Yoğurtlu Semizotu (Purslane With Strained Yogurt and Garlic Salad) Recipe

Name: Yoğurtlu Semizotu (Purslane With Strained Yogurt and Garlic) Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 to 3 large bunches of purslane (enough to yield 4 cups of leaves; 3 cups plain Turkish strained yogurt or Greek yogurt; 2 large garlic cloves, crushed; 1 tbsp. olive oil; salt and pepper to taste

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 10 mins

Total: 20 mins

Servings: 4 servings

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Have you ever heard of purslane? Purslane is a green, leafy vegetable sometimes considered an herb or a weed.

It has been present in many ancient cuisines all over the world for thousands of years. Different cultures have different beliefs about its nutritional and even spiritual benefits.

In reality, purslane is very good for you. It's high in vitamin C, and believe it or not, Omega-3 fatty acids! That's a weed to be reckoned with.

Here is the recipe for one of my favorite cold Turkish 'meze' dishes that features purslane. As in many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines, purslane is also common in Turkish cuisine where it's used in both hot and cold dishes.

In this simple recipe, fresh purslane leaves, or in Turkish, 'semizotu' (sem-EEZ' oh-TOO'), surrounded by a whip of thick, creamy strained yogurt, similar to Greek yogurt, and crushed garlic. The tangy crispness of the fresh purslane goes perfectly with the yogurt and the garlic adds extra punch.

This dish is wonderful served as an appetizer or salad. It's great spread on toasted bread, crackers or eaten straight up by the forkful.

It's also very quick and easy to prepare with only a few ingredients. You can find fresh purslane in farmers markets and specialty greengrocers. Sometimes, you can even find wild purslane growing in your own backyard.

4 cups purslane leaves
3 cups Greek yogurt
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

First cut off any roots from the purslane. Wash and drain it twice to make sure there is no soil or grit left on the leaves.
Separate the leaves from the stems. You can save the stems for use in other recipes if you wish. Spin the leaves in a salad spinner to remove any extra moisture.
In a separate bowl, whip together the other ingredients using a wire whisk until smooth and creamy. Adjust the amount of salt and pepper to your taste.
Add the purslane leaves and mix together well. Make sure all the leaves are covered with the yogurt mixture.
Serve immediately, or cover and chill it for several hours or overnight. The flavor actually gets better if the salad rests for a while. Gently stir it again before serving.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
155	Calories
4g	Fat
11g	Carbs
19g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	155
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g	5%
Saturated Fat 1g	3%
Cholesterol 9mg	3%
Sodium 244mg	11%
Total Carbohydrate 11g	4%
Dietary Fiber 0g	1%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 13mg	63%
Calcium 282mg	22%
Iron 1mg	6%
Potassium 816mg	17%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.