Yoğurtlu Semizotu (Purslane With Strained Yogurt and Garlic) Recipe

By
Elizabeth Taviloglu
Elizabeth Wilson Taviloğlu
Elizabeth Taviloglu
Food writer Elizabeth Taviloğlu learned Turkish cooking hands-on in Turkey where she has lived and traveled for more than 24 years.
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Updated on 05/30/22
In Turkey, nutritious purslane is mixed with strained yogurt and garlic and served as an starter, or 'meze.'

Elizabeth Taviloglu, 2012
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
155 Calories
4g Fat
11g Carbs
19g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 155
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 9mg 3%
Sodium 244mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 13mg 63%
Calcium 282mg 22%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 816mg 17%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Have you ever heard of purslane? Purslane is a green, leafy vegetable sometimes considered an herb or a weed.

It has been present in many ancient cuisines all over the world for thousands of years. Different cultures have different beliefs about its nutritional and even spiritual benefits.

In reality, purslane is very good for you. It's high in vitamin C, and believe it or not, Omega-3 fatty acids! That's a weed to be reckoned with.

Here is the recipe for one of my favorite cold Turkish 'meze' dishes that features purslane. As in many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines, purslane is also common in Turkish cuisine where it's used in both hot and cold dishes.

In this simple recipe, fresh purslane leaves, or in Turkish, 'semizotu' (sem-EEZ' oh-TOO'), surrounded by a whip of thick, creamy strained yogurt, similar to Greek yogurt, and crushed garlic. The tangy crispness of the fresh purslane goes perfectly with the yogurt and the garlic adds extra punch.

This dish is wonderful served as an appetizer or salad. It's great spread on toasted bread, crackers or eaten straight up by the forkful.

It's also very quick and easy to prepare with only a few ingredients. You can find fresh purslane in farmers markets and specialty greengrocers. Sometimes, you can even find wild purslane growing in your own backyard.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups purslane leaves

  • 3 cups Greek yogurt

  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. First cut off any roots from the purslane. Wash and drain it twice to make sure there is no soil or grit left on the leaves.

  2. Separate the leaves from the stems. You can save the stems for use in other recipes if you wish. Spin the leaves in a salad spinner to remove any extra moisture.

  3. In a separate bowl, whip together the other ingredients using a wire whisk until smooth and creamy. Adjust the amount of salt and pepper to your taste.

  4. Add the purslane leaves and mix together well. Make sure all the leaves are covered with the yogurt mixture.

  5. Serve immediately, or cover and chill it for several hours or overnight. The flavor actually gets better if the salad rests for a while. Gently stir it again before serving.