These wretched ground-hugging weeds, some of which I've found growing to a diameter of about 4 ft, have decided that the newly turned soil up at the barn is just perfect for them to establish themselves 'en masse'.
I was recently showing some of the more invasive individuals to a friend (St Theresa of the Floral Tribute), when she just happened to remark that it might be edible. Well, as you can imagine, this got me very excited.
I looked it up on Wiki, watched a short YouTube film about it, and eventually decided that 'Yes', it was definitely PURSLANE.
Greater knowledge than mine suggested that both the red stems and the small paddle-shaped leaves are edible. So I picked a plant with large leaves, and had a go.
Frankly it's DULL, uninteresting, nondescript. It has no real flavour, and to be perfectly honest I'd only eat it in a dire emergency; although I understand that it does have some favourable nutritional qualities.
It has now (disappointingly) re-joined the ranks of inedible 'weeds'. If anyone can convince me otherwise; I'm always open to being convinced!
My niece told me once that you only need to eat anything six times before you like it. Everyone around here except me loves turnip greens. I have eaten those many times. I still do not really like them.
ReplyDeleteMaybe there ARE people who like Purslane, but to me eating should always be a pleasure.
DeleteCro, I certainly cannot argue with that statement and it is something I should think about the next time I grab whatever is handy rather than fixing something I really like.
DeleteA lot of these so-called edible weeds are completely tasteless in my opinion - I don't know why people bother.
ReplyDeleteThis weed is a real pest. I remember our neighbour telling us it was edible but I've never felt like trying it. At least it is shallow rooted and easy to pull out.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like what we call pig weed here. I will have to google it to see if it is the same thing.
ReplyDeletePurslane is from the Portulaca family of plants and I grow them in hanging baskets. They flower in the daytime and close up at night. They are succulents and can handle our hot summers. The colors of the flowers vary and I think they are magnificent. I don't think I would want to eat them, but I would use them as a centerpiece on my outdoor tables.
ReplyDeleteI read that the seed of the Himalyan Water Balsam - real pest of a weed here in Blighty - are tasty and makes good curries (thinking of your dahl!) I don't know if it grows there, but in the interest of frugality and gastronomy one of us ought to experiment !!
ReplyDeleteGill
Will you accept this tasting of Purslane as my own contribution to your 'frugality and gastronomic' experiment?
DeleteIf times get tough it may save you from starvation.
ReplyDeleteIf I can crawl up to the barn, you'll find me gnawing at the ground.
DeleteThe sheep like it so we toss it over the fence when we weed.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the chicken like it?
DeleteI have had it in a frittata for a lunch meze in Greece.
ReplyDeleteI finally admitted I liked the look of purslane growing in my rock garden and left it there. The older I get the more "giving in" I do. Perhaps its good to smoke?
ReplyDeleteI had added that and lambs quarter to salads when i had some unexpected guests for supper. I didn't have quite enough lettuces and greens on hand, so these helped fill out things a bit. I found the purslane (also known as pig weed in the US) was a nice contrast to the spicy arugula/rocket and mustard greens.
ReplyDelete