Creamy Crunchy Napa Scoops

Forget the endives and buy some napa cabbage instead for an easy, fun, veggie-dipping lunch! Or appetizer or main…

Below you’ll find vegan, paleo and vegan-paleo toppings with all the flavor you want.

Dana Ketter

Creamy Crunchy Napa Scoops

Both a refreshing and comforting food to change up meal time…or add pizzazz to your appetizer menu!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 minutes mins

Total Time 18 minutes mins

Servings: 4 people

Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American

Calories: 590

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• ½ pound Parsnips
• ½ pound Carrots
• 1 lbs Sweet Potato about 2 small sweet potatoes
• 1 tbsp Coconut Oil
• 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 tsp Rosemary crushed
• 1 Lemon zested
• 1 Napa Cabbage (For a 2 lb cabbage, you'll likely use ⅙-⅛ of it per person)

Toppings

• 8 tbsp Pepitas roasted (1/2 cup)
• 8 tbsp Walnuts shelled, crushed (1/2 cup)
• 8 tbsp Almonds slivered, roasted (1/2 cup)
• 4 tbsp Goat Cheese (not Paleo)
• 8 oz Free Range Chicken Breast (try our Pulled Chicken recipe)
• 8 oz Wild Salmon
• 4 tbsp Bacon Bits (homemade) about 6 strips of bacon, chopped
• 4 tsp Hot Sauce or favorite Paleo sauce
• 2 Avocados half an avocado each

Equipment

• blender or food processor, knife, cutting board, steamer or pot with a steamer insert, stove, large bowl, measuring spoons, spoon

Method

 

Meat Toppings? Start here.

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

   BACON? Place bacon in spaced rows on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes. When done, dab with paper towels and cut horizontally into ¼ inch slices and add to a "toppings" bowl.

   SALMON? (Thaw the night before) Place fish on a foil-lined baking sheet with favorite herbs/spices (I recommend crushed rosemary, garlic, black pepper, or just use salt-free all-purpose seasoning). Bake for 15 minutes or until done. Break apart with a fork and add to a small "toppings" bowl.

   CHICKEN? Slice the chicken breast into 1/2" strips, place on a greased foil-lined baking sheet with favorite herbs/spices (I recommend crushed rosemary, garlic, black pepper, or just use salt-free all-purpose seasoning). Bake for 15 minutes or until done (165°F minimum internal temperature for 5 minutes). Time crunch? Use a pre-cooked Costco or Sam's club chicken.

The Puree

1. Wash, peel and slice your carrots and parsnips into 1/2" pieces. Wash peel and slice your sweet potato into 1/4" medallions or 1/2" cubes.
2. Place all three veggies in a steamer or a pot with a steamer insert with 1" of water.
3. Cook on medium-high for 7-10 minutes, until soft enough to puree.
4. In a food processor or trusty blender, combine the steamed carrots, parsnips, sweet potato, as well as the oils and spices – including the zest from the lemon.

   $-Savvy tip: use orange or grapefruit zest if you don't have a lemon on hand.
5. Blend until it reaches a creamy, smooth, even consistency — a puree.

Napa Cabbage – prep while carrots and parsnips are cooking

1. Wash and trim the cabbage. Save the leaves for a salad or wraps. Towards the middle to inner portion of the napa cabbage, the leaves get much smaller. Use these medium to small leaves for your scoops!

Building your scoops

1. Layer: Napa cabbage leaf, 2-3 tbsp of puree, desired toppings and sauce. For an appetizer, try using different toppings to create a variety of flavors and textures for your guests.
2. At-Work Alternative: Bring your parsnip/carrot/sweet potato puree in a bowl, with toppings already on it. In a baggie, bring your washed napa cabbage leaves. Dip and munch your way through lunch!

Notes

WHOLE RECIPE: Total Calories – 2,015 – 2,360. 

Total Cost – $8.70 – 12.50 .  Grade – B  .  *Monthly Cost – $518 – $637

Cost for Nutrition Facts Label version (base recipe + toppings: Bacon, Pepitas, Hot Sauce, Avocado):

Total Calories – 2,360.  Total Cost – $11.70  .  Grade – B  .  *Monthly Cost – $597

Programming Notes:

• Nutrition Facts Label – created for base recipe PLUS toppings: Bacon, Pepitas, Hot Sauce, Avocado.
• Use whatever portion of carrots and parsnips you have available to you. If you only have a couple carrots but a whole 1 pound bag of parsnips – just subtract out the number of parsnips for how many carrots you have!
• Don’t fret over “total carbohydrates”! There is an abundance of FIBER to help off-set the carb load.
• Napa Cabbage leaves (littlest ones on the inside of the cabbage) make for great “endive” substitutes in other recipes too! And for a lower cost with seasonal selections.
•  

*This refers to the monthly grocery bill if TWO PEOPLE ate cumulatively 4,000 Calories per day, and only ate this meal all month long.

Savvy Alternates Table for-the-Win…

Napa Cabbage is More Versatile than You Thought…

Here’s a table with external links for each recipe ingredient (plus a few alternate ingredient ideas). As previously mentioned, prices vary per region, season, city, store and personal preference for brand or specific type of food item.

TJ’s = Trader Joe’s . Sam’s = Sam’s Club