It is a succulent plant whose edible, delicious leaves are crunchy and slightly mucilaginous, with a tangy lemony and peppery flavor. It is known scientifically as Portulaca oleracea, and is also called pigweed, little hogweed, fatweed and pusley. Not only do the inhabitants of the Island eat it, but the chickens do too. It is generally harvested from early June till the end of summer, and can either be foraged or purchased, usually from a farmers market or through a CSA share. Although the stems are edible when still young (and can be pickled), cooks usually keep only the leaves and thin, spindly stems at the top, which are simply plucked from the central stem. – Stew with pork in a tomatillo sauce, Mexican-style (puerco con verdolagas) – Purslane + stone fruits (esp. Purslane’s leaves are thick, a little mucilaginous, and have a slightly peppery, sour and salty taste. – Purslane salad with walnuts, crispy bacon, and finely diced red onion You can certainly cook it, and there are many great Mexican recipes for verdolagas , … Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. The following are examples of culinary uses for the plant: Use it raw in salads, mixed with other ingredients. – Sprinkle over pizza just before serving – Steam briefly (2-5 min) and dress with olive oil and lemon juice – Add to sandwiches for crunch; it would be great in a lobster roll or an ABLT. feta) – Purslane salad with diced red bell peppers, lemon juice, and olive oil (the vitamin C in the bell peppers and lemon juice helps with the iron absorbency) – Purslane + duck We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Purslane was one of my favorite foods when I lived on the Island of Crete. – Purslane + avocado – Serve as a side salad with wild salmon, lobster, or crab, – No-cook cucumber and purslane soup References. Use caution when handling hot kitchen implements or food. – Purslane + fish There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. While the purslane is floating in the water, use scissors to trim and discard any thick stems. – Process purslane with a little cream or yogurt and make a green sauce to drizzle over fish. – Make green smoothies (purslane will make them creamier) with blueberries, kiwis, peaches, or tropical fruit (it’s okay to freeze purslane for use in smoothies) Vegetarian Batch-Cooking for Winter: 1 1/2-Hour Prep, 6 Easy Meals ! Repeat this process until you have no purslane left. – Purslane + shellfish Eating purslane is pretty much a matter of picking it and tossing it in a bowl, ideally with some salad fixin’s. % of people told us that this article helped them. Experiment with different toppings to discover your favorite way of eating it. Improper usage could result in injury, property damage, or a big mess. This is why chickens and eggs there are so high in Omega-3 fats. Unlike some wild plants which are bitter (and need to be boiled) or tough and stringy (and do best in a food processor), purslane has excellent flavor and texture, and can be prepared raw or cooked. By using our site, you agree to our. * Some people report that they find it growing from sidewalk cracks or in city parks, but I wouldn’t recommend foraging it from there. Purslane goes very well mixed with cucumber and topped with some oil-and-vinegar dressing. – Serve as a … C&Z is all about fresh, simple, and colorful foods from my Paris kitchen. Add purslane leaves to stews, curries, or soups to add seasoning and crunch to your meals. – Fattouche salad with toasted chips of pita bread It is thought to be an important component of the Cretan high-life-expectancy diet, and Michael Pollan has called it one of the two most nutritious plants on the planet in his In Defense of Food manifesto (the other is lamb’s quarters if you want to hunt for that too). They have a slightly sour edge (not as strong as wood sorrel) and a hint of a mucilaginous quality (not as strong … For example, you might try a light drizzling of teriyaki or soy sauce on the fried purslane. The seeds are safe to eat, but most of them will fall to the bottom of the sink anyway. – Purslane + nuts (esp. You can also choose to be notified when a new post is published. Use purslane leaves as a health-boosting ingredient to create delicious sweet or savory smoothies. Hello, I'm Clotilde! Use potholders and oven mitts to protect your hands and the surface of your counter when necessary. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. – Toss with pasta as in this pasta with tetragon peaches, nectarines, and plums), – Purslane salad with sesame oil, rice vinegar, gomasio, and strips of nori In cultivated fields, leaves and stalks of purslane , which can be abundant in gardens , can be eaten raw or cooked. – Add to scrambled eggs and omelets – Process purslane with a little cream or yogurt and make a green sauce to drizzle over fish – Use purslane in a stuffing for baked fish. Water whenever the … Learn more ». The leaves, flowers and stems are all edible, (I have never heard of anyone eating the roots--so I would avoid them). But be careful, there is a poisonous look alike! Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. It can be prepared in many ways, from salad to pickles , from soup to dinner. Vegetarian Batch Cooking for Summer: 1-Hour Prep, 6 Meals! Eating Raw and Sauteed Purslane. But purslane only made it onto plates in the family restaurant in the past few years. The texture of purslane stems and leaves are pretty crunchy, and the taste has been likened to that of spinach. black beans, lentils, and chickpeas) Use it in salads, as greens in a sandwich, or as a green topping for tacos and soup. Purslane is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids for vegans, vegetarians, and other people who do not or cannot eat fish. Purslane contains oxalic acid. – Purslane spanakopita Make a refreshing summer purslane salad as a side or an appetizer. – And if you ever tire of it, feed it to your chickens! almonds and walnuts) It possesses marked antioxidant activity. Our favorite way to eat purslane is to drink it in juicing recipes. – Purslane vinegar X Purslane is usually tossed into salads or added to soups in the Mediterranean area In Mexico, it’s a favorite addition to omelettes. – Sauté briefly (2-5 min) in olive oil Battle also uses purslane in pesto. If you are growing purslane in a container or basket use a commercial potting soil mix. – Purslane + eggs This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. If you are a person that is prone to urinary stones then you know to steer clear of oxalic acid containing foods. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Cinnamon Recipes: 263 Things To Do With It, Part I, Shiso Recipes: 43 Things To Do With Fresh Shiso. – Purslane salad with walnuts, sumac, and “grated” tomatoes, – Serve as a side salad with duck magret It's yummy, kind of lemony and grows everywhere. View the latest edition of the newsletter. Unless otherwise noted, all photos, texts, and recipes are copyright Clotilde Dusoulier © 2003-2020. Can you cook purslane? The leaves are hearty enough to stand up to light sautéing in a pan—try wilting them with garlic. It is a bit of a nutritional powerhouse, offering remarkable amounts of minerals (most notably calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium), omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins (A, B, C), and antioxydants. Purslane is rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Eat it raw, on its own, as a snack. Her focus is on fresh, colorful, and seasonal foods, making room for both wholesome, nourishing dishes and sweet treats. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. In Spanish is know as “Verdolagas” And they taste a little bit tart, you can use eat … Absolutely no reproduction is permitted without prior consent. The simplest way to enjoy purslane herbs in food is to eat it fresh and raw, any way you would spinach. Use of Chocolate & Zucchini constitutes acceptance of the site's House Rules, Terms and Conditions, and Privacy Policy. wikiHow's. – Purslane tzatziki (use purslane instead of, or in addition to the cucumber) – Purslane + tomato Purslane, a succulent ground cover that many toss out as a weed, is actually an extremely nutritious vegetable. Purslane’s high level of pectin (known to lower cholesterol) thickens soups and stews. T-shirts and merch! The wild variety, which is actually considered a weed by many gardeners, is rampant and has pinkish stems (see picture above), while cultivated varieties tend to grow vertically and display greenish stems. – Use as a garnish for gazpacho, chilled zucchini soup, or asparagus soup – Make a cucumber and purslane slushie – Purslane salad with chunks of peaches and fresh goat cheese, or with a peach dressing Purslane with fish. – Make tea with the leaves; it is said to help ease headaches, bring down a fever, soothe sore throats, and combat inflammation. Plant purslane in full sun and well-drained soil. Purslane has been used as a vegetable source of omega-3 fatty acids and is high in vitamins and minerals. Leftover ingredients should be used immediately in another dish or thrown away. Purslane is mostly eaten raw, but can also be cooked for a change of pace. – Purslane + legumes (esp. – Purslane + chili pepper Learn more... Purslane is an edible plant that can be found in most mild and temperate climates. Only use kitchen tools, like blenders, as directed. The jalapeno in the salad will be toned down by the flavor of the lemon. – Purslane salad with fregola sarda or Israeli couscous http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/purslane.html, http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/tomato_cucumber_purslane_salad/, http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/01/what-to-do-when-you-add-too-much-spice-make-less-spicy.html, https://www.eatbydate.com/vegetables/fresh-vegetables/salad-shelf-life-expiration-date/, http://66squarefeet.blogspot.fr/2013/07/cucumber-and-purslane-soup.html, https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/storagetimes.html, http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/98promotions/april/recipes.html, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The health benefits of getting more omega 3’s in the diet has been shown in many research studies. Purslane can also be lightly steamed for 4 to 5 minutes, then served with salt and a little butter. Cooking the plant for too long can make it slimy, so don’t steam or boil it for more than 10 minutes. Eating Purslane The leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds of the purslane plant are all edible, but I've only eaten the stems and leaves myself. – Purslane salad with grilled corn and a creamy avocado dressing – Purslane salad with a white dressing (i.e. Research source Insert all your ingredients into … wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. You can eat it raw or lightly steam it. Purslane has been consumed since ancient times, and because it grows easily in hot and not too dry climates, it is represented in many cuisines of the world, from Greece to Mexico, and from Turkey to India by way of South Africa. This article has been viewed 5,042 times. Make the breading process easier by lining up the bowls so the first one contains flour, the second beaten eggs, and the third bread crumbs. Serve the salad with. – Purslane + garlic And once you have your bowlful of squeaky clean and vibrant little leaves, what do you do with them? – Make green pancakes (recipe from my book!) Purslane Skin Benefits. – Purslane + cucumber – Purslane + hard cheese (esp. The leaves taste slightly citrusy and salty, with a peppery kick not unlike arugula, but with a juicier crunch to it. (Here’s a handy list of its aliases in different languages.). parmesan) {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cc\/Eat-Purslane-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Eat-Purslane-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cc\/Eat-Purslane-Step-1.jpg\/aid8848450-v4-728px-Eat-Purslane-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"