This purslane recipe uses puff pastry that has been turned into pockets filled with a delectably sour purslane and onion filling. Great for lunch, dinner or on the run.
What is Purslane?
Purslane is a type of succulent which is edible and delightfully tangy/sour. It's widely used in Lebanese cooking, and found in pastry, stir-fries, sautees and salad recipes, such as in this fatoush salad.
The stems, seeds, leaves and flowers can be eaten both raw and cooked.
Here's a quick list of vegan purslane recipes to try.
What is Purslane In Arabic?
Bakleh means Purslane in Arabic, it is often written as "ba2leh" or "bakleh". It is pronounced as bah·leh.
It is widely used in Arabic cooking. This recipe is based on my Lebanese fatayer recipe (hand pies).
How to clean purslane?
Cleaning purslane is fairly simple. Here are the steps;
- Sort by discarding any unwanted pieces
- Wash thoroughly with cold water by placing it in a bowl and giving it a swirl several times, you may need to change the water a couple of times
- Then dry using a lettuce spinner.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's a recipe I grew up with, my Mom used to make it for us all the time, so both kids and adults love the flavor.
- A seriously great way for vegans to get omega-3s into their diet.
- These are like hand pies, can easily be consumed on the go.
- Cooking purslane is relatively easy.
- The flavor is tasty, the combination of pomegranate molasses with the purslane and onion encassed in flaky puff pastries is ah-mah-zing!
- Dietary friendly - vegan, soy-free and corn-free
Ingredients You'll Need
The complete list of ingredients with measurements, can be found in the full recipe card below.
Vegan puff pastry following the instructions to thaw out the sheets. If they become too soft to handle, place them in the freezer for 10 minutes to help them firm up again.
Fresh Purslane can be found growing nearly everywhere! Or try your local Asian or Middle Eastern small grocer.
Onion will be diced to go into the filling.
Pomegranate molasses a key ingredient to get the flavor that is sour yet sweet. This can be found at your local supermarket in the international section or at a local Middle Eastern small grocer or buy pomegranate molasses online, this is the brand I like.
Sumac is perfect with pomegranate molasses as it enhances the sourness. This is a red herb from the sumac berry, which is widely used in my vegan Lebanese cooking. Sumac can also be purchase online or found in the spice section of your grocer, some supermarkets may stock it also.
Steps to Make Bakleh Pastries
Step one: Roughly chop purslane
Step two: Roughly chop white onion
Step three: In a bowl mix purslane, onion, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon paprika, 2 tablespoon pomegranate molasses, 1 tablespoon sumac (optional) and seasoning to taste
Step four: Cut puff pastry sheet in half and place purslane filling on one side
Step five: fold pastry in half and press edges together using fingers or fork. Brush olive oil onto tops of pastry and sprinkle with black sesame. Place the unbaked pockets on a lined baking sheet.
Step six: bake for approx 25-30min on 180 degrees Celsius (356 degrees Fahrenheit) or until golden brown. Allow purslane pockets to cool down for 5 minutes. Enjoy warm with a side salad.
Purslane Alternative?
If you can't get your hands on purslane, you can easily replace this with spinach or silverbeet. Follow the same steps within this recipe.
Check out my Fatayer bil sabanekh which is my family's Lebanese spinach pie recipe similar to this one.
Vegan Egg-Wash Alternatives
If you prefer to use an alternative to oil as an egg wash, here are some suggestions for egg wash substitute.
Serving Suggestions
As mentioned above, these pastries are great to eat with a salad; a simple garden salad will perfectly balance the tangy flavour of the purslane pockets.
FAQ
Cleaning purslane is fairly simple.
Discard any unwanted pieces, trim any hard stems and wash thoroughly with cold water.
Then dry using a lettuce spinner.
Purslane, is an edible succulent green vegetable with a taste that is unique, bright, and delightful. It is a refreshing and slightly tangy flavor that is sometimes described as a combination of subtle sweetness, citrus-sour, and earthy and leafy greens.
Its taste is vibrant and fresh, with a pleasant crispness that adds a lovely texture to any dish. It can be enjoyed both raw and cooked.
Purslane is generally found on the sidewalk, in parks, on lawns etcetera.
If you are picking purslane in fields or parks, be sure to check your local council's pesticide schedule. Otherwise, if it is fairly easy to grow, it proliferates easily.
You can pick up a bunch of purslane from a local fruit market / small grocer (Arabic or Asian) rather than a supermarket. Though this may be hard and seasonal (warmer weather).
Other Lebanese Pastry Recipes
For another pastry recipe check out my perfect vegan party food - zaatar pinwheels.
Did you make this? I'd love to know! Leave me a comment below with a ★★★★★ star rating or tag @plantbasedfolk on social media.
Recipe
Purslane Pockets (Lebanese Bakleh)
Ingredients
- 4 sheets puff pastry vegan
- 1 teaspoon Black sesame seeds
Purslane Filling
- 100 gram purslane approximately two extra large handfuls. Roughly chopped
- 1 medium white onion roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
- 1 tablespoon sumac optional
- 1 pinch Salt to taste
- 1 pinch Cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (356 degrees Fahrenheit)
Purslane Filling
- Combine purslane and onion in a mixing bowl. Add in olive oil, pomegranate molasses, seasoning and spices and combine well.100 gram purslane, 1 medium white onion, 1 teaspoon paprika, 2 tablespoon pomegranate molasses, 1 tablespoon sumac, 1 pinch Salt, 1 pinch Cracked black pepper
Pastry Pockets
- Cut each puff pastry sheet in half, each half will create one pocket. Place purslane filling onto one side of the puff pastry.4 sheets puff pastry
- Fold puff pastry, keep filling in the middle. Using your index finger or fork, press edges together until a pocket/pie is formed and there are no gaps in the edge.
- Place each purslane pocket onto a lined baking tray. Lightly brush on a coat of olive oil onto each pocket. Sprinkle black sesame seeds. Bake in the oven for approx 25-30 minutes or until golden brown Serve warm.1 teaspoon Black sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon olive oil
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.
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Rachel
Can I freeze the filling ahead of time, or make and not bake and then freeze?
Janelle Hama
You should be able to freeze the entire pastry unbaked and then bake from frozen. I would initially freeze them on a tray uncovered and in a single layer not touching, then move them into freezer friendly bags and freeze.