14 Congee Recipes for When Your Rice Porridge Craving Strikes (2024)

While rice is delicious in every form, from rice bowls to rice noodles to sushi burgers, it’s deeply satisfying when it’s served up in congee. The Asian import — a DIY rice porridge — is the perfect opportunity to use up that *leftover* rice, since it has a higher starch content which adds extra creaminess to the dish. Here are 14 congee recipes that show you how it’s done.

Slow-Cooker Ginger Chicken Congee

14 Congee Recipes for When Your Rice Porridge Craving Strikes (1) This recipe calls for just three key ingredients and is made in the slow cooker while you get other stuff done. (via Kitchn)

Congee (Chinese Rice Porridge)

14 Congee Recipes for When Your Rice Porridge Craving Strikes (2) A lot of congee recipes call for bone-in meat, but dried shiitake mushrooms make a gorgeously chewy and flavorful substitute. Toppings like green onions, cilantro, sesame seeds, soy sauce, Sriracha, and a few drops of toasted sesame oil will give it a multi-dimensional flavor. (via It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken)

Congee With Miso Sauce

14 Congee Recipes for When Your Rice Porridge Craving Strikes (3) This recipe calls for miso, which layers in an umami dimension. (via Playful Cooking)

Congee (Rice Porridge)

14 Congee Recipes for When Your Rice Porridge Craving Strikes (5) If you HEART savory foods in the morning, try a breakfast congee that’s 100 percent vegan. Plus, it tastes just as delicious for lunch or dinner. (via Vegan Heaven)

Seafood Congee

14 Congee Recipes for When Your Rice Porridge Craving Strikes (6) When it comes to congee, simplest is often best. This recipe is flavored with just a handful of dried scallops and a few pieces of shrimp. It has such a rich flavor, it’s hard to believe it’s made with just water, not homemade stock. (via Omnivore’s Cookbook)

Ginger Chicken Brown Rice Congee

14 Congee Recipes for When Your Rice Porridge Craving Strikes (7) Congee is a *healing* meal, and this brown rice version calls for lots of the natural superfood ginger. Next time you feel a cold coming on, start some congee on your back-burner and you’ll be feeling good as new in no time. (via Gather & Dine)

Congee With Homemade Broth

14 Congee Recipes for When Your Rice Porridge Craving Strikes (8) This congee is a great budget meal, because just a cup of rice makes a whole pot of soup. Top yours up with whatever fixins you have in the fridge and it’s all good. (via The Nomadic Wife)

Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken Congee

14 Congee Recipes for When Your Rice Porridge Craving Strikes (9) Don’t toss that leftover rotisserie chicken carcass — unless you’re *tossing* it into the slow cooker. Start it in the morning and those leftovers will become a comforting meal by lunchtime. (via Roti ‘n’ Rice)

Vegetarian Brown Rice Congee With Tempeh

14 Congee Recipes for When Your Rice Porridge Craving Strikes (10) If you haven’t tried tempeh yet, this version fried in sesame oil is a great place to start. (via Avocado aDay Nutrition)

Mom’s Pork Bone Congee

14 Congee Recipes for When Your Rice Porridge Craving Strikes (11) You’ll want to make this recipe in the biggest pot in your cooking arsenal, so there will be plenty of leftovers to reheat the next day. Pro tip: Salt the pork bones overnight before cooking and you’ll have yourself a flavor bomb for sure. (via The Woks of Life)

Chicken and Ginger Congee (Rice Porridge)

14 Congee Recipes for When Your Rice Porridge Craving Strikes (12) Anyone who grew up eating congee will tell you they *crave* it anytime they’re feeling under the weather. This three-ingredient recipe is easy to cook, even if you’re feeling low-energy, and it’s as comforting as a warm blanket and fleecy pajamas — which might also be what you wear while you’re eating it. (via The Worktop)

Cozy, Comforting Congee

14 Congee Recipes for When Your Rice Porridge Craving Strikes (13) While you’re scrounging the fridge for delicious toppings, don’t overlook the egg. A protein-rich poached egg is the real star of this show. (via One Lovely Life)

Instant Pot Congee (Jook)

14 Congee Recipes for When Your Rice Porridge Craving Strikes (14) If you don’t have time for slow-cooking methods that break down the rice to the right porridge-y creaminess, you can fast-track this recipe in your Instant Pot. Don’t leave out the little dash of Sriracha for an extra shot of zing to your taste buds. (via Budget Bytes)

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14 Congee Recipes for When Your Rice Porridge Craving Strikes (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to eat congee every day? ›

Rich in flavour and filled with the goodness of nutrients, rice congee is the perfect dish to have daily for anyone, especially children who are picky eaters. Introduce your fussy baby to a warm bowl of rice congee topped with the things they love. The delicious dish is also beneficial for your overall well-being.

What is the best porridge for sick people? ›

Congee has a history as a famine food — rice stretched to last with the addition of extra water — and, more commonly nowadays, the ideal sick dish. Low-effort and gentle on the stomach, it's embraced as a go-to for belly aches, colds, or days of general discomfort.

What's the difference between rice porridge and congee? ›

Congee or conjee is a type of rice porridge or gruel popular in many Asian countries. When eaten as plain rice congee, it is most often served with side dishes. When additional ingredients, such as meat, fish, and flavorings, are added whilst preparing the congee, it is most often served as a meal on its own.

What to put in congee to make it taste better? ›

The cherry-on-top to congee are the add-ons:
  1. Slivered scallions.
  2. Fresh ginger.
  3. Fish sauce.
  4. Chili oil.
  5. Dried shrimp.
  6. Fried shallots.
  7. Jammy eggs.
Nov 17, 2020

What is the healthiest congee? ›

For a healthier version, I frequently recommend using brown rice, or even barley or millet. Simmer on very low heat for 1-2 hours or until rice is quite broken down.

Does congee spike blood sugar? ›

Most people are unaware of the hours required to boil white rice into congee actually enhances the level of glucose and therefore can affect the patient's response to insulin.

Which porridge is best for elderly? ›

Oats and Berries

Porridge is a quick and easy meal to prepare and can be enjoyed any time of the year. Oats are rich in fibre and are also a slow-release carbohydrate, giving you plenty of energy in the morning, while berries add colour and flavour.

How long does congee last? ›

You can store the congee in a sealed container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. The congee will continue to thicken. To dilute it, you can add a splash of water to the congee and heat it either on the stovetop or in the microwave.

When to eat congee? ›

Congee is a perfect dish for people going through treatment for cancer, recuperating on a bland diet, or are having diarrhea. It's gentle on the stomach and easy to digest. If you make congee with brown rice, you get the benefits of additional fiber, which will help you maintain regular digestion.

Why do Asians eat congee? ›

In some cultures, congee is eaten primarily as a breakfast food or late supper; some may also eat it as a substitute for rice at other meals. It is often considered suitable for the sick as a mild, easily digestible food.

Is congee just overcooked rice? ›

Congee or Rice Porridge

Here's how to make congee, the savory Chinese rice porridge, out of overcooked rice: Bring a couple of inches of water to a boil in a sauce pan and start adding the mushy rice, a couple of spoonful's at a time. Break them up with a whisk, as you add them to the water.

Is oatmeal better than rice porridge? ›

Oats are a better option than rice for weight loss and fitness aims. Oats is a better choice for people suffering from Iron Deficiency Anemia. Oats are rich in antioxidants including avenanthramides. Avenanthramides helps in lowering the blood pressure levels.

What is the secret to making congee? ›

Beancurd skin is the secret ingredient to ensuring the texture of each bowl of congee comes out right. Adding the beancurd skin helps to make the rice grains mushy, and thus easier to cook down to a smooth consistency.

What meat to put in congee? ›

Dress up this classic white rice porridge with your favorite savory toppings like bacon, Chinese sausage, or onions.

How to make congee more tasty? ›

Toward the end of cooking, when the stock has become integrated with the rice and is the consistency of oatmeal, season lightly with salt to taste. Serve the congee with a sprinkling of soy sauce, spring onion and ginger and a few drops of sesame oil to taste.

Is it okay to eat porridge everyday? ›

Yes, it is good to eat oatmeal every day considering its nutritional profile and health benefits, including weight control and heart-healthy effect. As a breakfast food and mid-meal snack, oatmeal is potentially a better option than the majority of foods available in the market.

Is congee more fattening than rice? ›

WHY IT'S HEALTHY: Congee has a greater water-to-rice ratio than steamed rice. Every 100g of congee has about 65 calories and 7.5g carbohydrate. The same amount of white rice has 140 calories and 31g carbohydrate. TRY IT AT HOME: For homemade congee, use brown rice or whole grain as they are healthier.

How many days is congee good for? ›

If the congee isn't as thick as you like, remove the pot from the heat, keep it covered, and let it rest for about 15 minutes. To store leftover congee, keep it in a sealed container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to five days. Reheat congee slowly in the microwave or on the stovetop just until warm.

Is congee a laxative? ›

Another fascinating thing about Congee is that it is effective for both Constipation and Diarrhea. Congee is easy to digest and provides hydration to the body which is essential to cure diarrhea. It also moistens the cells of the intestinal area so that it helps to reduce your constipation issues.

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