When spring arrives, many people go out to forage for wild greens, and 99% of them pick shepherd's purse to eat. So how do you prepare shepherd's purse? The most common way is to use it as a filling. Besides eating the leaves, don't forget the flowers—boiling shepherd's purse flowers with eggs makes a delicious dish.So what are the ways to eat shepherd's purse?
Ways to Eat Shepherd's Purse
1. Shepherd's Purse Dumplings
After gathering shepherd's purse, trim off the roots and yellow leaves. Soak in a large basin for half an hour before rinsing—this makes it easier to wash away sand and dirt. For extra assurance, add a pinch of salt to the water to help remove residue.Thoroughly drain the washed shepherd's purse (using a mesh bag works well—just shake it for a moment), then chop it. Otherwise, excess moisture will cause the dumpling filling to become watery.For the meat filling, use a mixture of lean and fatty cuts. Shepherd's purse actually cuts through the richness, so it won't taste good without some fatty meat. Similarly, chop the meat first, then grind it. Add salt, MSG, ginger juice, and the chopped shepherd's purse, then grind again until well combined. Now it's ready for wrapping dumplings.
2. Shepherd's Purse Flowers with Poached Eggs
Pick fresh shepherd's purse flowers (including stems), trim off the roots, rinse thoroughly, break into sections, and bundle them to prevent them from spreading wildly in the pot.Add water and place the eggs (boiled in their shells) into the pot. Once the eggs appear cooked, crack the shells slightly with chopsticks and continue boiling briefly. The watercress's fresh aroma will infuse into the eggs. Remove from heat, peel the shells, and enjoy boiled eggs more delicious than ever.
3. Shepherd's Purse Spring Rolls
Rinse shepherd's purse, drain, and chop coarsely. Whisk eggs with a pinch of salt and flour, then add water to form a thin batter. Fry thin crepes in a small pan. Place shepherd's purse filling on each crepe, roll tightly, and deep-fry until golden brown. Drain and serve.
4. Shepherd's Purse Stir-Fried with Eggs
Wash and finely chop the shepherd's purse. There are three common methods: First, beat eggs into the chopped shepherd's purse, add salt, and mix well. Heat sufficient oil in a pan until moderately hot, then pour in the egg-herb mixture. Stir-fry continuously until fully cooked. This yields the most tender results.Second, stir-fry the shepherd's purse until tender with a pinch of salt. Add the pre-seasoned, beaten eggs to the cooked greens, mixing thoroughly. Cook over low heat, flipping to cook both sides until set. Serve as a shepherd's purse omelet or scrambled eggs. This method takes longer and requires careful attention to avoid burning, but yields a fragrant result.For those who prefer a saltier taste, simply add more salt to the eggs when beating them.5. Cold-Tossed Shepherd's Purse Salad First, wash and prepare the shepherd's purse. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add the greens, and blanch briefly. Immediately drain thoroughly and transfer to a serving dish. Toss with minced ginger, crushed garlic, soy sauce, aged vinegar, and Sichuan pepper oil. Finish with a drizzle of sesame oil.A plate of fresh, tender, and fragrant cold-tossed shepherd's purse is ready.
Don't you find these shepherd's purse recipes quite satisfying? If you happen to have some at home, why not whip up something delicious with this versatile vegetable?