This is a blog post on foraging / finding for shepherd’s purse. Recently over the last months, I have some fascination with shepherd’s purse. Shepherds purse the Latin name called Capsella bursa-pastoris as it’s seed resembles the purse of a shepherd. Here is more information on the wiki about it. It is an invasive weed therefore I would rather forage it rather than grow it in the garden. I got to know that this weed is edible and it’s used in making dumpling filling. After reading about this information, I am off to forage. It is not available to buy in Asian grocers. However, it is sold in the US Asian grocers in frozen form. It is grown commercially in China.
Shepherds purse has got a mild nice flavor. Therefore it makes a great versatile ingredient to cook with. It can be eaten raw as well.
Foraging / finding for shepherd’s purse
Shepherds purse takes some practice to identify it. It comes with practice and looks at it in various stages of growth. It is, however, quite easy to find if one looks hard enough. To make a dumpling filling one will need some decent amount. As a result, I tend to freeze it as I forage along. Not unless one has lots of time one’s bounty of forage results wouldn’t be that much to cook with.
Shepherd’s purse leaves tend to be big and juicy during the autumn season. As this when there is heavy rainfall. Too hot and dry weather will kill this weed. Therefore in the summer, it tends to bolt and not produce many leaves. For the use in cooking one will need leafy leaves rather than the tough stems. From root to seed, stem the whole plant is edible. These are the tips when foraging for a shepherd’s purse. They grow anywhere on pavements where there are soil and parks. However, one will need to identify it. It is much easier to look out for its distinctive purse-like seed casing than looking out for leaves. As many weeds like dandelion leaves look the same. It also has got a distinctive smell and taste. If at any time you aren’t sure just leave it on the ground.
Once you have found a weed usually there will be some more in the surrounding vicinity. Thank you for reading and dropping by. All the best in foraging. Do have a look at growing posts like growing and harvesting water spinach.
