Winter purslane
Winter purslane, also known as lamb's lettuce or Cuban spinach, grows as an annual just like summer purslane, but tolerates temperatures down to -20 degrees Celsius. It prefers humus-rich, nutrient-rich soil that doesn't dry out too quickly. Sowing time is from September to May; in the garden, it can also be broadcast onto harvested beds. Rake the seeds into the soil; they should be slightly covered with soil. Winter purslane is particularly suitable for balconies and terraces, surviving even low temperatures in a pot or window box. Planted close to the house, you can then enjoy fresh, vitamin-rich greens at any time. This is a real luxury in winter.
Winter purslane (Claytonia perfoliata) is also called "sweet purslane," and it certainly deserves this name. The delicate, plate-shaped, and somewhat leathery leaves are delicious in salads and much more. When purchasing, be sure to check the seed packet carefully. Many people have been surprised that the much-praised purslane didn't survive the winter.
Processing tips
The shoot tips, young leaves, and leaf rosettes are harvested; they have a pleasantly sour and nutty flavor; older leaves, however, become bitter. The flower buds of summer purslane are also edible and can be pickled like nasturtium buds as a caper substitute. Purslane tastes good as a salad or salad dressing, but also in soups (like spinach, briefly blanched), in quark, or in herb sauces. A suitable method of preservation is pickling in vinegar.
Purslane and banana smoothie
2 tbsp flaxseed
1 apple
1 orange
1 banana
2 handfuls of purslane
½ bunch of coriander
½ bunch of parsley
200 ml water
- Soak the flaxseed in 100 ml of water overnight.
- Wash the apple, cut it into eighths, and remove the stem and blossom end. Peel and chop the orange and banana. Place them in a blender along with the soaked flaxseed.
- Wash the purslane, coriander, and parsley, shake dry, and roughly chop. Add them to the blender, then add the water.
- Blend everything first on the lowest setting, then on the highest setting until creamy. Add a little more water if necessary.
