Purslane and Moringa: Mystery Items from The Family Farm

Noelie Rodriguez has been supplying us with small batches of purslane and moringa on a regular basis. Here's a little bit of info about these two out of the box super foods.

MORINGA

Moringa Oleifera, known as Malunggay in the Philippines, is a fast growing tree that grows well in the tropics and is generally hardy and adaptable to a wide range of tropical micro-climates. It is a great crop to grow in a tropical agro-forestry system. All parts of this plant can be used but the leaves are the most popular and the part that you may receive in your DA BOX. Moringa leaves are high in antioxidants such as quercetin and chlorogenic acid and could help to lower blood sugar levels when consumed regularly. Moringa leaves are high in protein and essential vitamins and minerals.

You can eat your fresh moringa leaves by throwing them into a stir-fry, soup, or in any other number of recipes where you might use cooked or fresh greens. Malunggay is a typical ingredient in chicken papaya soup. You can also blend your fresh moringa leaves into a healthy smoothie or steep them in hot water to make a tea. If you want to make a powder from your fresh leaves bake on a cookie sheet in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes then mix them and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Blend the dried leaves and you will have freshly dried moringa powder which you can use as a supplement in smoothies and drinks.

PURSLANE (Ākulikuli kula)

Purslane is a secret culinary delight that grows like a weed and is packed with nutrients. The flavor is salty and lemony and the texture is slippery and crisp. It is great in salads (raw and well washed and tossed with other salad greens) but it can also be used in cooked recipes. Purslane is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and beta-carotene. Purslane is said to have antibacterial properties and has been used to boost insulin levels, boost the immune system, treat psoriasis and more.

If you get a bag of purslane in your DA BOX, check the stems and leaves for tiny black specks, those are seeds and you could try growing them if you keep a garden and would like to add this edible, easy to grow succulent to your collection.

Check out our recipes page for more ideas on how to use this green.