Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

**Durgan** · 08-09-2011, 06:43 AM

8 August 2011 Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) 8 August 2011 Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

Usually purslane is prevalent in most gardens. It is probably the most ubiquitous plant throughout the world, usually growing in places not wanted, hence classified as a weed. It is a plant that should be utilized as food. It is similar to water cress in texture, and is am nice supplicant to salads. I am constantly removing large patches of purslane from my vegetable garden. It is almost impossible to eradicate.

**low-1** · 08-09-2011, 07:59 AM

Purslane is considered by some to be a "super food", containing more omega-3 fatty acids than any other leafy vegetable plant.

From Wiki:

Purslane contains more omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid in particular[4]) than any other leafy vegetable plant. Simopoulos states that Purslane has 0.01 mg/g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). This is an extraordinary amount of EPA for land-based vegetable sources. EPA is an Omega-3 fatty acid found mostly in fish, some algae, and flax seeds.[5] It also contains vitamins (mainly vitamin A, vitamin C, and some vitamin B and carotenoids), as well as dietary minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron. Also present are two types of betalain alkaloid pigments, the reddish betacyanins (visible in the coloration of the stems) and the yellow betaxanthins (noticeable in the flowers and in the slight yellowish cast of the leaves). Both of these pigment types are potent antioxidants and have been found to have antimutagenic properties in laboratory studies.[6]

**vigilant20** · 08-09-2011, 08:09 AM

Has anyone tried it? I have a friend who just finished talking about eating bark tell me it was horrible so I've been afraid to try...lol. I do always have plenty in my garden though.

**Durgan** · 08-09-2011, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by vigilant20

Has anyone tried it? I have a friend who just finished talking about eating bark tell me it was horrible so I've been afraid to try...lol. I do always have plenty in my garden though.

Purslane is put in almost all my Summer garden salads. I eat some purslane, when walking through the garden and see a pristine clump. It is particularly good after a gentle rainfall. I have only eaten it raw. This year the growth and quantity is outstanding.

**frugalfranny** · 08-09-2011, 01:20 PM

I will have to check mine...........god knows I have enough
of it........I usually just toss it.

One suggestion was to saute it...........might do that.

Wild Eats: Purslane, the Delicious Weed – Eat Drink Better

**craftypam** · 08-09-2011, 03:16 PM

I bought purslane at Meijer one year and love it. I have a very hard time finding it where I live. Even people at the nursery did not know what I was talking about until I learned the technical name of it. I finally found it at ONE nursery!!!! What state do you live in that this comes up as weeds? Is it a perennial? If so what zone?

Thanks
Pam

**Russ** · 08-09-2011, 03:24 PM

Come to my house Pam, pick all you want.

**Durgan** · 08-09-2011, 08:58 PM

Purslane nutrition facts and health benefits An informative article about purslane

**craftypam** · 08-09-2011, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by Russ

Come to my house Pam, pick all you want.

Russ,
Does it come back every year? Should I save mine?
Thx

**Durgan** · 08-09-2011, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by craftypam

Russ,
Does it come back every year? Should I save mine?
Thx

Purslane comes back every year. It is almost impossible to eradicate. It is easy to control by pulling or hoeing, but is always present.

**Durgan** · 08-10-2011, 09:28 PM

10 August 2011 Purslane Cooked and Pressure Canned. 10 August 2011 Purslane Cooked and Pressure Canned.

Some Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)was steam cooked and pressure canned to determine if the process has some merit or not. The taste is acceptable and the texture is such that it can be treated as juice. There is little fiber so there was no need to strain. It is simply another vegetable for use in the off season. One liter will be utilized for consumption over the next few days and kept in the refrigerator.

**marlas1too** · 08-15-2011, 10:19 AM

i have got to can some purslane for my stores

**frugalfranny** · 08-17-2011, 01:20 AM

I saw two huge plants of this today while out in the garden...........and I JUST COULDN'T SAVE IT...........I looked it over....then tossed it...........maybe another time. Will have to just pick one leaf and taste it........

How do you clean it?

One plant I wouldn't have saved anyway as it is in an area where I have used chemicals this year.

And I am usually game to try anything new.......

**Durgan** · 08-17-2011, 06:12 AM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

I saw two huge plants of this today while out in the garden...........and I JUST COULDN'T SAVE IT...........I looked it over....then tossed it...........maybe another time. Will have to just pick one leaf and taste it........

How do you clean it?

One plant I wouldn't have saved anyway as it is in an area where I have used chemicals this year.

And I am usually game to try anything new.......

Choose a clean, fresh plant and pull it up by the roots carefully and cut the root away. Simply break it into chunks and eat like you would water cress. Conversely steam cook the plant after breaking into small pieces. The plant is usually pristine after a rain, but may be dirt filled, which washes off easily. Cooked it tastes like any steamed green spinach, Swiss chard, etc.