Foraged red miners lettuces, botanical name Claytonia siberica, also known as Indian lettuce and winter purslane. It is a member of the Broadleaf family, an annual herbaceous plant and part of a complex of species and subspecies with slightly varying characteristics. Though red miner's lettuce is popular foraging plant, it is a greater source of food for animals than it is for humans, providing a grazing source for gophers, flocking birds, quail, doves and cattle, while seed-eating birds eat the plant's fruits and disperse them, allowing for the plant to continue to flourish in the wild.

Foraged red miners lettuce forms petite heart-shaped to triangular-shaped true green leaves that project from a series of thin tubular pale rhubarb-colored stems that form at the base of the plant. The leaves form a basal rosette and produce miniature flowering clusters in tones of white and pink. Once the plant has reached maturity, it will form egg-shaped seed pods that contain up to six seeds. The entire plant is edible, including the roots, flowers and seeds. The leaves have a mild flavor with a tender succulence. The other elements have a more pronounced flavor, especially the roots and flowers.

Nutritional Value

As a species, miners lettuce is known as a wild superfood as it is historically known for containing potently nutritious levels of Vitamin C.

Serving Ideas

Red miners lettuce is a quintessential salad green. As red miner's lettuce appears abundantly in spring, best companion ingredients are those that are also ready for harvest in spring, including other greens such as butter lettuce, red frill mustard, mizuna, chantarelle and morel mushrooms, wild ramps, asparagus, radishes, grapefruit, blood oranges, kumquats, new potatoes, green garlic, scapes, spring herbs such as parsely, mint and arugula, fresh hen and duck eggs and spring cow's cheeses.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

Miners lettuce gets its name from the California Gold Rush Years. Gold miners ate the plant in abundance and it is widely known that its nutritive properties prevented scurvy.

Geography/History

All miners lettuce is native to the coast and mountains of the Pacific Northwest from California to Alaska. It was discovered by the famous naturalist, Archibald Menzies who brought the seeds back to Europe where the plant has been naturalized and cultivated since the late 19th century. Red miners lettuce's choice habitat is among trees and forests, specifically among Chaparral and oak. It also thrives in coastal sage scrub, crop fields, orchards, vineyards, gardens, grasslands and other disturbed sites.

Seasons/Availability

Red miner's lettuce is available during the cooler months of the year, typically from winter into spring.