Hamish
06-19-2013, 10:05 PM
A few years ago this little jewel popped out all over my garden after I tilled it an extra time:
Meet the Purslane plant:
74042
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulaca_oleracea
The most overlooked, unnoticed jewel on the planet, this plant is versatile as can be, very tasty, and just plain healthy for you.
Once you learn to recognize it you will be amazed at how many places you will find it.
Raw in just about any kind of salad you can think of, cooked, it goes in just about anything. While young, the stems are pale and are palatable to most anyone. Once the stems begin to turn reddish purple they get firmer and crunchier, with a citrusy taste and most fry the stems at that point. (I like them raw until they start getting woody) The only real drawback is that once it flowers you will have trouble getting rid of the tiny little seeds that are akin to crunching soft sand.
Our personal favorite is a salad of purslane, raisins, bacon bits, mandarin oranges, sliced almonds, onion, and a sweet red wine vinegar dressing. It sounds a little weird, but it's freakin fabulous!
74046
The next time you start to pull a weed around the house, or step over that plant growing out of the sidewalk take another look, you just might find lunch!!
Meet the Purslane plant:
74042
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulaca_oleracea
The most overlooked, unnoticed jewel on the planet, this plant is versatile as can be, very tasty, and just plain healthy for you.
Once you learn to recognize it you will be amazed at how many places you will find it.
Raw in just about any kind of salad you can think of, cooked, it goes in just about anything. While young, the stems are pale and are palatable to most anyone. Once the stems begin to turn reddish purple they get firmer and crunchier, with a citrusy taste and most fry the stems at that point. (I like them raw until they start getting woody) The only real drawback is that once it flowers you will have trouble getting rid of the tiny little seeds that are akin to crunching soft sand.
Our personal favorite is a salad of purslane, raisins, bacon bits, mandarin oranges, sliced almonds, onion, and a sweet red wine vinegar dressing. It sounds a little weird, but it's freakin fabulous!
74046
The next time you start to pull a weed around the house, or step over that plant growing out of the sidewalk take another look, you just might find lunch!!