Okay, let’s be honest. Whoever thought of using collard greens in place of bread/tortilla/wrap etc. is a genius! There’s nothing like adding more green goodies to an already delicious veggie wrap! Can ya hear me? I loved the taste and how easy it was to hold in place — kudos kid, whoever you are, kudos! (You are number one on my list!)
I love changing up the sauce. That’s what makes the veggie sandwich different and interesting each time. Eating raw doesn’t have to be challenging but fun and exciting. To excite your sandwich, give it a new spin and create new sauces! The possibilities are endless.
This sauce is what I consider spicy. My palate used to be hoppin with all sorts of flavors years ago, I mean, pass me the hot sauce please! But as I became healthier and more aware of what I was really placing in my body, the taste of food seem to have less flavor, less shabang. I can actually taste each vegetable and fruit as what they are and personally, I prefer that better. I added three cloves of garlic to the sauce, but if you are looking for more of a spicy “wow” factor, add half a jalapeno or any kind of hot pepper of your choice! Did I mention there are endless possibilities? All you have to do is create and try!
This sauce is great for wraps and for dipping veggies. If you have left over sauce, place it in an air-tight container and save it for a snack later. It can hold to about four days in the refrigerator.
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/4 or less of water
- 1 red bell pepper
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/2 lemon freshly squeezed
- salt and pepper
To make the sauce, place 1/4 cup walnuts and water in a blender. (I used the Vitamix) and blend until walnuts are small and broken down. It doesn’t matter the amount of water – if you used a little bit too much – and you’ll see why in a moment, keep reading. Next add pepper, garlic, lemon juice and blend again. If the consistency is too thin and more of a liquid, add more (1/4 cup more) walnuts and blend again until you reach the consistency you are looking for. I used roughly a 1/2 cup of walnuts. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Now, let’s wrap it up….
Wrap Ingredients:
- Collard greens
- Carrot: matchstick cut
- Cucumber: matchstick cut
- Red bell pepper: matchstick cut
- 1/4 cup red onion: finely diced
Here’s a tip that I love to do and make time for…(that’s the key, make time)…
Every Sunday, I go grocery shopping for that week. I have my menu written prior to going and I order my grocery list according to the aisles in the store. Not only does this help me save time but also keeps me on my budget and focused from purchasing other items I may not need. When I get all the vegetables and fruits home, I take the time to cut them. That’s right, I said it. Why? Because I like to save time during the week. I rather pull out a container of already washed grapes, cut strawberries or cut vegetables and be on my way. I’m all for preparing anything and everything ahead of time to make my life easier. Give it a try for one week and let me know what you think. You may find it just as convenient as I do. All I had to do was cut the onion! Time saver, YES PLEASE!
Step 1: Turn the collard green over on it’s back and with a small knife, slice off the stem and any thickness that may be showing.
Step 2: Add sauce and line up the veggies!
Step 3: Roll the sides together, then the bottom up and finally the top side down.
This is a meal that you can feel good about eating. You can feel satisfied and re-energized, where other foods may make you feel more sluggish. Enjoy your food! And be sure to change it up once in a while. Perhaps a cucumber dill sauce or spinach avocado or sweet orange sauce may just do the trick. Love your food and more importantly love yourself.