Herb Of The Week - Purslane - Edible Landscaping

[Guest guest]

I love the idea of edible landscapes! I am going to be planting some

rosemary as hedges this year and I already have started thyme as

groundcover in some areas of the garden

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

 

Get Yer Vanilla Concentrate Here

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

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http://landscaping.about.com/cs/weedsdiseases/a/purslane.htm

 

 

Edible Landscaping With Purslane

 

 

From David Beaulieu

 

 

Purslane: Culinary Delight of Edible Landscaping

 

 

The present feature lauds the view of purslane that is now gaining in

popularity, namely, that purslane represents edible landscaping at its

best: it's free, and there's no work involved in growing it. The only

thing keeping purslane from its rightful place in edible landscaping is

an outdated logic that says, " Purslane is a weed; therefore, it must be

eradicated from my landscape! "

 

When you taste the " weed, "

<http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ & sdn=landscaping & zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.botan

y.com%2Fportulaca.html> purslane in cooking recipes, and familiarize

yourself with the research concerning its nutritional benefits, you

might re-think that logic. Instead of fighting it as a weed, you may

begin to find it eminently logical to treat it as an herb of edible

landscaping.

 

 

<http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ & sdn=landscaping & zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hort.

uconn.edu%2Fipm%2Fweeds%2Fhtms%2Fpurslane.htm> Purslane herb has turned

some heads at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, no less, reports Usha

Palaniswamy, Department of Plant Science, University of Connecticut.

" Purslane is receiving much attention for cultivation by the United

States Department of Agriculture as part of their effort to bring about

a modification in the western diet with increased intake of fresh fruits

and vegetables. "

 

Purslane just happens to contain alpha-linolenic acid, one of the highly

sought-after Omega-3 fatty acids. Why pay money for fish oil when you

can grow your own Omega-3 fatty acids as part of your edible

landscaping? Especially when it takes little effort to grow purslane,

since it does grow like a weed.

 

No, purslane (portulaca olearacea) isn't yet another of those leafy

" rabbit-foods " that only a Ewell Gibbons could love. Purslane is more

than merely edible landscaping -- it is a culinary delight! In fact, it

is a succulent herb. Keep that word in mind. For " succulent " provides a

hint both to the weed's identification and the potential of this edible

landscaping component for cooking recipes.

 

Purslane's stem is round and smooth, and it trails along the ground like

a small vine. Young plants have a green stem, but, with maturity, stems

take on reddish tints. Purslane has small, oblong, green leaves, which

form clusters. The leaves resemble small wedges and, like the stem, are

juicy. Has that description of purslane whetted your taste buds yet for

purslane cooking recipes?

 

 

 

Edible Landscaping Harvest: Picking and Using Purslane

 

 

In order to preserve purslane's juiciness for eating, harvest this

delight of your edible landscaping in the morning or evening, when you

won't have to compete with intense sunlight. Purslane can either be used

raw in salads or sauteed as a side dish. In addition to the crispy

texture you would expect from a succulent, purslane also has an

interesting peppery flavor.

 

Star chef Steve Johnson has a

<http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ & sdn=landscaping & zu=http%3A%2F%2Fstarchefs

..com%2FSJohnson%2Frecipe05.html> purslane cooking recipe for

cucumber-yogurt salad (you can view his recipe for purslane at the Star

Chefs Web site). Although you won't find it at the salad bar of your

local fast-food stop any time soon, purslane has made it onto the menu

of a number of upscale restaurants.

 

But there's more to the eating of the herb, purslane than its use in

gourmet recipes. Its benefits extend to nutrition. Okay, so you knew

that was coming. After all, what article about eating weeds doesn't

eventually get around to how nutritious they are? But did you know

exactly how it is good for you?

 

Not only does purslane have leaves in Omega-3 fatty acid, but it also

has stems high in vitamin C. Omega-3 fatty acids are instrumental in

regulating our metabolism. Purslane contains one of the highest known

concentrations of Omega-3 fatty acids -- five times the concentration in

spinach.

 

Now if you strive for a landscape with an immaculate lawn, it will still

be understandable if you pull up all the purslane growing on it. That's

the price you have to pay for perfection. But just don't throw it away!

Eat it instead! Join the many who now treat purslane as edible

landscaping. And if your purslane is growing on the edge of a garden,

say, you might even consider pinching it instead of pulling it. That

way, all summer you can enjoy healthful eating with this spicy succulent

of edible landscaping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Chris,

Do you have lemon thyme?? I so love this herb! Great for cooking baking nad tea

making.

Hugs,

Jan S

www.sweetprairiesoap.com

jans

~ The Soap Dr. is in! ~

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