Are you tired of eating sweet breakfasts? Do you want to add flavors to your morning meal? If yes then we present you a classic Chinese breakfast dish congee! Not only in China but Burma, Indonesia, Japan, and even some European countries have also added congee as their go-to breakfast dish. It is basically a rice porridge made by boiling rice in too much water until it breaks down into a pudding-like consistency.
Congee, also known as jook, probably originated in China. According to Cookbook author Eileen Yin-Fei Lo, congee dates back to approx 1000 B.C., when the Zhou dynasty was ruling China. In the South, jook was and is still made with rice, the preferred grain for this dish.
Delicious and the Best congee Recipe!
When you make congee with only water, you will get a very bland dish. However, you can infuse the dish with sweet or savory flavors with some customizations. If you want to try a different base then go with beef, chicken, or vegetable stock, and the rice will absorb all of its flavors as it cooks.
Although it is loved by people of all ages, congee is traditionally served to children and people who are ill or recovering from an illness as it is very easy to digest. Apart from this, congee is a very economical dish as ¾ cup of rice turns into 6 cups of porridge and has traditionally been used to stretch rice when food is scarce.
Congee is usually served with youtiao as the fried dough is dipped into this rice porridge. So, let’s see how you can make this recipe and bring Chinese flavors to your dining table!
Quick Stats
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 2 hours (soaking time+cooking time)
Servings: 6 serves
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup long-grain rice
- 8 cups water, or your preferred stock (Chicken, vegetable, or beef)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Minced ginger
- Minced garlic
- Lotus root
- Gingko nuts
- Shredded chicken
- Shredded pork
- Shredded bok choy
- Soft-boiled egg
- Chopped peanuts
Method to Prepare
- First, gather all the ingredients. Now, rinse and wash the rice and let it soak in water for half an hour. After half an hour of soaking, drain all the water from the rice.
- Meanwhile, take a large dutch oven and bring the rice and 8 cups of water or your preferred stock to a boil.
- When you see rice boiling, lower the flame to medium-low. Cover the rice pot with a lid.
- However, tilt the lid to let the steam escape as you do with cooking normal rice.
- Keep the rice on medium-low flame, and stir occasionally, until the rice is thick and creamy.
- This is the consistency you will need for porridge. It will take about 1 ½ to 1 ¾ hour.
- Taste the porridge, adjust seasoning as per your taste, and toppings of your desire.
- Serve it warm and enjoy!
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Final Words
No more need to eat that cliched breakfasts as this congee recipe will present you with something healthy and delicious to enjoy. Easy-to-make and tasty-to-eat, try this staple Chinese breakfast recipe and enjoy a warming and filling breakfast with your family!
