Purslane: Garden Foe or Good Food?

Okay, so my garden is choked at the moment with the "weed" known as purslane, so I've decided its time to stop fighting this beast and start eating it instead. In his book In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan talks about how wild greens like purslane are an important part of many traditional cuisines, particularly in Italy.

This Wash Post article extolls the virtues of Purslane:

Their role in nature is not to torment you but to cover disturbed ground, to lay claim to any patch laid newly bare and thereby prevent it from blowing or washing away. In the process they provide food and liquid to any creature smart enough to take a bite.

Thank you purslane! I promise not to cuss at you anymore. Need more convincing?

The plant is rich in vitamin E, vitamin C and beta carotene, and quite high in protein. Most noteworthy of all, it is considered a better source of essential omega-3 fatty acids than any other leafy plant. These are compounds the body cannot make itself, which are needed to complement the omega-6 fatty acids we get from grains and grain-fed meat.

As with everything else unfamiliar, try it stir fried. Or in a salad.
Here's one more good article on purslane