Have you seen this plant in your garden? If you have, you probably have a lot of it. It’s purslane, one of the most persistent weeds in North America.
Have you seen this leafy green in your salad? It’s purslane, a leafy green that was enjoyed by early Americanslike Martha Washington. It was cultivated by ancient gourmands in Iran and India — andmodern onesfrom Baltimore to Bellingham.
So which one is it?
Why Purslane Is a Weed
Purslane is a hardy plant — maybe too hardy. Purslane plants have a way of showing up again and again after you pull them out of the ground.
That’s because purslane has evolved a couple of clever ways to propagate itself if a plant is uprooted. A small fragment of a purslane plant — a tiny, half-inch slice of stem, root, or leaf – can root itself.
That’s impressive for a botanist, but maybe not so much if you’re trying to get rid of a purslane infestation in yourraised bed planter.
Purslane seeds are even more impressive: It’s what sets the plant apart from other common weeds. A purslane seed can lie in waitfor up to 40 years. That’s right: A purslane seed can wait for good soil and environmental conditions for five or six presidential administrations. You might have a few purslane seeds you don’t know about sitting on top of a gravel path, just waiting to drop to the bottom of the pile.
Why Purslane Is a Delicacy
然而马齿苋也可以成为美味沙拉的主角,或者sauté。根据环境的不同,任何植物都可能是害虫或品种。Morning glory is a scourge它位于美国西海岸,但在东部却是一个受人喜爱的棚架。
美国各地的大厨们开始重新发现马齿苋。它的味道是苦的和胡椒的,但比苦蔬菜或芥菜温和。马齿苋可以是比菠菜更令人兴奋的替代品,也可以是比芝麻菜更美味、更有分量的替代品。
Purslane’s versatility has helped it become a hot commodity with chefs who want to make salads and cooked greens more interesting.
“When you bite into it, it bursts,” saysSergio Vitale, a Baltimore chef. He’s incorporated the green into his U.S. cooking because he got to know it well during his childhood in Sicily.
马齿苋不仅仅是一种有趣的味道。It’s also rich in omega-3 fatty acids,which are critical for good health.
How to Get Rid of Purslane
We recommend eating purslane, first and foremost, but if it’s not to your taste, you should try these steps. All you’ll need is a trowel and gloves.
- Keep an eye out for purslane if you’re working on routine gardening chores like weeding, watering, trimming, or deadheading.
- If you spot purslane, pull it out down to the root. Try not to leave any fragments in the ground. It roots easily.
- 如果你拉过马齿苋,把它直接放在你要放入堆肥的袋子或桶里。你留在地上的任何种子都可以生根,甚至多年以后也会生根。
- Remember where you’ve pulled purslane. (A marker can be helpful.) Since purslane roots with the slightest opportunity, you’ll need to make sure that it doesn’t return to an area where you thought it was eradicated.
How to Cook, Serve, and Eat Purslane
Purslane is an interesting change of pace compared to other greens. It’s a bit heartier than lettuces, but it’s much more delicate than collards or kale. Purslane leaves are similar in texture to spinach but slightly heartier.
生的马齿苋非常美味,尤其是在低蛋白质的基础上,比如豆腐或鱼。你也可以轻轻sauté或蒸。
Since purslane is spicy and bitter, it works well as a garnish with creamy or sweet dishes. It can also make a salad mix much more interesting. You can even stir it into a soup to add a little extra variety or substance. Purslane’s unique flavor doesn’t appeal to everyone, and it can be overwhelming in large quantities. So mix it into a dish or serve a small portion, especially if you’re serving purslane to company.
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