Easy Avocado Collard Green Wraps

This summer favorite gets a few nutritarian upgrades–you’re going to love these Easy Avocado Collard Green Wraps!

Collard greens make the most unbelievably handy, nutritarian-friendly wraps!

By themselves, collard greens are one of the highest-nutrient foods on the planet.  Add to that the fact that they are sturdy, crunchy and savory, and it’s no wonder they’ve become a staple recipe with the health-conscious crowd.

And I’m finally a cool kid too!

I’m not going to lie, it took me years to get up the drive to attempt making collard green wraps.

But in the name of nutritional excellence I overcame my intimidation and now I’m wrapping ALL THE THINGS in collard greens!

And I hope after you try this simple recipe and the techniques in this post, you’ll be collard-wrapping-up-a-storm too…

Wrapper’s Delight

Being a nutritarian is all about eating the highest-nutrient foods you can.  Your goal is simple: eat more nutrient-rich food and minimize processed foods.

The daily whole wheat or sprouted grain wrap or piece of bread is perfectly acceptable, even when you’re following Dr. Fuhrman’s Aggressive Weight Loss Plan, and fits under the limited “whole grains” category.

You can go the extra-nutritarian-mile when you swap in a collard green leaf as your wrap instead!

The Best Collard Green Wrap Hacks

There are two challenges you need to overcome to make the perfect, pliable collard wrap: the center stalk and preventing breaks.

Removing the Stalk

When I set out to conquer the collard wrap, the first issue I encountered were the collards’ thick center stalk.

I tried cutting them down by standing the leaf up on its stem and slicing down.  This proved just as difficult to do as it is to accurately describe in words!

Enter the humble potato peeler…

Simply start at the bottom of your leaf and peel upwards.  I found it takes 3 to 4 rounds to get the center stalk fully flush with the rest of the leaf–and that is your goal!

Making the Collard Leaf Pliable

The next step is making your leaf more pliable and less prone to breaking–cause no one likes their filling spilling all about!

Here’s the trick: Take your collard leaf (the larger the leaf the better) and washing it in water.  Then place it on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 10 to 15 seconds on high.

This will turn the collard green leaf a lovely bright and vivid green and make it much easier to wrap with.

It takes a bit of practice to shave down the stalk and a bit of time to heat but these steps will pay you back in spades when it comes to easy wrapping…

Stuff Safely

Let’s talk stuffing!

My favorite part of this these Easy Avocado Collard Green Wraps is that they only require 6 fresh ingredients:

• collar green leaves
• avocado
• raw pumpkin seeds (or sub raw sunflower or hemp seeds)
• red cabbage
• butter lettuce (or sub Romain)
• lime

Granted these are quite yummy ingredients you need to take care not to over-stuff!

When you get to the rolling stage, the less stuffing the easier it is to roll these wraps up properly and beautifully.

It also depends on the size of your collard green leaf.  The larger the leaf the more stuffing it can handle.

How to Roll a Collard Wrap

My hubby didn’t just serve as my hand-model for these shots but he also helped me figure out the trickiest part of this recipe.

See, I wanted that beautiful center stalk and natural veining to be center-stage in the final product.

Unfortunately, many of the recipes I found had the wraps done from bottom to top.

After you’ve added your stuffing, you’ll want to follow these steps:

1. Orient the collard leaf lengthwise and add the stuffing just below the center stalk in the middle of the leaf.
2. Fold the lower portion of the leaf over the stuffing.
3. Fold the two sides of the collard leaf in towards the stuffing.
4. Continue to roll the wrap up. 

Dip-able Delights

After you’ve rolled your Simple Avocado Collard Green Wraps you can choose to keep them whole if you’re going to be prepping them ahead.

They store for up to 48 hours in the fridge, uncut and up to 24 hours cut.

Your next order of business is getting your dip on!

My favorite ways to enjoy these wraps are with a variety of my favorite nutritarian condiments, like:

• Extra-Creamy No-Oil Hummus
• No-Oil Beet Hummus
• No-Added-Salt Pico de Gallo

5 from 3 votes

Print

Easy Avocado Collard Green Wraps

A simple and easy way to make and enjoy collard green wraps using fresh, healthy, no-cook, no-oil, no-added-salt, nutritarian ingredients.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 3 wraps

Calories 273.3 kcal

Author Kristen Hong

Ingredients

• 3 large collard green leaves (aim for at least 6 inches wide)
• 1/2 Hass avocado
• 1 tbsp raw pepita seeds (or sub raw sunflower or hemp seeds)
• 1/3 cup shredded cabbage
• 1 cup chopped butter lettuce (or sub Romain lettuce)
• 3 lime wedges

Instructions

PREPARE THE COLLARD GREEN LEAVES:

1. Trim off the bottom stems of your leaves, just up to where the leaf starts.
   

2. Use a potato peeler to shave off the center leaf stalk on the ribbed protruding side of the leaf. 
   

3. Wash the shaved leaf in water and then place on a microwave-safe plate and microwave each leaf for 10 to 15 seconds on high power. 
   

ASSEMBLE THE WRAPS:

1. Start with the leaf on it's side, length-wise.
   

2. Mash the avocado and separate evenly between the 3 leaves.  Taking care to add it just below the center-stalk and in the center leaf.  Top with the raw seeds (divided equally).
   

3. Follow with the red cabbage and then finally with the lettuce.  Before rolling the wraps squeeze the lime over the stuffing in each wrap.
   

ROLLING THE WRAPS:

1. Fold the bottom part of the leaf over the stuffing.
   

2. Roll the leaf down and around so it's hugging the stuffing, then fold the two sides of the leaf inwards. 
   

3. Continue to roll the wrap up. 
   

CUTTING:

1. Using a serrated knife, cut in half and on an angle in the middle of the collard wrap. 
   

Recipe Notes

Store in the fridge, uncut, for up to 48 hours.

Or store cut for up to 24 hours. 

The lime juice will hep to keep the avocado from turning color too much. 

Nutrition Facts

Easy Avocado Collard Green Wraps

Amount Per Serving (3 wraps)

Calories 273.3 Calories from Fat 180

% Daily Value*

Fat 20g31%

Saturated Fat 2.9g18%

Polyunsaturated Fat 3.65g

Monounsaturated Fat 11.01g

Sodium 41.66mg2%

Potassium 1061.36mg30%

Carbohydrates 22.3g7%

Fiber 14.37g60%

Sugar 2.79g3%

Protein 9.4g19%

Vitamin A 1497.6IU30%

Vitamin C 78.09mg95%

Calcium 365.64mg37%

Iron 2.84mg16%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

If you give this Easy Avocado Collard Green Wraps recipe a try I’d love to know what you think–please leave a rating and comment below!