On my latest trip to the farmer’s market, I found a great surprise. I stumbled upon this beautiful bunch of Purslane! My excitement quickly grew as this little green, which many people view as an invasive weed, is a little nutrition powerhouse! Full of omega 3’s, one cup of purslane contains 400 mg of alpha-linolenic acid, and 2,000 IU’s of vitamin A. It is also high in calcium and potassium. It is a great addition to your raw food diet.

I have been scouring my yard for this little beauty, knowing I have weeded it out many times. Now, that I know just how healthy it is, my yard hasn’t been cooperating. But the farmer’s market did!

Purslane has a bit of a mild sweet-sour taste. All parts of the plant are edible but make sure if you are wild harvesting make sure that you wash it well (it does grow on the ground) and it has not been sprayed with any pesticides or fertilizer. In Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Mexico, purslane is used frequently in recipes. Originating in India, it was said to be Gandhi’s favorite food and was grown as a food crop years ago. One other tip…if the “purslane” you have harvested has a milky white sap in it, throw it away. It is not purslane but something called spruge. It is poisonous.

Check back tomorrow to see what I have done with my purslane!