mustard Dressing)
  • Orange and Fennel salad (vegan recipe) served on a white plate
    Easy Orange and Fennel Salad Without Oil

Looking for another fresh and healthy salad? Try my wonderful beetroot salad. Perfect for any lunch or dinner table.

Did you enjoy this vegan pasta salad with banana blossom What are your thoughts on the all natural mock tuna? I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below and give me a rating. This will help me sustain Plant Based Folk. 

Alternatively, did you happen to take a photo or video? Tag me @plantbasedfolk on Instagram to be featured via stories. If you love sharing your vegan food pics, join the PBF community group.

If you’re into fast cooking vids, join me on Tiktok.

Janelle x

vegan pasta salad in a grey bowl

Banana Blossom Vegan Pasta Salad (Vegan Tuna Salad)

Enjoy a colourful and fresh banana blossom (mock tuna) vegan pasta salad that has been tossed in homemade vegan mayonnaise. 
Print Pin Rate Save Recipe Saved Recipe
Course: lunch, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Australian
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Author: Janelle Hama

Ingredients

  • 1.1 lb Pasta gluten free & vegan - spiral or penne
  • 2 cans Banana blossoms drained (approx. 1.25lb or 600g/can) roughly chopped or pulled aparat into bite sized pieces
  • ¾ lb Cherry tomatoes halved
  • ½ lb Corn kernels
  • ½ med Red onion finely chopped
  • 2 stalks Celery finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Capers roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Cocktail onion roughly chopped
  • 4 pieces Cocktail Gherkins roughly chopped
  • 1½ tablespoon Tamari sauce to taste
  • ½ tablespoon Fysh sauce vegan fish sauce - to taste
  • ½ med Lemon juiced
  • ⅓ cup Vegan mayonnaise see vegan mayo recipe - to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon Nutritional yeast heaping
  • 1 pinch Salt to taste
US Customary - Metric
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Instructions

Prepare pasta

  • Cook gluten free vegan pasta according to packet instructions, set aside

Mixing Ingredients

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients together. Serve cold.

Video

Notes

Here is the Vegan Mayonnaise recipe
💭Pro Tips
Pasta - should be cool when added to the other ingredients. To quickly cool pasta, rinse it under cold water and drain before adding it to the rest of the ingredients.
Avoid overcooking pasta, as this will result in a mushy mess.
Banana blossom - once drained, these can be chopped or shredded. Easily shred with your fingers or forks.
Mixing - do not vigorously mix the pasta as it might break apart.
Make ahead - to help save time, cook pasta ahead of time, which can be store in the fridge for a few days and then add all other ingredients when needed.
Drainage - as this recipe calls for canned and pickled ingredients, I like to drain these using a stackable colander, to ensure there is minimal wetness and this vegan pasta salad doesn’t end up soggy.
 
 
 
 
*Shop for your healthy organic groceries at Thrive Market*.
 
 
N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 440kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 584mg | Potassium: 442mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 358IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 2mg

N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.

Tried this recipe?Mention @Plantbasedfolk or tag #plantbasedfolk

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Jan

    July 06, 2021 at 9:16 am

    5 stars
    This salad is filling yet light. The banana blossom does resemble canned tuna in texture in this salad.

    Reply

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A female brunette dressed in black and an apron juggling lemons

Heya, I'm Janelle! I've been a messy but delicious cook for a couple of decades now.

In the last few years, I've converted to a vegan diet and have fallen in love with the flavors that can be created from plants.

I specialize in vegan Lebanese food and I'm excited to share these amazing recipes with you.

Let's cook together!

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