Another Free Food: Purslane

I'd never heard of purslane before Lynda sent me a recipe for purslane salad, and told me where to find it in my neighborhood.  It's actually thought of as a weed, although it's really a vine like succulent.  It's also good, and good for you.

Purslane herb has turned some heads at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, no less, reports Usha Palaniswamy, Department of Plant Science, University of Connecticut. "Purslane is receiving much attention for cultivation by the United States Department of Agriculture as part of their effort to bring about a modification in the western diet with increased intake of fresh fruits and vegetables."
Purslane just happens to contain alpha-linolenic acid, one of the highly sought-after Omega-3 fatty acids. Why pay money for fish oil when you can grow your own Omega-3 fatty acids as part of your edible landscaping? Especially when it takes little effort to grow purslane, since it does grow like a weed.

I was just told by a friend that purslane can be found for sale in some farmers' markets for around $7 a pound!!

 Purslane is more than merely edible landscaping -- it is a culinary delight! In fact, it is a succulent herb.Purslane's stem is round and smooth, and it trails along the ground like a small vine. Young plants have a green stem, but, with maturity, stems take on reddish tints. Purslane has small, oblong, green leaves, which form clusters. The leaves resemble small wedges and, like the stem, are juicy.

In order to preserve purslane's juiciness for eating, harvest this delight of your edible landscaping in the morning or evening, when you won't have to compete with intense sunlight. Purslane can either be used raw in salads or sauteed as a side dish. In addition to the crispy texture you would expect from a succulent, purslane also has an interesting peppery flavor.
Star chef Steve Johnson has a purslane cooking recipe for cucumber-yogurt salad (you can view his recipe for purslane at the Star Chefs Web site). Although you won't find it at the salad bar of your local fast-food stop any time soon, purslane has made it onto the menu of a number of upscale restaurants.

But there's more to the eating of the herb, purslane than its use in gourmet recipes. Its benefits extend to nutrition. Not only does purslane have five times the amount of Omega-3 fatty acid that spinach has, but it also has stems high in vitamin C. Omega-3 fatty acids are instrumental in regulating our metabolism. Purslane also contains alpha-linolenic acid.

If you can find purslane in your neighborhood, pick some and try this recipe.  Look on line for other ways to use this nutritious weed.