Edible Purslane Weeds and Easy Purslane Recipe (+ Health Benefits) (2024)

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Published by Izzy

on Sep 18, 2020

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Learn everything about Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) including its benefits, flowers, seeds, and Purslane recipes. This edible weed is a highly nutritious vegetable that’s good for you, we’ll show you how to make a healthy purslane salad with a step-by-step guide.

Edible Purslane Weeds and Easy Purslane Recipe (+ Health Benefits) (2)

Whatis Purslane Plant?

Also calledcommon purslane, purslane is an annual succulent. It’s a weedy plant that’s naturalizedin most parts of the world. It can thrive in poor soil, and you can find themin many cultivated fields, roadsides or even home gardens.

Purslane has small yellow flowers with 5 petals and yellow stamens. The plant blossoms from midsummer through early fall. The flower buds, leaves, and stems are all edible. It can be cooked as a vegetable and is great for recipes like salad, stir-fry, and sandwiches. (Below is a photo of the purslane plant growing in my garden.)

Edible Purslane Weeds and Easy Purslane Recipe (+ Health Benefits) (3)

PurslaneBenefits and Nutrition

Purslane isfar more nutritious than most of the crops we plant, and is actually consideredone of the most nutrient-dense foods on earth. Key nutrients and healthbenefits include:

  • Loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids.
  • It’s also rich in various antioxidants with a high level of vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin C. It has 6 times more vitamin E than spinach.
  • High in important minerals like magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron. As a result, it helps regulate blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Howto Eat Edible Purslane Weeds

The easiest way to eat purslane is to use it in a simple purslane salad. All you need is garlic, green onions, sugar, salt, pepper, oil, and optional chili pepper. Watch our video on how to make purslane salad.

Edible Purslane Weeds and Easy Purslane Recipe (+ Health Benefits) (4)

1. Once you harvest the plant, you’ll need to wash individual stems thoroughly. The leaves, stems, and flower buds are all edible.

2. Gather all the ingredients on the counter.

Edible Purslane Weeds and Easy Purslane Recipe (+ Health Benefits) (5)

3. In the boiling water, add a pinch of salt, and then add purslane. Cook for 1 minute.

4. Remove the purslane to a plate.

Edible Purslane Weeds and Easy Purslane Recipe (+ Health Benefits) (6)

5. In a skillet over medium heat, add oil. Once hot, add garlic, green onions, optional red chili peppers, sugar, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. Stir-fry for 1 minute.

6. Add the garlic mixture to the purslane. Toss the salad and enjoy!

Pro Tips: Although you can eat purslane raw, a quick blanchingmakes the leafy purslane much more palatable.

Edible Purslane Weeds and Easy Purslane Recipe (+ Health Benefits) (7)

MorePurslane Recipes

Purslanecan be enjoyed raw or cooked, just like spinach. Besides purslane salad, hereare some delicious purslane recipes:

  • Purslane Omelettes
  • Steamed Purslane
  • Grilled Cheese and Purslane Sandwich
  • Garlic Sautéed Purslane
  • Pasta with Garlic and Purslane

You canalso add it as a green topping for taco, soup, stews, and dips.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does Purslane Taste Like?

Raw purslaneis crunchy and tart. Once cooked, it tastes somewhat like a cross between okraand spinach.

Edible Purslane Weeds and Easy Purslane Recipe (+ Health Benefits) (8)

What Part of Purslane is Edible?

Once youremove the root, other parts are mostly edible: leaves, stems, and flower buds.Yong flower buds with unripe white seeds are completely edible. Once the seedsturn black, they’ll come out easily when you rinse the purslane in the water.

Howto Grow Purslane?

Find an areawith part to full sun and scatter the seeds. Don’t cover the seeds with soil aspurslane seeds need light to germinate. Purslane plants are not picky aboutsoil, but they tend to grow better in drier soil.

IsPurslane Invasive?

Purslane will grow and spread fast, and possibly take over an area if it’s not managed properly. But if you like to eat purslane, and make it into delicious dishes frequently, you can definitely keep it under control.

If You Like This Recipe Try These Out:

Edible Purslane Weeds and Easy Purslane Recipe (+ Health Benefits) (9)
Edible Purslane Weeds and Easy Purslane Recipe (+ Health Benefits) (10)
Edible Purslane Weeds and Easy Purslane Recipe (+ Health Benefits) (11)
Edible Purslane Weeds and Easy Purslane Recipe (+ Health Benefits) (12)

Edible Purslane Weeds and Easy Purslane Recipe (+ Health Benefits) (13)

Purslane Salad Recipe (+VIDEO)

By: Izzy

A simple and healthy purslane salad that’s quick and easy to make.

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 1 minute min

Total: 6 minutes mins

Servings: 4

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Ingredients

  • 4 cups purslane
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 stalk green onion
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • salt & pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • chili pepper, (optional, if you don’t like spicy food, you can skip this ingredient)
  • 2 teaspoons oyster sauce, optional

Instructions

  • Wash individual stems thoroughly. You can break bigger stems into smaller pieces.

  • Gather all the ingredients on the counter.

  • In the boiling water, add a pinch of salt, and then add purslane. Cook for 1 minute.

  • Remove the purslane to a plate.

  • In a skillet over medium heat, add oil.

  • Once hot, add garlic, green onions, optional red chili peppers, sugar, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. Stir-fry for 1 minute.

  • Add the garlic mixture to the purslane. Toss the salad and enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • You can also eat raw purslane, but I find 1-minute blanching makes it taste much better.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.

Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Izzy

I'm Izzy, a food lover and photographer. Here you’ll find a collection of simple recipes that are perfect for busy people. My blog aims to help you make and enjoy delicious and healthy food at home.

Read More About Me

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Edible Purslane Weeds and Easy Purslane Recipe (+ Health Benefits) (2024)

FAQs

How do you use purslane medicinally? ›

How is it used? The plant can be eaten cooked as a potherb and the juice can be ingested to treat diverse ailments. The seeds have important medicinal value, since they can lower blood glucose as well as show cyto-toxicity toward certain cancer cell lines (Al Sheddi et al, 2015; Quattrochi, 2012; Duke et al., 2009).

How much purslane should I eat a day? ›

Although this plant can be nutritious, much like wood sorrel, eat it sparingly as it also contains oxalic acid. To maintain a healthy oxalate level, it is recommended to eat less than 23g of purslane a day (6.71-8.69mg/g based on 200-300mg/day).

What are the healing powers of purslane? ›

Its use as a purgative, cardiac tonic, emollient, muscle relaxant, and anti-inflammatory and diuretic treatment makes it important in herbal medicine. Purslane has also been used in the treatment of osteoporosis and psoriasis.

What happens when you eat purslane? ›

Purslane contains plenty of antioxidants, such as: Vitamin A:It protects your eyes as well as improves your immune system. It's also critical to the health of your organs because it supports healthy cell division. Beta-carotene: It turns into vitamin A in your body.

Is purslane better raw or cooked? ›

To prepare purslane cooked, steam or sauté the greens and serve as a side dish or incorporate into a dish as you would wilted spinach or arugula. To get the most out of purslane's nutritional content, it is best to mix it up and eat it both raw and cooked.

Can you eat purslane raw? ›

Purslane is a green, leafy vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked. It is known scientifically as Portulaca oleracea, and is also called pigweed, little hogweed, fatweed and pusley.

How do you prepare purslane to eat? ›

The plant can be eaten raw, just pick some leaves off the plant and stuff them in your mouth. It can also be added to a salad, stew, soup or casserole. Just add it as you would add any other vegetable when making one of these dishes. What is purslane, and do you like to eat it?

Is purslane good for hair growth? ›

Purslane is packed with antioxidants, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and glutathione, which help to protect your hair from oxidative stress and environmental damage. This can help to prevent hair loss and promote healthy hair growth.

Is purslane anti-aging? ›

Purslane promotes the anti-aging enzyme telomerase which protects the cells DNA repair function acting like a regenerative fountain of youth for your skin. Purslane holds the distinction of highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids of any vegetable.

What part of purslane is edible? ›

This plant is extremely nutritious, famously providing high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, as well as a host of minerals and vitamins. Definitely, a weed you want to eat. I eat purslane all through summer, cooked in dishes or raw in salads. The whole plant is edible: flowers, leaves, stalks and seeds.

What are the side effects of purslane? ›

Side Effects. Only a few studies have assessed the potential side effects of purslane. It has been reported that purslane contains high levels of oxalate, which can lead to hyperoxaluria and an increased risk of calcium oxalate crystals and kidney stones [57].

Is too much purslane bad? ›

Can you eat too much purslane? Like with any food, you can overdo it, and that's certainly true with this herb. Researchers have found that it is relatively high in oxalic acid, an organic compound that has been linked to an increased risk of kidney stones and other health problems for some people.

Can you eat purslane leaves raw? ›

Purslane is a green, leafy vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked. It is known scientifically as Portulaca oleracea, and is also called pigweed, little hogweed, fatweed and pusley.

Can purslane treat an infection? ›

Common purslane has anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-oxidant effects along with wound healing accelerating properties. Moreover, the plant is used for thetreatment of urinary and gastrointestinal disorders as well as infections and fevers.

References

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