It was back in 2016 when I first learned about purslane. Although it is considered a weed and grows in most places, you can buy seeds to get it started around your house.
I ordered seed and planted it that year and it’s come back every year and even spread to other places in the yard.
Purslane is a pretty little plant with succulent leaves and stems that are a reddish color. The blooms aren’t especially flashy but they are nice. In addition to being attractive purslane also tastes good.
By far the easiest way to use purslane as an edible is to eat it raw mixed with other salad greens. My favorite way to cook the plant is also pretty quick and easy.
Dice up an onion and cook in your favorite oil until it’s just beginning to brown around the edges. Throw in a minced clove of garlic and let cook for a minute. Next add some diced tomato and a handful or two of chopped purslane. Cook for eight to ten minutes and serve as a side dish. Other vegetables can be added depending on what you have on hand or what you prefer. I love to fry up some cornbread to eat with mine. It’s also especially good over rice.
If you do choose to utilize wild growing purslane make sure it’s not been sprayed by something harmful. The stems are edible as are the flowers once it blooms.
Purslane is so packed full of nutrients that it is often referred to as a super food. You can read more about the plant and find a plethora of purslane recipes here.
Last night’s video: Clearing New Ground | Instant Gardening in the Mountains of Appalachia.
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Thank you for writing about this wonderful plant. My Mom used to try to feed us this. She told us it had lots of good iron in it.
I have not seen purslane for quite a while. Growing up, I saw it commonly as a weed in the garden. I have not seen it in my garden. I have, however, seen lots and lots of cudweed and am now getting dog fennel. I’d be more than happy to swap for purslane any ole time.
I think I have some growing in the garden. I’ll have to try it!
Most wild edibles has a poisonous look alike that a newbie forager would need to keep in mind. Purslane is a succulent, while the sort of look a like I checked out a few month’s back I think is spurge. I have a pack of seeds, as I am a lover of all things green. I want to get time to read further of where its best to plant. I had started leaving it in my garden, but it would take over. Great post, Tipper, as many want to forage but sadly have lost the advantage of having identification skills handed down in family. A video of wild foraging greens sure would be interesting. There are many on YouTube, but would be so much more interesting coming from “Celebrating Appalachia.” You contribute so very much that I do not think you can even realize the impact you have on furthering the knowledge about our wonderful Appalachia.
I grew up knowing that purslane was edible but like most greens I wouldn’t eat it. Mommy called it pussley, I called it pigweeds. When we weeded the garden we fed the weeds to the pigs. They would root through the pile and pick out the purslane. Pigs prefer purslane, they love it!
Now, if I feed the purslane to a pig, then eat the pig, I am eating purslane? Porcine processed purslane?
Never heard of purslane, might have to get some seed.
Thanks Tipper
Last night, less than 24 hours from this post – I went through my seeds to see what I wanted to start next. I found the purslane packet but it said that the leaves were bitter. I tossed the seeds all into the edge of a flower garden as I really didn’t want to eat bitter stuff. I normally save the packets for the information but I threw it away, also. Less than 1 day ago! Now I’m wondering if there are two kinds of purslane. I once bought a plant for it’s beautiful but small blooms and tasted the leaves, they were good! That’s why I ordered the seeds. I need to do more research into the varieties! Thanks for your post today concerning purslane.
Tipper, your combination sounds really good, and I’ve never ate it any other way but raw.
Many thanks to Tipper for the rice pudding recipe. It’s one of my absolute favorite dishes. Also…what got into matt while you two were eating popsicles behind the house there? He looked like a bug got under his hat!
Ray-You are welcome! The bees love Matt 🙂
I’ve got to try some purslane. Thanks for sharing this with us. Now, I need to see about ordering some seeds.
Purslane must not grow in eastern KY or mom would have found it and fixed it like she did so many other wild plants. I should order the seeds to make sure I’m not eating something harmful. I’m all about super food so I might whip out my super-duper Lens app and go pick some for my salad.
Shirl, I don’t know what part of E.KY. you were raised in but in NE.KY. I’ve seen it all my life. No one knew it as purslane but was called pusslee.
Going outside to look for some purslane ,I ‘ll try anything once ❤ sounds delish
We have quite of an abundance of this plant growing around our house. I may just have to try it and see if it’s something we would like. It’s interesting how what we call a weed is considered a superfood!
A lot of “weeds” are edible. It would be a good idea to learn which ones are edible as we may need to depend on them at some point. Thanks Tipper for sharing your knowledge of purslane. Maybe you can share about some other “weeds” as well.
I fought purslane in my garden for years before I knew than it was nutritious and delicious. I usually preferred it raw or steamed with butter. I love reading your blog every morning.
I always enjoy your blog! While I don’t read every blog but when I do, I either learn something new or it brings back wonderful memories of my grandparents. Even though we don’t live in the mountains, so many of the sayings you talk about, our family uses many of those sayings a lot. Thank you.
Wow…thanks for the info…gotta get me some of those seeds…sounds great…Have a Blessed day and week.