Purslane

An Herbal Narrative

Portulaca Oleracea
Verdolagas (spanish).

“Where is it?!”

Every year in frenzied panic, I think I have missed the purslane. I look everywhere and see none. A week later, without fail, it is everywhere, and for a period of time that could not easily have been missed.

This is such a fine plant for everyone. From southern fajitas to Grecian salads, to Eastern European pastries, soups, and tzatzikis, to seed cakes in Australia purslane is a marker of fine traditional cuisine world round. ­

Not only do human’s love this plant, but it’s neighboring photosynthasizers are jazzed as well. Purslane helps the plants around it by growing close to the ground, using its body to hug moisture to the soil. In addition some plants, like corn, send their roots deeper into the soil quicker by following the forged paths of purslane taproots. And of course, like many weeds, purslane brings nutrients to the surface building soil and the capacity of neighboring plants.

Because the exposed soil of a garden bed is such an inviting environment, the magic moment in later-mid-summer brings an explosion of purslane, which often startles and panics backyard gardeners. That is when I swoop in. They welcome me to take my fill. I fill my belly a few times over while I fill my buckets. Later I rinse, dice, and freeze gallons of what I bring home, for use throughout the year. Purslane is full of omega-3s (so much that I call it “land salmon”) and while it is enjoyable to eat lots all at once, it is most beneficial to eat omegas regularly. So when the boom-time wanes I am set for at least a few months of tossing frozen purslane into soups, stir fries, and smoothies.

Purslane’s salty sour flavor is refreshing and varies, along with it’s nutrient profile, throughout the day and through the season. Taste some now and some later. Can you catch the differences between morning, mid day, and evening? Between mid and late summer?

Like spinach and many other high mineral, high antioxidant foods, purslane has some oxalates. So if you are sensitive to oxalates please keep this in mind. You may monitor your intake or try eating with other high calcium foods like yogurt. Otherwise it is a very nutritious plant that should be enjoyed.