Have you ever wondered how to eat purslane (Portulaca oleracea) – one of the most common garden ‘weeds’ in the world. Below I have listed 20 ways to eat purslane and there are so many more!

It’s a shame that purslane is most often considered an unwelcome guest or simply ignored. It’s great food that can be found growing extensively around the world and since antiquity it has been regarded as a valuable medicinal and edible herb.

Yes, purslane is actually a very useful plant to find in your garden. The leaves, stems, flower buds and seeds of purslane are all edible.

EAT THE LEAF, STEM AND BUDS

As a vegetable it can be eaten raw and cooked, in salads, juices, sandwiches, dips, pesto, stir fries, quiches, soups, curries, stews, sauces and more.

EAT THE SEED

The little black seeds can be used as a tea and can be eaten too. They taste a bit like linseed/flaxseed.  Indigenous Australians used to use the seeds of purslane to make flour for seed cakes. In dry parts of Australia each plant can yield 10,000 seeds.

DID YOU KNOW?

1. Purslane has more omega-3 fatty acids than any other leafy vegetable.
2. Purslane has seven times more beta carotene than carrots.
3. Purslane is an excellent source of Vitamin A (44% of RDA) – one of the highest among leafy greens.

20 Ways To Eat Purslane

1. Purslane and cucumber
2. Purslane andtomato
3. Purslane and avocado
4. Purslane and nuts
5. Purslane and garlic
6. Purslane and lemon
7. Purslane and eggs
8. Purslane and fresh feta
9. Purslane and legumes
10. Purslane dip
11. Purslane, cucumber and tomato salad
12. Purslane in potato salad
13. Purslane salad with quinoa or couscous
14. Purslane in spanakopita
15. Purslane in dahl
16. Purslane in curry
17. Purslane in scrambled eggs, omelete and quiche
18. Sauteed purslane – a few minutes in olive oil
19. Pickled purslane
20. Green purslane savoury pancakes

This is a nice recipe for purslane dip.

• 1 cup of purslane (and perhaps some other leafy greens)
• ½ cup organic or homemade plain yoghurt
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• a couple of garlic cloves or handfuls of garlic chives, finely chopped
• ¼ teaspoon good salt to taste
• Blend and serve with homemade sourdough bread, vegetable sticks or handmade crackers. Also lovely as a side dish with curry.

Purslane can also be used to make amazing drinks.

1. Purslane in a green smoothie
2. Purslane leaf tea
3. Purslane and watermelon slushie

Important note: be careful where you wild harvest purslane. Avoid areas with possible contamination – exhaust, chemicals, dogs …

What ways do you eat purslane?

For more information about purslane:

Purslane: Nourishing Produce or Annoying Pest?

Information about Purslane by Isobel Shippard