Collard Recipes Vegan: Delicious Plant-Based Meal Ideas

Collard greens are a powerhouse leafy green vegetable that offers incredible health benefits and a hearty texture perfect for vegan cooking. If you’ve been looking for delicious and creative ways to incorporate collards into your plant-based meals, you’re in the right place!

These versatile greens can be transformed into everything from savory wraps to flavorful sautés and even hearty stews. Their robust flavor holds up well against spices and bold seasonings, making them a favorite among vegans and non-vegans alike.

In this blog post, we will explore multiple vegan collard recipes that are not only easy to prepare but also packed with nutrients and flavor. Whether you’re new to cooking with collards or a seasoned green lover, these recipes will inspire you to enjoy collard greens in fresh, exciting ways.

Let’s dive into the vibrant world of collard greens and create some mouthwatering vegan dishes!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Collard greens are often underrated, but they deserve a spot on your weekly menu because they are loaded with vitamins A, C, and K, plus fiber and antioxidants. These recipes highlight collards’ natural heartiness and ability to absorb flavors beautifully.

You’ll love how these vegan collard dishes are:

• Nutritious: Full of plant-based goodness for energy and wellness.
• Versatile: Perfect for wraps, sautés, stews, and salads.
• Flavorful: Enhanced with herbs, spices, and tangy dressings.
• Simple to Prepare: Ideal for busy weeknights or meal prepping.

Plus, collard greens add a unique, slightly earthy flavor and a satisfying texture that’s hard to beat. If you enjoy hearty vegan meals, these recipes will quickly become staples in your kitchen.

Ingredients

• Collard greens: 1 large bunch (about 10-12 leaves)
• Olive oil: 2 tablespoons
• Garlic: 3 cloves, minced
• Onion: 1 medium, finely diced
• Vegetable broth: 1 cup
• Smoked paprika: 1 teaspoon
• Red pepper flakes: 1/2 teaspoon (optional)
• Lemon juice: 1 tablespoon
• Salt: to taste
• Black pepper: to taste
• Cooked quinoa or brown rice: 2 cups (for serving or stuffing)
• Chickpeas: 1 cup, cooked or canned (optional)
• Ground flaxseed: 1 tablespoon (optional, for thickening)
• Fresh herbs: parsley or cilantro for garnish

Equipment

• Large pot or Dutch oven
• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Large mixing bowl
• Colander
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Steamer basket (optional)
• Blender or food processor (for sauces or dips)

Instructions

1. Prepare the collard greens: Rinse the leaves thoroughly under cold water to remove grit. Remove the thick stems by folding each leaf in half and cutting along the stem with a sharp knife. Chop the leaves into bite-sized pieces.
2. Sauté aromatics: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and diced onion, cooking for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
3. Add spices: Stir in the smoked paprika and red pepper flakes (if using), letting them toast for 30 seconds to enhance their flavor.
4. Cook collards: Add the chopped collard greens to the pot. Stir well to coat them with the oil and spices. Pour in 1 cup of vegetable broth, cover the pot, and allow the greens to steam and soften for about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Season: Once the collards are tender, season with salt, black pepper, and lemon juice. If you’re adding chickpeas for extra protein, stir them in now and cook for another 3-4 minutes to heat through.
6. Optional thickening: For a slightly thicker texture, stir in 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed and cook for an additional minute.
7. Serve and garnish: Spoon the cooked collards over warm quinoa or brown rice. Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro for a burst of color and freshness.

Tips & Variations

“To reduce bitterness and tough texture, try blanching collard greens in boiling water for 2 minutes before cooking. This softens the leaves and mellows their flavor.”

• Collard Wraps: Use whole collard leaves as wraps filled with quinoa, black beans, avocado, and salsa for a nutritious handheld meal.
• Collard Green Pesto: Blend steamed collards with garlic, walnuts, olive oil, and nutritional yeast for a vegan pesto perfect on pasta or sandwiches.
• Hearty Collard Stew: Add diced potatoes, carrots, and lentils to your sautéed collards for a warming stew. Simmer until all vegetables are tender.
• Collard Green Chips: Toss whole leaves with olive oil and your favorite seasonings, then bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes for a crispy snack.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Suggestions

Collard greens can be enjoyed in many ways, depending on your mood and meal plan:

• Serve alongside creamy vegan pasta dishes for a nutritious green boost.
• Use as a filling for vegan tacos or burritos paired with beans and avocado.
• Top your favorite grain bowl with sautéed collards for extra texture and flavor.
• Pair with slow cooker vegan meals for a complete, comforting dinner.

Delicious Vegan Collard Recipes List

Vegan Collard Green Wraps with Spicy Chickpeas

These wraps use whole collard leaves as a fresh and crunchy alternative to tortillas. Stuffed with spicy chickpeas, avocado, and a tangy tahini sauce, they’re perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

• Ingredients: whole collard leaves, chickpeas, smoked paprika, garlic, tahini, lemon juice, avocado, salt, pepper.
• Instructions: Roast chickpeas tossed with paprika and garlic. Blanch collard leaves slightly to soften. Spread tahini sauce on each leaf, add avocado slices and chickpeas, then roll tightly.

Collard Green and Sweet Potato Stew

This warming stew is perfect for chilly days, combining tender collards with sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and warming spices like cumin and coriander.

• Ingredients: collard greens, sweet potatoes, canned tomatoes, onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, vegetable broth.
• Instructions: Sauté onion and garlic, add sweet potatoes and spices, then broth and simmer until sweet potatoes soften. Add collards last and cook until tender.

Collard Green Pesto Pasta

A creative take on traditional pesto, this recipe uses collard greens blended with walnuts and nutritional yeast, offering a rich and earthy flavor.

• Ingredients: collard greens, walnuts, garlic, olive oil, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, pepper, your choice of pasta.
• Instructions: Steam collards until soft. Blend with walnuts, garlic, and other ingredients until creamy. Toss with cooked pasta and enjoy.

Crispy Collard Green Chips

A healthy snack alternative to potato chips, baked collard chips are crunchy, flavorful, and easy to make.

• Ingredients: collard leaves, olive oil, sea salt, optional nutritional yeast or chili powder.
• Instructions: Tear collard leaves into chip-size pieces, toss with oil and seasoning, bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes until crispy.

For more creative vegan vegetable recipes, be sure to check out our Peruvian Vegetable Recipes for Flavorful Healthy Meals and explore how fresh vegetables can elevate your plant-based cooking!

Conclusion

Collard greens are a fantastic ingredient to incorporate into your vegan meal repertoire. Their bold flavor and hearty texture make them incredibly versatile, lending themselves beautifully to wraps, stews, pesto, and even snacks.

These recipes showcase just how easy it is to cook delicious, nutritious vegan dishes using collards as the star.

By experimenting with different spices, cooking methods, and complementary ingredients, you can enjoy collard greens in new and exciting ways that will satisfy your taste buds and nourish your body. We hope these vegan collard recipes inspire you to get creative in the kitchen and embrace the goodness of this leafy green.

Ready to expand your vegan cooking skills? Don’t miss our Vegan Bechamel Sauce Recipe for Creamy Pasta Dishes or try baking with our Vegan Bread Machine Recipe for Soft, Delicious Loaves.

Happy cooking!

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