Herb Of The Week - Purslane - Recipe - Purslane Ratatouille

[Guest guest]

From the Henry David Thoreau's Wild Edible Plants site This is a fun

web site that you have to check out (I'm going to go put it in the links

section

 

*Smile* <http://www.edibleplants.com/month/purslane.htm>

Chris (list mom)

 

Green Tea Seed Oil

Don't Miss The Pre-Buy

http://www.alittleolfactory.com <http://www.alittleolfactory.com/>

 

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<http://www.edibleplants.com/month/purslane.htm>

http://www.edibleplants.com/month/purslane.htm

 

 

 

 

 

P u r s l a n e

Portulaca oleracea

 

 

 

 

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Portulaca oleraceais a smooth low growing succulent plant with reddish

stems and underside of leaves, alternate leaves. It has small yellow

flowers which produce many sand size black seeds. It often grows in

gardens and fields as a weed. Make sure that the purslane is well washed

of dirt and grit (usually best to wash it in a bowl of water). (Careful

often this plant is the target of the herbicide in some agricultural

operations.)

 

One thing that makes this plant special is that the fat it does have

contains omega-3 fatty acids, which some research indicates is useful in

preventing heart attacks. Have you been scorning the plant that could

keep your heart? It has also been used to treat arthritis and

inflammation.

 

 

" I have made a satisfactory dinner off a dish of Purslane which I

gathered and boiled. Yet men have come to such a pass that they

frequently starve, not from want of necessaries, but for want of

luxuries. " - Henry David Thoreau

 

 

 

 

P U R S L A N E R A T A T O U I L L E

 

 

 

2 cups chopped purslane

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 bell pepper

2 cups canned or fresh tomatoes

1-4 oz can of sliced mushrooms

Salt to taste

Sprinkle of garlic powder

Soy sauce (optional)

 

Cook purslane, onion and pepper until tender. Add remaining ingredients

and simmer a few minutes. Rice can be added to the mixture if desired

and cooked for 20-40 minutes.

 

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Replace the lettuce in any salad with fresh raw p u r s l a n e!

 

Copyright C 1996, 2004 John Goude