Collard Green Vegan Wraps with Peanut Sauce

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These Collard Green Vegan Wraps with creamy peanut sauce offer a fresh, healthy main dish or appetizer that is bursting with vibrant color and loads of nutrition. Checkout out my cooking demo video of this recipe.

up close photo of vegan wrap made with collard leaf sliced in half with whole ones in background

Collard vegan wraps are very versatile. I stuff mine full of a hearty grain called bulgur, shredded carrots, red bell peppers, cucumber sliced, bean sprouts, and drizzle them with creamy peanut sauce. The great thing is that you can fill yours up with whatever veggies and grain (or not) preferred!

overhead photo of 2 whole vegan wraps made with collard leaves

You’ll love these vegan wraps because they’re…

  • Fun to make
  • Versatile
  • Bursting with flavor
  • Great for guests
  • Satisfying
  • Perfect appetizer or meal

Creation of these collard green wraps

In 2016, I was asked to come up with a special vegan wrap for the Plant-Based Cooking Summit with world-renown nutrition expert, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, and his family. It was one of the biggest highlights of my career!

This was a week-long immersion program where participants learned all about plant-based nutrition and how to make deliciously healthy meals, and I was asked to join the team as one of the WFPB chefs which was a huge honor for me.

Class participants said that these collard green wraps with peanut sauce were one of their very favorite recipes during the whole week of classes. For the WIN!

slices of vegan lettuce wraps on cutting board with peanut sauce

How to make vegan wraps with collard green leaves

These wraps are not difficult to make at all, so don’t let the length of the instructions discourage you from trying this recipe. I’ve just tried to be very detailed to make it nice and simple to follow.

The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.

Making the peanut sauce

I like to begin by preparing the peanut sauce. This creamy sauce is very easy to make in about 5 minutes. Seriously…gathering the ingredients from your cupboard is the most time-consuming part. Simply combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl and whisk together until smooth. Yep, that’s it!

peanut sauce in bowl with whisk on white background

If needed, heat the mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds to allow for more effortless blending. If it needs to be thinned a bit, just add a little more almond milk. Set to the side while you start on the wraps.

Prepping the collard green leaves for wraps

Collard leaves are very large and rigid. They require a few steps to make them a little easier to work with.

large collard leaf with stalk being trimmed with knife

First, lay the collard leaf on a cutting board or other flat surface and turn it with the coarse side up.

Use a sharp knife to trim the thickest part of the stem, being careful not to cut through the leaf. This will help allow the leaf to be rolled and folded without cracking and tearing. See my video that shows how easy this is to do.

Next, bring a pot of water to boil to parboil the leaves to make them more pliable and easy to bend when rolling. Lower the heat to medium-low. Hold the long stem of the leaf (or use tongs) and dunk it into the water for approximately 20-30 seconds, then quickly remove the leaf and lay it on a cutting board or another flat surface.

Each leaf will need to be done separately, so don’t pile all of them in the pot together. I like to parboil all my leaves during one prep time even when I’m not planning to make all the rolls at once. This is because, once they are prepared, they keep really well in the refrigerator.

Use scissors or a sharp knife to cut off the long stem to level with the bottom of the leaf.

whole collard leaf, bean sprouts, bulgur, grated carrots, red bell pepper slices, cucumber slices, peanut sauce on cutting board

Stuffing the leaves

Now, it’s time to stuff and roll the leaf. Begin by spooning 2-3 Tbsp of cooked bulgur onto the middle of the leaf, about 1/4 of the way up the stem.

What is bulgur?

Bulgur is a wheat grain found in most grocery stores. It cooks just like rice, either on a stovetop or in a rice cooker. It has a ground beef texture and a natural nutty flavor.

cooked bulgur in pan on wooden table

What I like about it is that it soaks up the flavors of whatever sauces you are using it in. I use bulgur in many recipes, including chili beans, tacos, lasagna, no-meat loaf, and more.

Since bulgur is a wheat grain, it is not gluten-free, you might try buckwheat groats to replace it if you are gluten-sensitive.

How to wrap collard green leaves

wooden board with collard leaf filled with vegetable slices and peanut sauce

Add all of the other diced and grated vegetables and drizzle with approximately 2 Tbsp of the peanut sauce.

blanched collard leaf on wooden cutting board filled with veggies and sides folded in

Now it’s time to roll them up! Fold side edges of the leaf over the middle-filled portion. And, make sure that your stuffing ingredients are not all pushed too far up the leaf. See my instructional photos to help with this.

blanched collard leaf on wooden cutting board filled with veggies and sides folded in and bottom folded up

Next, fold the bottom (stem end) up and over the filling. It looks like you’re making a little pocket for the filling. You want it to be nice and firmly folded, but be careful not to tear the leaf.

stuffed collard leaf being rolled up with hands

Begin to roll it up firmly to the end, then place the roll side down on a plate. You shouldn’t need a toothpick or anything to hold them in place because leaves are more flexible and stay in place due to the blanching in boiling water step above.

Lastly, use a sharp knife to slice them in the middle for easy serving because all of the colors on the inside make a beautiful and impressive display.

Serve immediately with the rest of the peanut sauce for dipping.

collard veggie wrap sliced in half on board

Watch the cooking demonstration to see how easy preparing this recipe can be! 

I am often asked which knives I use personally, and I have to say that it is Victorinox. They are the same company that makes Swiss Army Knives and the quality is excellent.

slices of vegan lettuce wraps on cutting board with peanut sauce

*Originally published August 2016.

Tips for making these collard green wraps

  • GF option- Since bulgur is a wheat grain, it is not gluten-free, you might try buckwheat groats to replace it if you are gluten-sensitive.
  • The leaf- When trimming the collard leaf, make sure to leave the stem on for use as a handle to dip into the boiling water.
  • Bulgur- I like to make large batches of bulgur in my rice cooker and keep it in the freezer to easily add to recipes.
  • Lower fat- The creamy peanut sauce can be made with peanut butter or PB2 for a lower-fat option.
  • Storing- These keep well in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. After that, they get a little chewy.
vegan wrap sliced into 3 pieces and stacked on wood board

What to serve with collard green vegan wraps

At my house, these wraps are usually the main course. Some great sides to serve with them include:

For those of you new to the whole food plant-based lifestyle, we’ve created a FREE 7-Day Plant-Based Menu Planner to help you get started!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.

If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it by rating it and leaving a comment. We love to hear from you!

overhead photo of 2 whole vegan wraps made with collard leaves
4.86 from 14 votes

Collard Green Veggie Wraps with Creamy Peanut Sauce

These collard green vegan wraps with creamy peanut sauce offer a fresh, healthy main dish or appetizer that is bursting with vibrant color and loads of nutrition. Checkout out my cooking demo video of this recipe
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Servings: 4 wraps

Ingredients 

Wrap Ingredients

  • 4 whole collard green leaves
  • 1 cup bulgur cooked, (this will be 1/2 cup dry/uncooked)
  • 1 cup carrots grated
  • 1 cup cucumber sliced into strips
  • 1 cup red bell pepper sliced into strips
  • 1 cup bean sprouts
  • 1/2 cup peanut sauce recipe below

Peanut Sauce Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons Bragg's liquid aminos or soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic (I use the kind in jar)
  • 3 tablespoons natural peanut butter (or 6 Tbsp PB2 + 3 Tbsp water)
  • 1/4 cup almond milk more if needed to thin
  • 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon Thai chili paste or 1/4 tsp Sriracha

Instructions

  • Start by preparing the peanut sauce. This creamy sauce is very easy to make in about 5 minutes. Simply combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl and whisk together until smooth. If needed, heat the mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds to allow for easier blending. If it needs to be thinned a bit, just add a little more almond milk. Set to the side while you start on the wraps.
  • Collard leaves are very large and rigid. They require a few steps to make them easier to work with.
  • First, lay the collard leaf on a cutting board or other flat surface and turn it with the coarse side up. Use a sharp knife to trim the thickest part of the stem, being careful not to cut through the leaf. This will help allow the leaf to be rolled and folded without cracking and tearing. See my video that shows how easy this is to do.
  • Next, bring a pot of water to boil to parboil the leaves to make them more pliable and easy to bend when rolling. Lower the heat to medium-low. Hold the long stem of the leaf (or use tongs) and dunk it into the water for approximately 20-30 seconds, then quickly remove the leaf and lay it on a cutting board or another flat surface.
  • Each leaf will need to be done separately, so don’t pile all of them in the pot together. I like to parboil all my leaves during one prep time even when I’m not planning to make all the rolls at once. This is because, once they are prepared, they keep really well in the refrigerator.
  • Use scissors or a sharp knife to cut off the long stem to level with the bottom of the leaf.
  • Now, it’s time to stuff and roll the leaf. Begin by spooning 2-3 Tbsp of cooked bulgur onto the middle of the leaf, about 1/4 of the way up the stem.
  • Add all of the other diced and grated vegetables and drizzle with approximately 2 tablespoons of the peanut sauce.
  • Now it’s time to roll them up! Fold the side edges of the leaf over the middle-filled filled portion. And, make sure that your stuffing ingredients are not all pushed too far up the leaf. See my instructional photos to help with this.
  • Next, fold the bottom (stem end) up and over the filling. It looks like you’re making a little pocket for the filling. You want it to be nice and firmly folded, but be careful not to tear the leaf.
  • Begin to roll it up firmly to the end, then place the roll side down on a plate. You shouldn’t need a toothpick or anything to hold them in place because leaves are more flexible and stay in place due to the blanching in boiling water step above.
  • Lastly, use a sharp knife to slice them in the middle for easy serving because all of the colors on the inside make a beautiful and impressive display.
  • Serve immediately with the rest of the peanut sauce for dipping.

Video

Notes

Pro Tips & Suggestions:
  • GF option- Since bulgur is a wheat grain, it is not gluten-free, you might try buckwheat groats to replace it if you are gluten-sensitive.
  • Leaf Trimming- When trimming the collard leaf, make sure to leave the stem on for use as a handle to dip into the boiling water.
  • Bulgur- I like to make large batches of bulgur in my rice cooker and keep it in the freezer to easily add to recipes.
  • Lower fat- The creamy peanut sauce can be made with peanut butter or PB2 for a lower-fat option.
  • Storing- These keep well in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. After that, they get a little chewy.
Terri has a number of Mini-Video Series available that include Plant-Based Basics, Recipes, & Beyond; 30-Minute or Less Recipes; and Sandwiches, Wraps, & Spreads.

Nutrition

Calories: 158kcal | Carbohydrates: 34.3g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 1.5g | Fiber: 7g

Disclaimer

To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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About Terri Edwards

Hi guys! I am the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I am passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to empower others to get healthy.  I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…

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20 Comments

  1. Question: You say you can substitute the peanut butter with PB2 “3/4” – is that 3/4 teaspoon? I have some that I didn’t care for as far as PB&J sandwiches, but this might be a good use for it!! Thanks in advance.

    1. Susan, you can replace the natural peanut butter with 3/4 cup PB2 plus 1/2 cup water to make the peanut sauce. That will make enough for using in the recipe to drizzle before wrapping, plus some for dipping sauce when eating. Enjoy!

  2. I’m not understanding you peanut butter sub either. Why would it take 3/4 of a cup pb2 to replace less than 1/4 cup peanut butter? That seems like a lot.

  3. I thought it was very good, although I had to cook my collards for 1 full minute, each leaf. But over all, they were very good. I love the use of bulgar in it. Nutty and filling!

  4. When you cook up the batch of bulgur for the recipes, do you add onions or any seasonings? Or just plain cooked with water

    1. Marcy, I cook a batch of bulgur in my rice steamer with nothing added but water. When I use it later in recipes, that’s when I add spices and seasonings.

  5. LOVE this recipe just the way it is! My family, however, is not crazy about the chewiness of the collards, so we make “Inside Out” Collard Wraps. I make a bowl with the same ingredients but chiffonade the collard greens. And I double the peanut sauce recipe so we can be generous. The sauce freezes well & doubles as a delicious salad dressing.

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