Try some red cabbage shredded, sauteed a little with some apple cider vinegar and a couple scoops of sugar. It needs to be crunchy still. Great side dish for bbqed burgers or whatever.
Shredded cabbage is awesome. Keep it raw for something like you said, give it a quick braise with vinegar to make it a highlight in almost every dish. Texture, flavour, all wrapped up in a head of cabbage. And it's cheap. And easy to grow.