The Collard Green Experiment

[tglasco4]

I fasted yesterday. But I decided to try the collard green wrap that I read about on a post here. So I began to prepare it yesterday evening. Well, I think I made several mistakes :D . First I marinated the collards in a bowl of olive oil, basil and sea salt overnight. Bad idea. I think I only needed to do it lightly for probably a few minutes. Needless to say, this morning it was an oily mess. I put some avocado and some raw tabouli in it and to my surprise it was very good! A little heavy on my stomach but that was because I was breaking a fast. I had 3 of them. I was stuffed as you would expect. I also made some raw hummus but after the wraps I didn't want to look at it. I have plenty of collard (I got a big bunch for $1.29 as it was on sale), so I will probably do it again later in the week. Hey, this is one of the really neat things about being raw, its all about experimenting and seeing what works :) .

Todd

[Rawkinlocs]

See Todd? I told ya not to marinate 'em too long :p

If you want to be able to HOLD them in your hands and eat, you definitely don't want to marinate first. But if you do marinate, just slice and eat with a fork! Also, you don't need a lot of oil either...I even use water, add some oil and seasonings. I agree with whomever it was that previously said that the filling itself makes it not really need marinade. But, glad you liked it!

LOL@Fightyorke and her exploding mess of food! Sorry that happened to you, though. Man, I'll bet THAT wasn't fun!

[tglasco4]

Thanks Fightyorke and Rawkinlocs,

I am DEFINITELY going to try it again. I will soak it like just before I get ready to eat it next time. I tell you though the collard itself was a little bitter but the stuff inside did make it taste good. I wanted to try it because the collard is such a deep green that I know its full of good stuff.

Rawkinlocs, it was as I was waking up that I remembered the part about not soaking them too long! :o . It was too late then. As you said, I could have just cut it and ate it as it was, it was very oily but very tasty with the seasoning. Well live and learn. :)

Todd

[Curtis]

lol I am getting a bit confused here guys, the Collards I bought recently were not bitter and I did not marinate them just used them like a tortilla to wrap stuff in. :)

[Alissa]

use my collard recipe. i make this in seminars and people flip over them even though there is always a ton of other food!
do you have it?

[corky]

I had a laugh about both your stories as i am making the same trials and errors too!! And Fightyorke, yours story really made me laugh as i have had an explosion in my kitchen and endless other things like dumping my whole filling to me crepes on the floor!! Luckily, it was firm enough to stay in the bowl. The great thing about this lifestyle is just experimenting till it does taste good as Todd did. I will have to try Allissas collard recipe--see how it goes!

[tglasco4]

Ok, I did the Collard thing this morning. I took out 2 leaves (they are pretty big if you know collards). I soaked them in warm water for about 10 minutes. I took out the first one and sprayed it with olive oil then sprinkled a little sea salt on it. I then sliced up one quarter of a large avocado and spread that on it, with some raw tabouli seasoned with curry. Then I put some sliced mushrooms on it. I wrapped it up. It was delicious! My wife was watching me eat it and saying she was going to make some for herself. Well I did the same thing with the second one, but it broke all apart :p . Gotta make sure you have a solid leaf! I love this experimenting stuff! :D

Todd

[glad_2beme]

yummy, I am headed to the farmers market today!!! I am a southern girl, and love my greens. Never thought to eat them raw, but I am trying this and Rawkinlocs marinated ones too!!!

[Sweet lips]

I AM STILL LAUGHING OUT LOUD - FIGHTYORKE - I JUST IMAGINE THAT AS AN EPISODE OF 'I LOVE LUCY'. Infact, I created an entire 1/2 episode in my head - how easily amused I am.

Anyway - I soaked my collards in lemon juice to soften then, and I ended up with a yellowish gunk, which I whipped with something else and rolled it up in nori - it was tasty. NOW you tell me Rawkinlocs how do to do it.

Is cabbage the same process?

Thanks in advance

[Sharon in Colorado]

What can I use to replace the olive oil? I've lost the taste for it. It is heavy and has an off-flavor - it's extra-virgin cold-pressed. It could be that my olive oil has gone rancid. Is that possible?

Last I used it I had tried marinating asparagus in olive oil, lemon juice and spices. I didn't care for the flavor at all.

Any other suggestions?

[tglasco4]

If I didn't like olive oil, I might try flax oil or a nut oil from unroasted nuts. Both of those alternatives are expensive though.

Peace.

Todd

[Rawkinlocs]

We've converted Todd to collard wraps!!!

Sweetlips: Girl, I thought I was doing what you told ME to do..I could have sworn you were the one who suggested marinated the leaves for just a bit in some oil...but maybe you said lemon juice. Ah well, now ya know Sis! ;)

Sharon: I don't know if I have just gotten used to the taste of olive oil or what, but there are some that do have a stronger taste than others. But as Todd said, you could try a milder oil like nut oil or something.

Glad2be: Yes, try them...they're very good and the longer you marinate the better...wouldn't even know they were raw ;)

[rawvegirl]

I'm with Curtis - they don't taste bitter to me.

[Sweet lips]

Rawkinlocs - you are right - I did tell you that because it was after my fiasco with the mush, I discovered that it would be better. I was having a memory lapse after reading fightyorke - told you I created a 1/2 hour lucy show from her post!

And I am still laughing - and I have a part two as well to it - I am easily amused! :D

[tglasco4]

LOL I'm a Collard Convert! LOL