Purslane: Health Benefits, How to Cook It, and Why It’s Not Just a Weed

If you have weeds in your garden, you’re probably growing purslane. This plant is not only edible but also very nutritious—it’s even grown as a crop. Discover purslane’s surprising health benefits and how to cook purslane.

What Is Purslane?

• Edible succulent plant
• Grows in gardens and wild areas
• Rich in omega-3 fatty acids
• Used in Mediterranean, Mexican, and Greek cooking
• Considered a superfood

Common purslane, Portulaca oleracea, is a succulent used in Greek and Italian cooking. Immigrants from India originally brought it with them; it then escaped into gardens and backyards and is now naturalized worldwide. Over centuries, purslane has been treated as a medicinal wonder, a cultivated ornamental, an annoying weed, and an edible leafy green!

Purslane leaves resemble those of a tiny jade plant. When plucked for recipes, they lend a lemony, tangy flavor that’s reminiscent of sorrel; it’s a good substitute for watercress, spinach, and arugula.

Purslane Health Benefits

Amazingly, purslane is one of the world’s most nutritious wild edible plants. It’s now considered a superfood and is showing up in farmers’ markets and even fancy restaurants nationwide, often in salads or sandwiches. Meanwhile, most gardeners will find purslane growing right in their vegetable beds!

Nutritionally, purslane can boast:

• Seven times the beta-carotene of carrots!
• Six times more vitamin E than spinach!
• Five times more omega-3 fatty acids than spinach!
• Significant amounts of vitamins A and C, as well as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and antioxidants.

Purslane is also said to be a natural remedy for insomnia. It has many of the same health benefits as other leafy greens. 

Is Purslane a Weed or a Crop?

Purslane is a plant that most of us here in North America consider a weed. I start seeing purslane in the spring in my own garden.

Because I now know it’s a healthy green, I let it grow in between my rows of carrots and beets and in other places where it isn’t bothering my veggies. Once it touches my crops, I take it out and eat it!

How to Harvest Purslane

To harvest purslane, it’s a good idea to pull it up completely and then cut off the stems from the piece attached to the root.

Compost the rest of the plant (the root) or feed it to your chickens! Some companies are now actually selling purslane seeds so that they can be added to a garden on purpose—a delightful, nutritious extra for the enthusiastic gardener.

How to Cook Purslane

How do people eat purslane? Once you’ve cut off the root, the individual stems need to be washed carefully. Purslane has little crevices to hold the soil, so you really need to use a hose to get ALL the dirt off. 

• In the Mediterranean area, purslane is usually tossed into salads or added to soups.
• In Mexico, it’s a favorite addition to omelets.
• Purslane can also be lightly steamed for 4 to 5 minutes, then served with salt and a little butter.
• Purslane goes very well with cucumbers, topped with some oil-and-vinegar dressing.
• Also, try adding purslane to smoothies or juicing it.

Purslane Recipes

Here’s a great purslane salad: Fingerling-Potato and Purslane Salad with Grainy-Mustard Dressing.

Or try adding this nutrient-packed green to any soup. I like to add purslane to my bone broth soup, which is delicious! (You can also add seasonal lamb quarters, dandelions, nettles, amaranth, and herbs for health.)

Can You Freeze Purslane?

Absolutely! Consider freezing your purslane and add it to soups through the cold winter months! See how to freeze greens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is purslane a superfood?

Yes, purslane is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants, making it one of the most nutritious edible weeds.

What does purslane taste like?

Purslane has a slightly lemony, tangy flavor similar to sorrel or watercress.

Can you eat purslane raw?

Yes, purslane is commonly eaten raw in salads or added to soups and cooked dishes.

Where does purslane grow?

Purslane grows naturally in gardens, fields, and warm climates worldwide.

Try purslane in your next salad or soup and discover why this common garden weed is becoming a popular superfood. Explore more edible plants and gardening tips to make the most of what grows in your backyard.

What do you think of purslane? Would you add it to your diet? Let us know!