With summer coming I have started to crave healthy raw food. Anyone else feel me? Well have no fear because I have created some fully raw, uber tasty, and surprisingly filling and satisfying food for you to balance with those cookies you just baked.
Sidenote, even though I talk about using NOW Foods raw walnuts here, this post is not sponsored. I do work with them and have a post coming soon using one of their new awesome products, but in this post I simply wanted to show you all the nuts that I use.
Now that that is settled, let's move on to your next creative project: raw zucchini roll ups! These are the perfect appetizer, snack, dinner (I ate at least 20 one night)...you name it.
They are filled with veggies (duh) and the "meat" filling is AHmazing. I took a creative spin on it, I wanted to do something different than all those other raw meaty crumbles out there, so I decided to add veggies IN the mix! It worked brilliantly!
Not only did they add to the texture, but you cannot taste them and so you are getting an even extra dose of veggies for free.
So what did I sneak in? Well, we have the regular raw "meat" go-tos: walnuts and sun dried tomatoes. And then we have my unique additions: zucchini and mushrooms.
The key here is that you need to peel the zucchini. This leaves behind the softer, milder in flavor, veggie middle. Plus you add in mushrooms, caps only, and get a powerhouse of a mixture!
Both of these add some chewiness to the texture plus give it that uniqueness I was going for. I'm tell ya friends, you need to try this! The sky is the limit on what you can put it on.
Ways you can use the raw veggie walnut "meat"
- as a nacho topping
- a dip for crackers and veggies
- in a wrap, taco, or burrito
- on pizza
- directly into your mouth
- and of course, these raw zucchini roll ups (<-- best option for bikini prep)
Check out these other great appetizers!
- Vegan Summer Rolls
- Healthy Twice Baked Vegan Potato Skins
- Smoky Jalapeño Ranch Vegan Cheese Ball
- Vegan Enchilada Casserole
Raw Mexican Zucchini Roll Ups with Veggie Walnut “Meat”
Ingredients
Raw Mexican Veggie Walnut “Meat”
- 1 small sized zucchini
- ½ cup chopped mushrooms caps only (see note)
- ¼ cup sundried tomatoes dry or in water, not oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
- 3 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 ½ teaspoons cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup raw walnuts soaked overnight (I use NOW Foods brand)
Roll ingredients:
- 1 medium sized zucchini
- 1 yellow pepper
- 1 red pepper
- 1 avocado
- Chili Taco Crema (if you don’t make or have raw cashew milk, replace it with water in this recipe to keep this full raw)
- Extra cilantro optional
- A few pinches of sea salt to salt zucchini
Instructions
- If you are using dried sundried tomatoes, place them in a bowl of hot water to soften them.
- Peel the small sized zucchini until you have peeled off all of the green areas, you should see a light yellow green color underneath. They are slippery so if you peel over the trashcan hold tight so it doesn’t fall in (don’t ask me how I know this). Slice the peeled zucchini until you fill a ¾ cup, and add it to a food processor.
- Now put in the mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, cilantro, garlic, lemon juice, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin and salt into the food processor.
- Next add the walnuts on top of the other ingredients. Make sure you add the ingredients in the order stated. It’s important to have them this way to achieve the texture of a meaty crumble.
- Pulse the ingredients slowly until you get a crumble like texture. Don’t do this too fast or you will get walnut butter (again don’t ask me how I know this). It takes some patience but it will eventually get crumbled.
- Once it is ready put the mixture into a bowl and set aside. The longer it sets, the better the flavors marinate and come through.
- Peel and then slice the medium sized zucchini into very thin strips, you should get about 16 if you sliced them thin enough, I used a mandolin. Salt them and allow them to sit while you prepare the rest in order to draw out some of the water.
- Slice the yellow pepper, red pepper and avocado into matchstick sized slices. Make the Chili Taco Crema if you haven’t.
- In order to assemble, wipe the salt off of the sliced zucchini. Lay one flat and spread some of the meat onto the slice, covering about half.
- Next lay a layer of peppers, avocado, and cilantro on top of the meat aligning the bottom edges of the veggies to the zucchini slice so the top of the veggies stick above the slice of zucchini. Then drizzle a touch of crema over the meat and veggie area.
- Then starting on the end that has meat and veggies, carefully begin to roll until you reach the other end of the zucchini. You may need to secure the end of the zucchini with a dab of taco crema.
- Assemble on a plate, drizzle some more crema and devour!
Notes
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
Jenn
Little bite size eats are my fave! Perfect for a light lunch, snacking, or party apps. Yum!
veggiesdontbite
Mine too! Especially for summer!
Melissa | Bless this Mess
These look delish and I love how healthy and fresh they are! Perfect for summer!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you!
Sarah Newman
These are stunning Sophia! I've been eating more raw foods too and recently enjoyed a walnut taco salad. These rollups look like really fun party food!
veggiesdontbite
Awe, thank you!! These are super fun party food, or even if you just want to throw yourself a party. HA!!
Linda from Veganosity
I love easy, fresh, and colorful foods in the summer. I don't like spending time in the kitchen when the sun and beach is beckoning. These look like the perfect grab and go summer food.
veggiesdontbite
I'm right there with you!! The more I can be outside the better, especially with our new yard almost ready!
Jasmine
Love the presentation!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you!!
sara | belly rumbles
I love the sound and the look of walnut meat. I've never tried it before but I really do want to now! Your roll ups look so fresh and delicious, I would have eaten at least 20 as well!
veggiesdontbite
Ha! Great minds! You definitely should give it a try sometime!
Diana
The idea of stuffing these rolls with walnuts is genius! I will try this next time I have a party for my friends, as some of them are vegetarian!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks! It's super tasty too!!
Uma
Very innovative and healthy snack for summer party or any occasion! Love it:)
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Uma!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
These roll ups are so cute! Raw Walnut Meat is the best! I love it in taco salads.
veggiesdontbite
It's so good in taco salads! In tacos. On nachos...I should write a Dr. Seuss book on all the fun ways! LOL!
Lynn | The Road to Honey
This is such a good idea Sophia. Not only are these little beauties full of nutritious ingredients but they are also visually a lot of fun too. They would be perfect served as appetizers at summer cookouts.
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Lynn! I try and pack in the nutrients but keep yummy flavor as much as possible!
michele
I love that you give other uses for the walnut meat! I am especially looking forward to trying it on nachos! 🙂
veggiesdontbite
So many uses!! It really is good on nachos! We just did it that way a few days ago.
Becky Striepe
These would be such a good finger food for a party! And I'm all over that sauce.
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Becky! Total good finger food!
Ginny McMeans
What a nice way to serve up a new appetizer. Great idea!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Ginny!!
Dianne
These wraps look so good! They're perfect for days when it's too hot to cook!
veggiesdontbite
Totally! And I am hoping those days come soon!!
Kristina
totally craving raw and fresh these days, but I always do when summertime rolls around! raw nut 'meat' recipes are always welcome too.
veggiesdontbite
Isn't it funny how we eat by season??