Warming Congee

Congee is basically a slow cooked rice porridge whose therapeutic qualities can be altered depending on what other ingredients are added.

Generally, rice congee is a digestive enhancer and improves assimilation.

The basic rice congee is easy to digest and is as much a great first food (if made with organic white rice) as a regular breakfast.

BASIC CONGEE

1 cup short grain brown rice

4-8 cups water (use more water for children or for weak digestive systems)

pinch sea salt

Cook over low heat for approximately 3-6 hours.  Use a flame deflector to prevent burning or a slow cooker overnight.

You can then serve it savoury with 1tsp miso paste, shallots, & tamari roasted seeds or sweet with stewed fruit.

RED DATE CONGEE

Probably the most palatable of the congees, this one promotes the circulation of Qi and Blood, strengthens digestion and sedates and calms the spirit! To the basic recipe add 200g Chinese red dates chopped & 3 tablespoons fresh ginger chopped fine

LEEK CONGEE

Warming and tonifying; useful for chronic loose stools or diarrhoea. Add 1-2 cups sliced leeks to basic recipe.

CARROT CONGEE

Carminative (relieves flatulence) and peptic (digestive tonifier), useful for indigestion. Add 2 cups sliced carrot to basic recipe.  (Fennel also eases flatulence)

PINENUT CONGEE

Moistening so useful for constipation. Add 1 cup pine nuts to basic recipe.

MUNG BEAN CONGEE

Cooling, especially for summer heat. Add ¼- ½ cup mung beans to basic recipe.

CELERY CONGEE

Cooling and harmonising so useful for high blood pressure Add 1-2 cups sliced celery to basic recipe.

AZUKI BEAN CONGEE

Useful for oedema and gout. Add ¼- ½ cup adzuki beans (soaked for 8-24hr) to basic recipe

CHESTNUT CONGEE

Tonifies kidneys, strengthens lower back and knees.  Add ¼- ½ cup dried chestnuts to basic recipe.

KIDNEY/LIVER CONGEE

Generally tonifying, especially for the kidneys/liver. Add 1 cup diced kidney/liver to basic recipe.

Winter meals need to be nutritious and warming. My favourite congee in the wintertime is Winter Warming Congee

WINTER WARMING CONGEE

30-gr Astragalus root (buy from your local chinese herbalist & tie together with cotton or string)

2.5cm fresh ginger root minced

½ tsp powdered ginger

2 tsp powdered cinnamon

1 tsp ground cardamom

12 Chinese Honey Dates

2 cups diced carrots

¾ cup millet

8 cups water

Place all ingredients into slow cooker at night, cook for around 8 hours & wake up to a deliciously warming breakfast.  You can sweeten it with honey, rice syrup or maple syrup on serving.

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