Purslane: Edible Weed with Remarkable Health Benefits & Recipes

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is a garden weed that's edible and packed with health benefits. Discover purslane's benefits and get a recipe!

Purslane Benefits

Like many weeds, purslane isn't just edible—it's more nutritious than many cultivated crops!

• 7× the beta-carotene of carrots
• 6× more vitamin E than spinach
• 14× more Omega-3 fatty acids

Also a natural insomnia remedy. Shares benefits of other leafy greens. Originally from India, immigrants brought it to our shores where it escaped into gardens everywhere.

What Is Purslane: Plant or Weed?

A succulent that loves heat. I never plant it—it appears every spring. I let it grow between carrot and beet rows, removing only when it touches crops—and then I eat it.

To harvest: pull completely, cut stems from root. Compost roots or feed to chickens! Companies now sell purslane seeds for intentional planting—a nutritious bonus for enthusiastic gardeners.

How to Cook Purslane

Wash stems carefully—purslane's crevices hold soil; use a hose to remove all dirt.

• Tossed in salads or added to soups (Mediterranean)
• Favorite in omelets (Mexico)
• Lightly steamed 4–5 minutes; serve with salt and butter
• Added to smoothies or juiced

Purslane Recipes

Fingerling-Potato and Purslane Salad with Grainy-Mustard Dressing

Add to any soup—great in bone broth!

(Seasonal additions: lamb's quarters, dandelions, nettles, amaranth, herbs.)

Freeze purslane for winter soups! Learn to freeze greens.

Ready to add purslane to your diet? Let us know!

~ By Celeste Longacre