Spicy Vegan Collard Wraps

If you’ve been looking for a sign to eat more meat-free meals, this is it, wrapped up in a leafy collard green.

It’s nearly impossible to prepare these perfectly seasoned vegan wraps without contemplating making the switch to a healthier diet with more meatless meals, if you’re not already there. Or maybe vegan meals already hold a permanent place in your repertoire, or you’re on a gluten-free diet.

Either way, these tasty veggie-based wraps offer everything you need in one mouthful. They’re creamy, spicy, crunchy, juicy, garlicky, and fresh.

Is there anything on that list of adjectives that doesn’t make you want to immediately run to the store and buy a bunch of collard greens?

I didn’t think so! The combination of ingredients in this vegan lunch is sure to satisfy, and there’s no questioning why this recipe made its way onto Foodal’s roundup of quick and healthy lunch ideas.

And unlike a simple green salad, there’s plenty of protein in the mix thanks to the quinoa and chickpea-based hummus that will keep you feeling full until dinnertime.

Although the tomato-fennel bruschetta topping that’s included here only makes up a small portion of the total filling, it punches up the flavor enough that you don’t want to miss it. Trust me on this.

Coming in at a close second, it’s a toss-up between the rich, velvety fillings and the sweet, crunchy ones.

The buttery avocado is a nice complement to the creamy hummus, while sprouts and carrots add a fresh, crisp flavor and a touch of sweetness.

Red pepper flakes bring some heat. And if you needed a cue to add more chef-like flair to your meals while maximizing the flavor in every bite, cleverly seasoning the quinoa with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a pinch of cayenne pepper is it.

I still want my barbecue chicken pizza and juicy bacon cheddar burgers on occasion, but these vibrant green handhelds have fully convinced me to incorporate more plant-based eats into my diet. They’re colorful, loaded with flavor and texture, and leave me feeling satisfied and surprisingly full of energy.

Keep following these signs and I promise all roads lead to flavor town.

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Cooking By the Numbers…

Step 1 – Gather, Prep, and Measure Ingredients

If you haven’t already, make the tomato-fennel bruschetta topping. It combines juicy tomatoes, fresh fennel, garlic, basil, and balsamic vinegar for a tasty filling that’s perfect in wraps, or served atop tiny toast rounds.

After you’ve let the flavors meld, measure out what you need, allowing the excess liquid to drain with a slotted spoon. In a pinch, you can sub in diced fresh tomato.

Measure the vegetable broth and quinoa. Rinse the quinoa under cold water to reduce the taste of bitterness.

Measure the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, and apple cider vinegar.

Measure the hummus. To make your own from scratch, try one of our recipes for homemade hummus.

Choose 8 similarly-sized leaves from your bunch of collards, and skip any with large holes or tears. Rinse well to remove any dirt.

Slice off the tough, woody stems at the base of each leaf.

If any have large or thick ribs, you can lay the leaf flat and shave the rib down using a paring knife or a vegetable peeler. This will help the leaf lay flatter while you’re assembling the wraps and it will roll more easily.

Peel and shred the carrots on the largest holes of a box grater. You can also make thin carrot ribbons with a vegetable peeler. I avoid using bagged pre-shredded carrots, as they can be dry and will not taste as fresh.

Measure the sprouts, and slice the avocado. To prevent browning, you can squeeze a little citrus juice over each slice.

Step 2 – Cook the Quinoa

In a medium saucepot over medium-high heat, add the vegetable broth, quinoa, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine.

Feel free to flavor the quinoa however you like. For smokier, earthy notes, you can add 1/8 teaspoon each of smoked paprika and ground cumin.

Bring to a boil, cover the pot with a lid, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer and cook until the quinoa is tender and the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes. You’ll also know the quinoa is done when the grains look like they’ve popped open and are revealing the germ.

Turn off the heat and let the quinoa stand for 5 minutes. Using a fork, fluff the grains and then transfer to a bowl or baking sheet to cool to room temperature.

Step 3 – Blanch the Greens

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the vinegar. A splash of vinegar adds a tangy note that reduces bitterness and helps to balance the vegetal flavor of the greens. But keep in mind that we’re only blanching the greens for this recipe, and we don’t want to overcook them.

Fill a large bowl with ice and water and set the ice bath aside near the stove.

A few leaves at a time, drop the collards into the water and blanch until they’re tender, pliable, and bright green, for about 30 to 45 seconds.

Use tongs to transfer the leaves from the water to the ice bath. Allow the leaves to cool for about 2 to 3 minutes before setting them aside to dry on paper towels or clean dish towels.

Step 4 – Assemble the Wraps

On a cutting board or clean work surface, lay out one or two of the leaves. Don’t overcrowd your work surface! You’ll want to layer the ingredients towards the center of the bottom third section of the leaf, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the edge.

I prefer to start by spreading about a tablespoon of the hummus as the base onto each leaf, which acts like glue for the whole wrap.

Top the hummus with 1/2 cup quinoa, a tablespoon of the tomato-fennel mixture, a few slices of avocado, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, 2 tablespoons of shredded carrots, and about a tablespoon of sprouts. Season with a pinch each of salt and pepper.

You’ll repeat this with each of the remaining leaves after rolling in the next step.

Step 5 – Roll, Slice, and Serve

Begin by rolling the leaf away from you like a burrito, starting at the bottom. Once the fillings are sealed in, tuck both ends underneath so nothing spills out. Continue rolling away from you to seal the tucked ends inside, creating a tight bundle.

Repeat with each wrap.

Using a sharp knife to slice cleanly through the collard wraps, cut each one  in half. Arrange on a platter and serve or pair with a vegan dipper like cashew chipotle sauce.