Healing Recipes: Congee

Congee is a traditional east Asian rice porridge that has been used therapeutically for easing digestive woes for thousands of years.

Because the rice is cooked in a lot of liquid for a long time, congee is easy to digest and super hydrating! This makes it particularly medicinal for people with chronically weak digestion (ask your practitioner if it's right for you) or when ill or convalescing from illness or surgery.

Although the basic recipe simply calls for rice and water or broth, there are infinite ways to add flavor and nutrition to a bowl of congee. Check out the recipe and some suggestions of what to add below!

Basic Congee Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 cup white rice (I like jasmine or basmati)

7-8 cups water, chicken stock, veggie stock or bone broth (the gelatin in bone broth helps heal the gut lining, so if you aren't a vegetarian I highly suggest using bone broth in your congee!)

Preparation:

Simply combine rice and liquid in a large stock pot. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 3-4 hours.

Optional Ingredients:

-For added protein, you could cook your congee with some bone-in chicken legs or thighs or top with a fried egg.

-If you are having a lot of chronic digestive trouble like gas, bloating or diarrhea, you can add sweet potato and/or Chinese red dates to harmonize digestion. (Ask your clinician if this is the right approach for your particular variety of digestive woes!)

-If you are a vegetarian, try adding some mushrooms while the congee is simmering for a more robust flavor.

-Topping your congee with pickled veggies can add some zest (and probiotic action!)

-Simmering congee with ginger can warm you up and support digestion.

The sky is the limit when it comes to congee! Let your culinary creativity shine~

Wondering what else you could be doing to support your digestion? Contact The Origin Center to talk about your options.

Your initial consultation is always free — come meet us in person and learn more.