Congee is a wonderful rice soup that’s easy to digest and can be eaten at any time. In fact, this soup strengthens the digestive system!
This rice soup recipe can be modified by adding additional healing ingredients for additional benefits according to one’s constitution (see ideas below).
½ cup short-grain rice
¼ cup glutinous rice
4 ½ cups water
1 quart Chicken or Veggie Stock
1) Place both types of rice in a large pot, with water to cover. Wash the rice by rubbing between your palms. Drain. Repeat twice more.
2) Return the washed rice to the pot, add the 4 ½ cups water and the stock, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, leaving the lid cracked, and cook 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking to the pot bottom. A nonstick pot or a heavy bottom ‘Le Creuset’ pot are good choices. Cook until the rice thickens almost to a porridge consistency.
3) When the congee is done, turn off the heat. When the congee is finished, you can add any desired condiments or other foods (parsley, cilantro, dark leafy greens, cooked mushrooms, etc.) and serve.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
** Recipe adapted from The Rice Bowl, page 189
Here are some easy additional foods and their properties that can be added to the congee if needed:
Aduki Beans: promote urination, reduce edema and gout
Carrot: aids digestion, reduces gas, benefits the eyes
Celery: clears heat, reduces blood pressure
Chestnuts: strengthens kidneys, knees and back
Water Chestnuts: clear heat, cools and benefits digestive organs
Fennel: harmonizes stomach, reduces gas, digestive aid, warms digestive fire
Ginger: warms digestion
Leeks: warm internal coldness
Mung Bean: clears heat, cools summerheat, reduces fever and thirt
Mustard Seeds: expels cold, white phlegm; stimulates and warms the stomach
Black Pepper: warms the belly, reduces gas
Pine Nuts: moistening to the heart, lungs and large intestine (constipation), the moisture prevents wind
Poppy Seeds: reduces nausea
Purslane: detoxifies hot swellings and hot arthritis
Sesame Seeds: moisten intestines
Taro Root: aids the stomach, strengthens the blood
** the above additions are adapted from Paul Pitchford’s wonderful book Healing with Whole Foods
Tasty, Healing Rice Soup