Crunchy Veggie Wraps
Even if you’re not schvitzing on a balmy day, it’s refreshing to be able to prepare dinner without turning on the stove. So naturally, veggie wraps are an ideal go-to when you can’t deal with cooking. They’re super quick to pull together, and perhaps best of all, take well to almost anything you have in your fridge. I try to include a good mix of fresh veggies, grains (or noodles) and a source of protein. And when it comes to the actual wrapper, the options are endless: rice paper, tortilla shells, greens…you name it!
Lately, my absolute favorite Crunchy Veggie Wraps have been ones that use collard green leaves as the wrapper. Collard greens are a naturally gluten-free alternative to wheat-based tortillas. They’re a great source of vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C and fiber – so you can always feel good about squeezing in some extra greens.
The recipe for these Crunchy Veggie Wraps features a flavorful combination of lemon-y quinoa, crunchy veggies and creamy avocado. Hummus and hemp seeds provide an extra boost of protein to keep you satisfied. This recipe calls for prepared hummus to keep things simple, but if you always make your own, by all means feel free to substitute store bought for homemade.
Next, comes the fun part. You’ll want to have all your Crunchy Veggie Wraps fillings laid out so that it’s as easy as loading them in, and giving the collard leaves a quick roll. Just like burritos, you’ll want to place the filling near the center of the leaf, and be sure to roll the leaf as tightly as possible to keep all the fillings tucked in! One thing to note is that this recipe starts with cooked quinoa, so it’s handy to make a batch in advance. I love to cook up a big batch of grains at the beginning of the week, so I can easily toss them into salads or wraps throughout the week. It definitely helps cut down on mid-week cooking time.
Ingredients:
- 4 medium collard green leaves, washed, patted dry, bottom stem removed
- ½ cup cooked quinoa
- 1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp. fresh ground black pepper
- ½ cup prepared hummus
- 1 medium carrot, cut into matchstick-sized pieces
- 1 medium cucumber, cut into matchstick-sized pieces
- 1 medium red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- ½ cup fresh microgreens (or sprouts)
- ½ medium avocado, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp. hemp seeds
Instructions
Here are your instructions:
Use a vegetable peeler to make the collard green stems thinner. Start at the bottom of the leaf and peel up. Make sure you do not cut through the leaf. Set aside.
Combine quinoa, parsley, lemon juice, and pepper in a small bowl; mix well. Set aside.
Place leaves green side down on a cutting board or work surface. Evenly spread hummus in the center of each leaf. Top evenly with quinoa mixture, carrot, cucumber, bell pepper, microgreens, avocado, and hemp seeds.
Fold long sides toward the middle and roll burrito style.
Recipe Notes
