Seasonal Spotlight: Purslane

We've been seeing a lot of purslane popping up recently at the Farmer's Markets. But what exactly is it?

Purslane is considered a weed by many, but little know it can be eaten as a vegetable. It's not very common in the US; it's more widely known in Europe and Asia. It can be eaten raw in salads, cooked like spinach, or used in soups and stews. The taste has been described as slightly salty.

Purslane has more beta carotene than spinach and the highest Omega-3 levels of any leafy green vegetable. How's that for "chock full of nutrition?" Purslane is best used fresh and can only be kept for a few days. The leaves and smaller stems are used; the larger stems are discarded. In San Francisco, we only see it in the farmer's markets in the summer and maybe early fall.

(Image: Kathryn Hill)

Comments (7)

It also has a sourness to it.

I'm wondering if it is some sort of a succulent?

Yes - it is a succulent. I actually grew it as an ornamental plant for a long time. The variety I had bloomed all summer with tons of tiny pink flowers. Very pretty.

I love it in a salad. It's lemony.

You know I had this stuff all over my garden last year and driving me crazy trying to keep it from choking out my swiss chard and string beans and I had no idea what it was. Well if it shows up again I know what to do with it now. Eat it!

HAHAHA!!!!

That stuff grows like wildfire on the east coast. Especially in the PA/NJ area. I like the taste, but have yet to really think of something that would pair well with it.

So, funny story. When I was visiting my parents a few weeks ago (in Connecticut), my mom came home from the farmer's market with a bunch of purslane -- she was so excited to try this new exotic treat. As we were walking out to eat outside, I started laughing. They have purslane, the exact stuff she'd just bought, growing all over their gravel driveway! Context is everything.

And the inevitable O. Henry twist: they had just finished drenching the driveway in pesticide to get rid of the "weeds," so now that they realize what it is, they still can't eat it. Oops.