Alberta Co-op Grocery

Raw Collard Wraps with Cashew “Cheese”

Posted May 23rd, 2011

by Geanna Marek, working owner

I am really impressed with the company Navitas Naturals. You may remember that a while back I tried out their dried yacon fruit, with positive results. On their website, they present their food philosophy very simply: “Nutrient rich whole foods are best produced using organic agricultural methods with minimal processing. Focusing on both food safety and nutrition, we handle our premium superfoods with care. This includes third party testing for all our products. Our facility is Organic, Kosher and GMP/HACCP Certified. In addition, we utilize methods such as freeze-drying and low temperature processing to ensure maximum nutrition and safety.”

Their site also offers a great deal of information about each of the products they offer. I recently bought a bag of their organic raw cashews at the Co-op. When I clicked on the “cashews” link, I was brought to a page that informed me about the origin of the cashew nut, how its popularity evolved and progressed, and how it came to be in the package I am holding. The page on cashews even offers this interesting tidbit: “The cashew nut is not the only edible part of the cashew tree. The apple-like fruit from which the cashew grows is also enjoyed in many parts of the world. In some regions of Brazil, for example, the cashew apple is blended into a pulpy drink called Cajuina. Alternatively, some parts of India distill the cashew apple into a popular liquor known as Feni.”

I appreciate how the bag of cashews that I purchased gives a condensed bit of information about the product, such as where they are sourced from and how they can benefit a healthy lifestyle. In addition to nutritional information, the bag also offers a list of suggested uses. On my bag, I’m told cashews are great for trail mix, nut butters, and salads. Because of my two positive results with Navitas, I can’t wait to try as many of their products as I can in the future – stay tuned for my future reviews!

I bought an 8 ounce bag of Navitas Naturals Raw Cashew Nuts for $5.99. I bought the collard leaves for the following recipe for $2.59 per bunch.

This meal requires two recipes, as you will want to make your own cashew “cheese” to add to the wraps. This is a healthy and raw treat that will definitely satisfy your hunger. I bought organic collard leaves from the Co-op that were harvested by Groundwork Organics, a farm located on 75 certified-organic acres just north of Eugene. The stems need to be cut off before the wraps are formed; otherwise, the wraps will not fold correctly.

Cashew-Asparagus “Cheese”
Makes enough for 2 collard wraps
Ingredients:

• ½ c. raw cashews
• ¼ c. water
• 8 stalks young asparagus or 4 regular stalks, cut in half
• 1 clove garlic
• ¼ t. sea salt
• 3 T. cold-pressed olive oil
• ½ t. nutritional yeast

Prepare:
Soak the cashews in water for at least an hour prior to making this recipe. Drain the nuts and add the water in a food processor. Process together until a creamy mixture is formed, and then add the other ingredients, processing between each addition. Add more liquid to create the desired consistency, if needed.

Collard Wraps
Makes 2 wraps
Ingredients:

• 2 large collard wraps, soaked in warm water to make them pliable
• ~1/2 c. cashew cheese (see recipe above)
• 2 baby carrots, sliced into quarters
• 1 small yellow squash, julienned
• 2 crimini mushrooms, sliced

Prepare:
Lay the collard leaves out on the counter. Onto each leaf, spoon about ¼ cup of the cashew “cheese”. Lay the carrots, squash, and mushrooms on top. Roll up the leaf, starting from the bottom, and keep it closed with a toothpick. Can be eaten immediately or stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Tags: cashew, cheese, vegan, vegan cheese
Posted in Recipes