Before going into the recipe I
would to share a little about paruppuKeerai/Purslane/Verdolagas which I
googled and read about in various websites[specialityproduce, Wikipedia,
nutrition and you etc]. Though I have been eating this paruppu keerai since I
was a kid, I was really surprised to read a lot of interesting facts and how it’s
been used all over the world. The greens which I am sharing here is called as
Paruppu Keerai in Tamil, Purslane in English and Verdolagas in Spanish and is
very common in central Mexico. The stem, leaves and the beautiful yellow flowers of paruppu keerai/verdolagas
are all edible and have a slightly salty, slightly tangy and acidic flavor. The
slight tangy taste adds up great taste when we make soups and stir fries, and
its juicy leaves can be used to add texture to salads.
Purslane/Paruppu Keerai is very common around
world, in Mexican cuisine they are commonly paired with pork, tamales, stews
and eggs. In Japan it is commonly pickled and served with rice. In Russia,
Turkey and Lebanon it is used in a variety of salads ranging from tabbouleh to
potato salad. It has long been used in Chinese medicine. In South India, they are
cooked with dals, stir fries, soups etc. Paruppu Keerai/Purslane is rich in
potassium and magnesium. The soft, succulent leaves are rich in Omega -3 fatty
acids which help in lowering blood pressure and regulate cholesterol levels. This
wonderful green leaves are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. It is
an excellent source of Vitamin A , C and some B-complex vitamins like
riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine and carotenoids as well as dietary minerals such
as iron, magnesium, potassium and manganese. With this, I think it’s time for me
to move on to the recipe. Do try out this Paruppu Keerai/Verdolagas pasiparuppu
kadaiyal and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other interestingKeerai recipes and different varieties of Greens/Keerais here.
Here’s how to make Paruppu Keerai Kadaiyal with
step by step photos…