Mast-o-Khorfeh - Yogurt with Purslane

ماست وخرفه/ بورانی خرفه Mast o Khorfeh Yogurt with Purslane is healthy and very helpful to beat the summer heat. There's nothing more refreshing and satisfying than a cool cup of yogurt mixed in with coarsely chopped fresh purslane picked right from your own garden. I've never planted purslane since they grow on their own and are actually considered weeds. I used to pull them out and discard them, until one summer that my mother came to visit us at our new home and she had discovered purslane in the vegetable garden. I knew they looked familiar from back home but since I didn't plant them in my garden I was hesitant to eat them. But when my mother handed me a bunch of purslanes and said to make a mast-o-khorfeh for lunch, I made it and loved the taste and the texture of it. That summer we got to have purslane with yogurt, mixed in with salads or simply added to the vegetable platter (sabzi khordan).

Ever since then, I look for them in our garden during the summer and we don't use any pesticides in order to try and grow everything healthy and safe for consumption. However, it seems that more and more people are discovering the health benefits and the nutritional values of purslane. They are known as a source of Omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants, vitamin C and E.

Ingredients:
Serves 2-3

2 cups plain yogurt
A handful of purslane, pull the leaves off the stems, wash and drain, coarsely chopped if leaves are big
1/2 teaspoon dried mint
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. In a large bowl combine all ingredients, mix well.
2. Transfer into a serving bowl, cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour or until ready to serve.

Serve cold with warm bread.

Variation:  Purslane may be added to Yogurt and Cucumber (Mast-o-Khiar), Salad Shirazi, and the platter of Sabzi Khordan.

Enjoy!