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RAW ZUCCHINI WRAPS + KALE PESTO

A healthy light snack or meal, these Raw Zucchini Wraps with simple vegan Kale Pesto are delicious and so easy to make!

raw zucchini wraps on a white plate

One delicious bite after another!

Not only are these zucchini roll-ups super healthy, but they’re refreshing, filling and fun to make. All these vibrant colors are good for you – full of antioxidants, nutrients, fiber and yes, even protein!

Fresh and raw is a beautiful way to eat. For optimal healthy, it’s recommended that at least half of our daily food consumption should be raw foods.

That’s not always easy, but hopefully this will be a fun way to add some rawness to your life. Your mind, body and soul will thank you!

a top down view of making raw zucchini wraps, sliced zucchini, fresh bell peppers, carrots, micro greens and spicy kale pesto, and toothpicks to hold them together once rolled

Ingredients You’ll Need

Thinly sliced zucchini is layered with kale pesto, fresh veggies and rolled into bite size zucchini wraps for a healthy and refreshing appetizer or light lunch.

Here is everything you will need:

  • Zucchini
  • Bell peppers
  • Carrots
  • Sprouts or micro greens
  • Cilantro
  • Kale
  • Almonds
  • Garlic
  • Tahini
  • Olive oil
  • Salt & pepper

Adjusting For Dietary Restrictions

  • Nut-Free: To make the kale pesto nut free, try replacing the almonds with pepitas or sunflower seeds. Or just opt for the tahini instead.
  • Oil-Free: Make this oil free by omitting the oil using veggie broth, water or tahini.

a top down view of a group of raw zucchini wraps filled with fresh bell peppers, carrots, kale pesto and micro greens freshly made and sitting on a wooden serving board

How To Make Zucchini Wraps

  • Kale Pesto: To make the simple vegan kale pesto, place the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until somewhat smooth, or desired consistency.
  • Zucchini Strips: Start by cutting of the ends of the zucchini, and slicing or peeling the zucchini lengthwise into thin strips. A medium sized zucchini will yield about 10 strips.
  • Assemble: Lay the zucchini strip on a flat surface, add about 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of kale pesto to 2/3 of the slice, stating at one end. Add a few micro greens to one end, than place a slice of carrot, and bell peppers on top. Starting at the end with the veggies, roll the zucchini strip into a wrap, place a toothpick on the end to hold it together. Finish it off with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

Recommended Tools: Tools you’ll need are toothpicks for holding the zucchini wraps in place, and a mandoline or vegetable peeler (affiliate links) to slice the zucchini into thin strips.

How To Store Leftovers

  • Refrigerator: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The zucchini will soften a bit after a day or so. For best presentation, serve right away or within a few hours of making.
  • If making ahead, keep your zucchini wraps stored in the refrigerator to ensure they stay chilled and at their best!

Serving Suggestions

Perfect for entertaining, bring raw zucchini wraps to your next potluck, game day party or picnic for a healthy vegan snack or appetizer. They’re great as a light lunch, dinner or make ahead meal for brown bag lunches too!

a top down view of raw zucchini wraps filled with fresh bell peppers, carrots, kale pesto and micro greens on a white plate with gold rim

More Easy Pesto Recipes

If you enjoy a good pesto, be sure to take a look at this:

If you try this raw zucchini wrap recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.

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RAW ZUCCHINI WRAPS + KALE PESTO

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 3 reviews

A healthy appetizer with zucchini, vegan kale pesto, bell peppers, carrots and micro greens. Make these for your next party or get together!

  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 10, 2 wraps per serving 1x
  • Category: Appetizer, Snack
  • Cuisine: Vegan, Raw

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
  • 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips or julienned
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips or julienned
  • handful carrots, julienned (I used baby carrots, cut into quarters)
  • sprouts/micro greens of choice
  • cilantro, optional
  • fresh cracked pepper & mineral salt
  • tooth picks

Small Batch Kale Pesto

  • 2 cups kale, packed (or 1 cup basil & 1 cup kale)
  • 2 tablespoons almonds
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 tablespoons tahini, optional
  • 3 tablespoons or so extra virgin olive oil (use water for oil-free)
  • himalayan salt, to taste

Instructions

Veggies: Amounts for the vegetables will vary on how many your making, use your best judgement on how much you will need. 1 medium zucchini will make about 10 thin strips. If you can’t find sprouts or micro greens, try using cilantro or fresh basil leaves.

Kale pesto: Place ingredients into food processor and process until desired consistency. Taste for seasoning.

Assemble: Lay your zucchini flat on a hard surface, layer with the pesto, place sprouts and 1 of each veggie in a mound on one end. Roll into a wrap and stick with a toothpick in the center. Top with mineral salt & cracked pepper.

Store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The zucchini will soften a bit after a day or so. For best presentation, serve right away or within a few hours of making.

Notes

Look for the smaller zucchini, they will be the perfect size for these bite size rolls. The length and width is just right, especially if using a peeler to cut into thin strips.

Use a mandolin to slice the zucchini. There are different types of mandolins from hand held to box types. Some have adjustments so you can decide how thick or thin you want your slices. If this is new to you do a google search and find the right one for you. I’m actually using a peeler, works great and is very easy to use!

If using tahini, you may need a tablespoon or so more water, use your best judgement. You don’t want runny pesto, pesto should be a thick paste.

Make your kale pesto nut free by subbing the almonds with pepitas or sunflower seeds.

Updated: This Raw Zucchini Wraps was originally published on April 2013, and has been updated with new photos and helpful tips on April 2019.

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13 Comments

  1. These are such a great idea, Julie, and I love the kale pesto. Basil pesto has such a strong presence – kale is a little more subtle and lets the other veggies shine. I see this going into a lunchbox soon. :-)

  2. These are so easy to make and delicious! This is my new favorite summer recipe!






  3. Made these and they are so good! What a lovely recipe, and so perfect for entertaining!






  4. Andy Bravo says:

    Hi Julie, I am absolutely in love with your blog! I just made the pesto but used spinach in place of the kale and must say that it also came out well. Thank you so much for the stellar recipes :) Cheers!

  5. Anonymous says:

    Made these for a couple of parties. I used pre-made pesto to save time. They look fresh and wonderful and tasted great — even my non-zucchini loving kid ate several. The only drawback is that you can't make them too far in advance because the water inherent in zucchini makes the rolls less tight after a while. Any tips on that?

    1. julie@thesimpleveganista says:

      I can't think of anything other than making as close to the time you'll be serving them and then keeping them refrigerated. Glad they were a success even with the slight drawback!

      1. The family loved this. Thanks Julie.






  6. Emily von Euw says:

    oh my gosh these look to die for! or should i say… to live for? fab work, as always.

    xox, em

  7. jane saracino says:

    Thanks for the great recipe! I will be making these for my guests tomorrow and let you know how they turn out!

    1. Your welcome, it's my pleasure. Would love to hear how they turn out. Cheers and have fun! :)

  8. They look awesome..I'm sure they taste awesome too :-) Lot of patience to make those thin slices !!

    1. They are great and fun to make…but they go fast! :)

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