Purslane

Varieties of purslane

There are two varieties of purslane: golden purslane and green purslane.           

Purslane, also called Portulaca oleacera, is a leafy vegetable grown like spinach.

It is an annual summer plant and entirely fleshy, with reddish stems, either horizontal or erect and split. The pivoting root has a whitish colour. The opposed leaves have a short leafstalk. They are obovate, sidelong at the base, sometimes serrated, very shiny, with a colour that ranges from green to red. The flowers are yellow and have four to six petals.

It is commonly known as "rose moss or moss roses", Bortolaiga or Porcelana.

Vegetable garden: growing purslane

In open ground, it can be sown until the end of September but, under sheeting or in seed nurseries, it is possible throughout winter.

To ensure germination, the temperature of the soil should be above 12°.

To keep the plants clear of each other, sow in rows at least 10 cm apart on bear open ground that has been raked but not tilled. Like cropping salads and watercress, purslane regrows rapidly once picked, as long as it is not cropped too low.

Purslane is present throughout the Mediterranean basin and grows easily even without a plentiful supply of water.

Production

The main producers are the Netherlands, England, France, Belgium, Germany.

Consumption

It must be eaten young, when it is very tasty, with a tender, moist consistency and a lightly acidulous, slightly sharp tang (the bigger leaves become hard and develop a strong taste). It is eaten from March to October and should be used soon after purchase, since it does not keep for long.

It is naturally rich in Omega 3 and is one of the elements that helps to explain the benefits of the famous "Cretan diet".

Nutritional values (per 100 g)

Nutritionist’s advice

Purslane is an excellent source of provitamin A and beta-carotene and has antioxidant properties.

It is also a source of iron and magnesium.

Its high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omega 3 and "essential fatty acids") makes it highly recommended for anyone.

What is about portions...?

-a child portion : a little fistful

-an adult portion : two medium fistfuls

Cooking and nutrition: tasty combinations

-Purslane and pepper salad with lemon and olive oil: the bioavailability of iron in which purslane is particularly rich is enhanced by the high levels of vitamin C in the pepper and lemon. This slightly tangy salad is made more mild by the addition of very ripe tomatoes.

-Soup with parmesan: extremely rich in calcium (purslane and cheese), this dish benefits from the addition of other vegetables with a good fibre content, in which purslane is not very rich (carrots, potatoes, tomatoes).

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