Verdolaga

The leaf of a plant, native to South America, that is harvested when it is young to be used as a herb for seasoning of foods or as a fresh green to be served in salads. Verdolaga leaves are grown as either a green leaf or a golden variety, both of which provide succulent, fleshy leaves and stems that provide a flavor similar to spinach or watercress. In some areas, verdolaga is also known as purslane, which is considered a problem weed, rather than a food. When grown wild, it produces a smaller leaf that is not as tender as the garden variety. Similar to dandelion greens, this plant is commonly grown wild, but when cultivated in gardens, it produces a delicate green that can become a nice addition to a variety of foods. In addition to purslane, verdolga may also be referred to as pusley, gwa tsz tsai, or ngalog.