![]() ![]() To traditionalists, I say that tradition is in the eye of the keeper Chen’s mother has always liked to add alternate grains, such as millet, to her congee. Want to experience a taste of China for yourself? Apply today to teach in China.Pantry items for sale include tinned fish, chili crisp, and spicy honey. With so many variations, you can pick the best Chinese congee recipe for you, from coughing or asthma soothers to the most famous variation of this favorite Chinese food, from Sichuan congee for spice-lovers to the “Laba” eight-treasure porridge for balance or for a “mixed” congee. Corn flakes, sesame seeds or lotus seedsįor the true Chinese food lovers out there, you can try some of these Chinese congee recipes at home.Today there are several different variations of laba congee, but most will have the following ingredients: Laba congee, or eight-treasures porridge, originally was made from eight ingredients consisting of grains, nuts, beans, seeds, and dried fruits. Today, family and friends will celebrate by eating laba congee. However a congee-eating tradition began during the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279) to honor the Buddha’s six years of eating only rice, and grew in popularity during the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911). It is believed that this date marks the Day of Enlightenment – day that Sakyamuni realized the truth and became the Buddha – and was originally celebrated by making sacrifices to one’s ancestors. The name of this Chinese congee comes directly from the festival: “la” being the name of the twelfth lunar month and “ba” being the pronunciation for eight in Chinese. On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month Chinese celebrate the Laba Festival by eating laba or eigth-treasure porridge. There are also several variations on how to cook congee, depending on what you have in your kitchen. The possible variations of Chinese congee are so extensive, that someone was actually able to go an entire year eating congee without getting bored. The types of colored congee are infinite and often take on flavors and ingredients of their region (for example, gingko congee in Guilin). Colored congee, on the other hand, can be rice with a mixture of any other ingredient and is served as a main dish, generally breakfast. ![]() Ordinary congee is simple white rice that is boiled and served as a side dish, sometimes for dipping. ![]() Though the number of variations is immeasurable, Chinese congee can be categorized into two different types of porridge: ordinary and colored. Its health benefits include boosting longevity, soothing the ill, and strengthening the digestive system, and congee is also considered a healthier and more energizing breakfast than Western oatmeal. According to Chinese legend, the Yellow Emperor – figure from 2,500 BCE who founded China – also created this simple meal by mixing rice with water and salt, and has since been enjoyed and reinvented by the Chinese for 4,500 years. The rice absorbs as much water as it can until it begins to disintegrate into a warm, thick, and mushy consistency. You may have heard this popular breakfast dish referred to as rice porridge, gruel, or jook, but how much do you really know about this staple Chinese food? We give you a straight-forward guide to one of our favorite Chinese food dishes and even some recipes to try at home.Ĭhinese congee, 粥 (zhōu) in Chinese, is made by boiling or steaming rice in a large amount of water for several hours. Morning bowl of oatmeal, meet your Eastern counterpart: Chinese congee. ![]()
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