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Purslane (Image from plant.photos.net) |
Mom said per - per was mostly prepared as a salad or quickly sautéed it in olive oil with garlic, but warned that overcooking made it somewhat slimy.
What does purslane taste like? Mom said its taste is similar to spinach, with an herbal, lemony tang. Personally, I wouldn’t know.
What Mom didn’t tell me was that purslane contains Omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and is a good source of Vitamins A and C – plus a bunch of other nutrients. Who knew?
Don’t rush to your local grocery store to find purslane. You’re better off going to a farmer's market or looking in a garden center where they sell potted flowers, herbs and vegetables - or if you find a packet of seeds (available on the internet), you can grow your own. It needs full sun, is generally drought tolerant and isn’t fussy about the soil’s condition.
Here’s a simple salad using purslane.
Purslane (Per - Per) Salad1 medium tomato, chopped
1 medium seedless cucumber, peeled, chopped
2 cups purslane leaves, gently, but thoroughly, washed; pat dry
2 cups lettuce (your choice), washed, cut into bit-sized pieces
½ cup Italian parsley, chopped
3 scallions, chopped
Place all of the salad ingredients in a large bowl.
Dressing:Juice of one lemon
3 Tbsp. olive oil
2 tsp. ground sumac, optional
Salt and pepper to taste
Whisk all of the dressing ingredients together. Toss with the salad. Serve with pita chips, if desired.
Love it! One of my favorite salads. Purslane grows like a weed and my mom will go pick it wherever she can find it during season. She makes fattoush with it. Similar to your recipe but add garlic!
ReplyDeleteHow lucky you are, Liz! Where, geographically, are you located, so others might might be able to find wild purslane, too?
DeleteWe are in the Boston area.
DeleteGreat, thanks!
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