How to cook and eat shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
May 10, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yu Yongchao
Introduction
Wash and chop the shepherd's purse, then mix it with ground pork. Add chopped green onions, ginger, salt, light soy sauce, and other seasonings, stirring well to blend. Wrap the mixture into dumplings. The dumpling wrappers are elastic, and the filling is fresh and aromatic, combining the delicate fragrance of shepherd's purse with the rich flavor of pork, creating a wonderful taste. Alternatively, blanch the shepherd's purse, chop it, and mix it with shrimp meat and pork to make a filling for wontons. After cooking, garnish with chopped green onions, seaweed, and dried shrimp, then drizzle with sesame oil.
The common ways of cooking shepherd's purse include shepherd's purse dumplings, shepherd's purse wontons, shepherd's purse tofu soup, stir-fried shepherd's purse, and shepherd's purse egg pancakes.
1. Shepherd's purse dumplings
Wash and chop the shepherd's purse, then mix it with ground pork. Add chopped scallions and ginger, salt, light soy sauce, and other seasonings, stirring well to make dumpling filling. Wrap the filling into dumplings. The dumpling wrappers are elastic, and the filling is flavorful, combining the aromatic freshness of shepherd's purse with the richness of pork.
2. Shepherd's purse wontons
Blanch the shepherd's purse, then drain and chop it. Mix it with shrimp meat, pork, and other ingredients to make the filling. Wrap the filling into wontons. Once cooked, garnish with chopped scallions, seaweed, and shrimp flakes, then drizzle with sesame oil. The wonton wrappers are thin, with generous filling, and the broth is delicious, highlighting the unique flavor of shepherd's purse.
3. Shepherd's purse tofu soup
Wash and chop the shepherd's purse, and cut the tofu into small cubes. Heat oil in a pan, sauté the shepherd's purse briefly, then add an appropriate amount of water. Add the tofu cubes and season with salt, chicken bouillon, etc. Cook until the broth thickens, then add a cornstarch slurry to achieve a smooth and tender texture, making it nutritious and delicious.
4. Stir-fried shepherd's purse
Wash and cut the shepherd's purse into sections. Heat oil in a pan, sauté minced garlic until fragrant, then add the shepherd's purse and stir-fry quickly. Season and remove from heat promptly. This method preserves the original flavor of shepherd's purse, offering a tender, fresh, and aromatic taste, making it a simple yet healthy dish.
5. Shepherd's purse egg pancake
Wash and chop the shepherd's purse, then mix it with eggs, flour, and an appropriate amount of water. Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to form a batter. Pour the batter into a greased frying pan, spread it thinly, and cook until both sides are golden brown, resulting in a crispy outside and tender inside.
It should be noted that shepherd's purse is cold in nature, and people with spleen and stomach cold deficiency should not consume excessive amounts. There are many ways to cook shepherd's purse, and individuals can choose according to their own taste and preferences. During cooking, appropriate seasonings can be added to enhance flavor and taste.
