Congee, Rice Porridge, Zhou 粥

Congee is a gruel or porridge made of Rice. It is best cooked slowly, is very nutritious, and very easy to digest. It is the best thing to have after ‘Gastro’ (ie. vomiting and Diarrhea). It is also very good for the Young and Old.

In China, there are sweet and savory varieties made by adding dried fruit, vegetables, sliced Meat, Honey, various sauces etc. If had as a meal, cut up veggies and pieces of cooked chicken can be added. A little suitable sauce (especially Soy or Tamari) can then be added.

How to Make

1. One cup of White or Brown Rice is washed. If some Bean or other Grains are being added, replace the Rice with 20% of the desired Bean or Grain. Beans should be soaked and washed befor use.
2. Add 6 or 8 cups of water, add a little salt, boil gently over a slow fire, stirring occasionally, until the water is absorbed and a uniform consistency like a porridge is made.

Additions:

1. Buddha said Congee made with Milk and Honey was the MAIN FOOD TO PRESERVE HEALTH, ‘It confers 10 things on him; life and beauty, ease and strength; It dispels hunger, thirst, and wind; It cleanses the Bladder, It digests food’. Replace 1/4 or 1/3 of the water with milk, add a few Cardamon pods, and add Honey after it is served up and stir through.
2. COUGH, LUNG WEAKNESS, add 3 cut up Dried Figs and/or 1 tablespoonful of Raisins or Sultanas, and 1 tablespoonful crushed Walnuts.
3. For CHILDREN, add a spoonful of cut Sultanas.
4. For the ELDERLY, add 1 teaspoonful each of Sesame seeds, crushed Almonds, crushed Walnuts, 2 cut up Dried Figs, and 3 slices of Ginger.
5. To STRENGTHEN WHEN VERY WEAK, or after long illness, replace 2 cups of water with 2 cups of Meat, Chicken or Vegetable Stock.
6. As a QUICK SNACK, add some cut up Chinese Broccoli or Bok Choi, 2 slices of Ginger, add a little Tamari (fermented Soy Sauce) or Oyster sauce.
7. To CLEANSE THE BLOOD, add well washed Green Mung Beans, and half a teaspoonful each of the powders of Tumeric and Cumin seed.
8. To STRENGTHEN the LOWER BACK add Chestnuts, or Walnuts and Fig.
9. HYPERTENSION and EDEMA, add Celery and Barley or Job’s Tears (Chinese Barley)
10. ARTHRITIS, add washed Pearl Barley, Celery, half teaspoonful each of Tumeric and Cumin seed powders, and 3 slices Ginger.
11. EDEMA, WATER RETENTION, add Adzuki Bean.
12. ANEMIA, add 8 Lotus seeds (Lian Zi), 8 Longan fruit (Long Yan Rou). 4 Chinese Red Dates (Da Zao) and prepare a congee with a small handful of Rice.
14. LIVER AND GALL BLADDER DISORDERS, Jaundice, Cholecystitis, and to clear Heat and Toxin, decoct 30 grams of fresh Dandelion for 30 minutes, and use the decoction to make Congee.
13. As a DESSERT, Replace 2 cups of water with 2 cups of Milk, add 1 Cinnamon quill, 3 green Cardamon pods (or half a teaspoonful of their powders), and 1 spoonful of Raisins. Almond meal, Honey or Cocoa can also be added. A pinch of Saffron can also be added.

See also Eight Treasure Congee