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)

From Your Site Articles

  • 15 Leftover Ham Recipes — Brit + Co - Brit + Co ›

Sally Jones

Sally Jones is a writer and editor living in New York City. She has worked at many websites including iVillage, Ladies Home Journal, More, Parenting, Cosmopolitan, The Knot and YourTango, in jobs ranging from editor to COO. Renovation and interior design are her

unhealthy obsessions

hobbies. She has renovated every home she's lived in, including the rentals, and like... whoa, who does that? You can catch her at her blog Renov8or.

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's the difference between rice porridge and congee? ›

The simplest and biggest difference to tell apart what is a congee and a porridge, is the texture of the rice. The rice in congee is utterly cook to the point it dissolved into a glue-ly / starchy texture. Porridge on the other hand, the rice still retain mostly its shape and have clearly soup / water base.

What pairs well with congee? ›

The range of sides that goes with congee is endless. Lovers of preserved will be spoilt for choice with options such as pickled cucumber, wheat gluten, pickled turnip, pickled white gourd, fermented bean curd, dried bamboo shoot, salted clam, salted duck egg, meat floss and all sorts of fried bean sticks.

Why does congee make you feel better? ›

The benefits of congee and looser porridge result from long, slow cooking with lots of water, transforming food into a meal that hydrates, supports digestion & soothes the stomach.

Is congee good for losing weight? ›

Congee is considered in TCM as a must-have breakfast dish. By jump-starting the digestive system congee injects the nutrients right where they are needed and naturally heals by nurturing the digestive system to maximise it's function. If you need to lose or gain weight congee can help.

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.

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.

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 oatmeal better than rice porridge? ›

Oats have lower glycemic index(55) than rice which, for even brown rice, is 68. It means oats will be processed slowly inside our body and will not raise our sugar levels much.

How do you make congee more tasty? ›

Serve the congee with a sprinkling of soy sauce, spring onion and ginger and a few drops of sesame oil to taste.

What sauce to add in congee? ›

Add salt to taste. Serve the congee hot with scallions, sesame seed oil, and soy sauce.

Is congee anti inflammatory? ›

Congee is a super simple, savory rice porridge rooted in Chinese medicine. A bowl of congee is a warm, comforting way to start the day, especially if you've been feeling under the weather or your digestion has been slow. Congee is an anti-inflammatory, gut healing powerhouse made of rice and bone broth.

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.

Can diabetics eat rice porridge? ›

Can people with diabetes eat porridge? People with diabetes can completely include porridge in their daily menu. However, when giving porridge to people with diabetes, it is necessary to pay attention to the processing method as well as to have a separate diet so as not to adversely affect health.

Can you eat too much porridge in a day? ›

Eating oatmeal in moderation is generally considered healthy, as it is a whole grain that is high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. However, consuming too much oatmeal can have some potential risks. High in calories: Oatmeal is a calorie-dense food, and consuming too much of it can contribute to weight gain.

Is congee good or bad for you? ›

Since it's packed with vitamins, protein, and carbs but doesn't need to contain excessive sugar or salt, congee is the perfect wholesome recipe if you have an upset stomach or are feeling under the weather.

Is congee healthier than rice? ›

Still, if you dig deeper into its nutritional facts, the filling dish has a surprisingly low-calorie content. The more water you add to the dish, the lower the carbohydrates, allowing you to derive 30 calories for every 100 grams of rice porridge compared to the 100 calories you would get in plain rice.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Stevie Stamm

Last Updated:

Views: 5861

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Stevie Stamm

Birthday: 1996-06-22

Address: Apt. 419 4200 Sipes Estate, East Delmerview, WY 05617

Phone: +342332224300

Job: Future Advertising Analyst

Hobby: Leather crafting, Puzzles, Leather crafting, scrapbook, Urban exploration, Cabaret, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is Stevie Stamm, I am a colorful, sparkling, splendid, vast, open, hilarious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.