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You are here: Home » Recipes » Pork

Pork Chops with Purslane

Published: May 24, 2014 · Updated: Aug 12, 2018 by Mely Martínez

JUMP TO RECIPE

If you grew up in a tropical climate, and when my mom used to make Pork Chops with purslane, purslane was not something you went to the market to buy. It was something that your mom sent you to look for around the neighborhood, whether at a neighbor’s house or on the side of the road.

Pork Chops with Purslane in Tomatillo Sauce

Pork chops with purslane recipe | Mexican Food

It used to be the same way with Nopales, also. For example, my Mom would ask some of my siblings or me to go to a neighbor’s house, if she was growing purslane, and kindly ask for some.

You would arrive at her house and say something like:
“Good Morning Sra. Lupita, my Mom wants to cook Pork chops with purslane today, and she says if you would be so kind to share some Purslane for today’s meal.” It could be purslane, nopales, lime, epazote, mint, avocados, or whatever they had planted in their patio.

At my parents’ home we had limes, so people would often come to our house asking if we could share some limes with them. Those were other times, but I’m not feeling nostalgic, I like that the convenience of modern life lets me go to the supermarket and buy them by pounds or bunches! Or go outside and cut it straight from my veggie garden.

Purslane herb Verdolagas | Mexico in my kitchen

How to cook Purslane?

If you haven’t tried Purslane before, this is your chance to do it with this mouth-watering pork chops with purslane in a tomatillo stew. This stew is one of the most common ways that you will find purslane prepared in central Mexico.

You can steam purslane, saute or added it to stews the same way you will with spinach. Or added to salads, just used the leaves and tender stems.

What does purslane taste like?

Purslane’s flavor can be compared to that of spinach. I hope you give this plat a try since it also has a lot of amazing benefits like a great amount of Omega 3 Fatty acids.

How to make Pork Chops with Purslane in Tomatillo Sauce

Pork Chops with Purslane in Tomatillo Sauce | Instrucciones step by step

JUMP TO FULL INSTRUCTIONS

  • Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the vegetable oil. Once the oil is hot, add the pork chops and brown well on both sides. This step will take about 15 minutes. Turn the pork at least once during the cooking time. (Please check the ingredients list below)
  • While the pork chops are browning, combine husked tomatillos and pepper in a saucepan covered with water. Bring to simmer over medium heat and cook until tomatillos are soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • Place chopped onion, garlic, cooked tomatillo, and Serrano peppers in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Add a little of the tomatillo-cooking water to the blender if needed.
Pork Chops with Purslane in Tomatillo Sauce | Instrucciones step by step, quick and easy
  • Once your pork chops are well browned, add the tomatillo sauce. Add the chopped purslane, cumin and salt. If you wish, you can mix in other veggies like I did here, by adding diced zucchini. It’s a great combination. Keep simmering on low heat for about 20 more minutes, until the pork chop meat is tender.
Pork with purslane recipe | Mexican Food

UPDATE: May  23th, 2018

INSTANT POT Pork Chops with Purslane

  • Place the pork chops in the instant Pot with ½ cup of water and  1 Tablespoons of vegetable oil. Cook for 15 minutes.
  • Place the salsa ingredients in your blender and process until they have a chunky texture. Ass the salsa to the Instant Pot and cook for 5 more minutes.
  • Release the pressure valve to open the pot and stir in the purslane. Place back the lid and cover. Just let the steam of the already cooked meat cook the about 6-8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Enjoy!
Pork Chops with Purslane in Tomatillo Sauce | Mexican Recipes

Enjoy your Pork Chops with Purslane in Salsa Verde!

Provecho!
Mely,

More recipes:
Lentil Soup
Creamy Black Bean Soup

Pork with purslane recipe

Pork Chops with Purslane in tomatillo sauce

Mely Martínez
If you haven’t tried Purslane before, this is your chance to do it with this mouth-watering pork-tomatillo stew. This stew is one of the most common ways that you will find purslane prepared in central Mexico. Pork Chops with Purslane in Tomatillo Sauce.
4.8 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Course Pork, Salsas
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6 servings
Calories 322 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 Lbs Pork chops ¾ in. thick (6 Pork chops)
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 bunches of purslane cleaned and thick stems removed (About 3 cups)
  • 1 ½ Lb Tomatillos
  • 4 Serrano peppers*
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Water to cook tomatillos and Serrano peppers
  • ⅔ cup of white onion chopped.
  • ¼ tsp. cumin ground
  • salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the vegetable oil. Once the oil is hot, add the pork chops and brown well on both sides. This step will take about 15 minutes. Turn the pork at least once during the cooking time.
  • While the pork chops are browning, combine husked tomatillos and pepper in a saucepan covered with water. Bring to simmer over medium heat and cook until tomatillos are soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • Place chopped onion, garlic, cooked tomatillo, and Serrano peppers in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Add a little of the tomatillo-cooking water to the blender if needed.
  • Once your pork chops are well browned, add the tomatillo sauce. Add the chopped purslane, cumin and salt. If you wish, you can mix in other veggies like I did here, by adding diced zucchini. It’s a great combination. Keep simmering on low heat for about 20 more minutes, until the pork chop meat is tender.

Serve with Mexican white rice (or pinto beans, as we do at home), along with lots of warm corn tortillas to dip into the sauce.

    Notes

    * you can substitute the Serrano peppers using 2 jalapeno peppers
    ** This dish Pork Chops with Purslane in green sauce is so versatile that you can also add zucchini, chayotes, nopales or other green vegetables.
    There is another version for Pork chops with a red tomato sauce. Just use tomatoes instead of tomatillos.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 322kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 34gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 192mgPotassium: 916mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 207IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Leisa

      August 23, 2019 at 4:12 pm

      Hi, In the instant pot recipe do I cook the salsa components before putting it in the pot? Thanks so much.

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        August 24, 2019 at 3:12 pm

        Hello Leisa,
        Cook the meat in the instant pot according to the pot settings, while you cook the meat, cook the sauce as per the instructions. One the meat is done, add the sauce and the purslane, and cook on manual for 7-8 minutes.

        Reply
    2. Barbara

      June 15, 2019 at 7:46 am

      I am waiting for the purslane to get big enough to use. I had a nice start last summer but some "kind" neighbor pulled the weeds out of the bed. I hope nobody helps me this year but my area is next to a side walk. Naturally, it isn't even sold in the Farmer's Market here.

      Reply
    3. Esther

      August 02, 2018 at 12:57 am

      5 stars
      This is so flavorful! I followed your recipe as written, and it was very easy to prepare.
      Funny little story: I have verdolagas growing in my backyard, I had planned on cooking this dish one weekend, but when I went to pick them, I found out that the landscapers had pulled them out! I was so disappointed! So now I have them fenced in 😁

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        August 02, 2018 at 11:54 am

        Hello Esther,
        Good thing verdolagas are easy to grow. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Ron Provencio

      August 11, 2015 at 8:44 pm

      Found your blog and must say it is "excellent." I love the way you have outlined the meats and recipes. Congratulations and thank you for making it so easy for a novice cook such as myself.

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        August 11, 2015 at 10:09 pm

        Thank Ron Provencio! Enjoy and happy cooking!

        Reply
    5. Tifferella

      October 09, 2014 at 1:01 am

      Hi,
      Mely! I really want to make this dish, but I can't find Purslane!! 🙁 I have searched in my local grocery store and I just haven't had any luck. I have tried a few of your recipes on here and I have to say your blog is a life saver.

      Reply
      • Mely

        October 10, 2014 at 1:15 am

        Hello Tifferella,

        You can use Nopalitos or other type of greens like spinach or chard.

        Regards,

        Mely

        Reply
    6. Prieta

      May 25, 2014 at 2:42 am

      Mely, I have verdolaga s growing in my back yard. I used to think they were weeds but one day I recognized the plant and started using it in my kitchen. I love verdolagas con espinaso, I will try your recipe some day

      Reply
      • Esther

        June 02, 2019 at 7:25 pm

        This is one of my favorite meals. I also have a patch of verdolagas growing in my yard.
        One time my landscapers pulled the whole thing out. I almost had a heart attack! Since then, I fenced in that area, & also planted cilantro.
        Thanks for providing recipes that always remind me of my mom's cooking.

        Reply
        • mmartinez

          June 03, 2019 at 3:04 pm

          Hello Esther,
          I can imagine your feeling after seeing the landscapers removing the verdolagas. The good thing is that they are easy to grow.

    7. MARALYN

      May 24, 2014 at 11:10 pm

      I'm growing a tomatillo in a large container on my patio and it's covered with blooms. I am definitely going to try this. Love pork chops. I lived in Zihuatanejo for several years and I miss it so much. Your clay cookware made me nostalgic. I have not seen purselane in any grocery stores where I live but since you said it kind of compares to spinach I will use that. I love your blog, especially the how to's.

      Reply
    8. Catherine

      May 24, 2014 at 3:27 pm

      Oh, that dish looks so good. Blessings, Catherine

      Reply

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    ABOUT ME

    Mexico in my kitchen | Mely Martinez

    Hi, I'm Mely Martinez, a former Mexican school teacher, home cook, and food blogger. I moved to the United States about ten years ago, after living in Mexico my whole life. Now I love to share home-style recipes for authentic Mexican food.

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