Standard thick Cantonese congee required approximately 8 cups of water to 1 cup of rice. Carefully pour the broth and water into the pot. Note: This recipe was originally published on October 17, 2016. While this newfound cooking technique is a game changer, the actual recipe––congee with pork and thousand year old egg––has a long history as a favorite Cantonese comfort food. Various online calculators also provide different results, depending on their sources. We have written about this topic in-depth in 11 Types of Grain for Making Congee (and How to Use Them), in which we introduced the different nutritional benefits, cooking methods, rice to water ratio for each of them, as well as how different types of rice are used in various congee recipes. Once the congee is nearly fully cooked, ingredients like river and sea marine foods, poultry, snake, frog, or turtle is added. If you are using … After 15 minutes, it’s time to add the julienned ginger, pork, and thousand year-old egg. Congee has been an essential part of traditional Chinese food therapy and an iconic health food in China for thousands of years. They were what my mom made for us when it was either … Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. The difficulty comes as a smooth congee requires the rice grains to simmer or stew for a long time, while the ingredients will undoubtedly be over-cooked if left in with the rice for hours. BREAKING NEWS!!! Congee in Hong Kong is typically spiked with various ingredients and some congee has interesting names too. Rachel Roszmann Posted Mar 21, 2019. While many who love congee have already experienced the myriad of different variations in recipes, very few understand that there are a variety of cooking techniques involved with varying recipes in order to best bring out the ingredients’ flavors and textures. Soaking the rice first can cut down on … TheWoksofLife.com is written and produced for informational purposes only. The taste of the congee is brought out as the ingredients cook, which work to enhance the flavor of the congee as well. Mild, but revelatory, congee is full of flavors that slowly mesmerize you into an indescribable experience that you won’t be able to forget. Yet, we find Jasmine and other long-grain rice to be quite competent substitutes. In our article How to Make a Good Cantonese Congee Base, we also dive deeper into the different levels of heat and what each entails. The secret? My conclusion was that the congee did not cook to the right consistency in 15 minutes, but 20 minutes was the perfect amount of time to reach the texture you see in our pictures. Stir and simmer for another 5 minutes or so. After 10 minutes, you will have a pot of nicely cooked soft congee. To make japonica rice congee, we recommend 1 cup of rice to 12 cups of water. It takes only about 15 minutes from start to finish to cook a pot of soft, creamy congee. Also check out our other congee recipes, including our Seafood Congee, Pork Bone Congee, and Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Congee! This is one of the most frequently asked questions for congee beginners. 6. Visit our Chicken Congee page for 10 chicken congee recipes and Pork Congee section for 14 available recipes that will ignite your taste buds! Sprinkle in the salt and stir. FREEZING the rice ahead of time: wash the rice, drain, and put the washed rice in a zip-loc bag (or freezer-safe container). Teochew congee is divided between plain congee and savory congee. At the one-hour mark, the congee will start to thicken and become creamy as the rice begins to break down. This ensures that the ingredients are fresh and tender, and the flavors are meld into the congee base. Add century eggs and continue cooking for 5 minutes over slow fire. Turn up the fire and make the congee strongly boiling and then … I make a two-ingredient porridge (Recipe: Super simple pumpkin porridge), substitute rice with oats (Recipe: Oatmeal congee with goji berries) and even keep packets of frozen rice in the freezer (Recipe: Congee in ziplock bag).Naturally, I always find interesting ways to make this dish healthier. The science behind it is that the moisture in the rice freezes, expands, and breaks the rice kernel into tiny pieces to dramatically reduce necessary cooking time. I can have it any time I want: breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Stir occasionally so that the rice doesn't clump or stick at the bottom. The easiest solution is to cook congee with warm water. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Other types of rice for congee include brown rice, millet (not really a type of rice though), glutinous rice (also called sticky rice), and black rice. Another big differentiator between congee and other types of porridge is that Chinese have incorporated their traditional medicine and herbs into their congee recipes for more than 2,500 years! The rice must be soaked overnight. If less adventurous, you can always leave the egg out. If you are interested in learning more about sweet congee, we have 28 delicious sweet congee recipes in our Vegetarian Congee section. In order to make the best plain congee, texture is key. In our Congee section, we usually indicate the specific amount of water and rice ratio for each of our recipes. Stir and let sit for 10 minutes to marinate. Popular choices include cured duck, duck gizzards, beef tripe, and pork bones. Since it takes a long time, this method is called slow-cooked congee. Gruel, mush, grits, cream of wheat, and oatmeal — they’re all names for porridge. You can make delicious congee with slow-cooked flavor––from scratch––in 20 minutes. Factors such as brands purchased, natural variations in fresh ingredients, etc. 5. Besides dim sum, congee has been the poster child for Cantonese cuisine. Nevertheless, the ingenious Cantonese people came up with the following 4 methods to overcome this. Classic Teochew clay pot congee dishes include sliced grass carp fish congee in clay pot, pork bone congee in clay pot, prawn clay pot congee, and crab clay pot congee. Based on the mere variety of recipes and cooking techniques, congee can probably stand alone as its own culinary branch among other regional cuisines. Using the slow-cooked method ensures that the rice is soft; the congee itself becomes very smooth, and the other ingredients are thoroughly cooked, their flavors absorbed by the congee. The cooking time for grains other than white rice is just slightly longer. How to Make Congee Fast. Cook the rice in the broth. I also tried this method with grains like barley, brown rice, red rice, and black rice, and it works beautifully. The only thing when it comes to rice cooker congee is the water to rice ratio, and this is a very tricky question as different people have very different preferences when it comes to thickness, and different rice cookers vary as well. I don’t know how it earned this name, inspiring equal parts terror and horror. This creates a smooth congee broth and plump grains of rice, with a consistency that is more rice than broth. When boil again, it is crucial to maintain a medium rolling boil throughout the cooking. First, rinse the rice in water a few times to wash away extra starch which could make the congee too thick and starchy. The secret is: First put a cup of rice, properly washed in the freezer and refrigerate them to rice icing in the freezer. Simmer a small amount of rice in a large amount of water for several hours, and you have congee. In China, though, there's an entirely different expectation when it comes to the morning meal. While that’s cooking, dice the thousand year-old egg and set it aside. Cantonese congee came from southern China where sweets are one of their specialties. In a medium pot, bring 7 cups of water to a boil. Finally, you have come to the end of our complete guide on how to make congee. will change the nutritional information in any recipe. However, you may find this ratio to be undesirable to your liking or your specific rice cooker model, try a slightly different ratio and experiment a little bit. Essential Tips for Making a Good Basic Congee Base A 1:20 rice to water ratio is typically used. Copyright 2018 © Unfamiliar China Ltd. All rights reserved. Congee is a classic Chinese porridge made from rice, usually served for breakfast or at dim sum. The other myth is that congee is all savory while porridge can be sweet. And for people who grew up eating this congee, nostalgic for authentic Cantonese flavors, this one is a big welcome home with minimal effort, from me to you! By now, you should have a deeper understanding of Cantonese congee itself as well as the basic and advanced cooking techniques involved. The truth is congee made with rice is a major part of the whole congee family, but there are many other types of congee made with different kinds of grain such as millet, beans, corn, oats, and Job’s tears. Plain congee or plain rice porridge is a staple food across China and many East Asian countries. Report. Cook until the rice grains are smooth and soft. Leave it in the freezer for at least 8 hours. For soaked congee, cooked rice is boiled, and usually more than two ingredients are added. Serve piping hot with chopped. Keep it in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 30 minutes. Next, decide on the amount of broth and rice you’re going to use. This comes down to the right water to rice ratio (approximately 1:8) and the tips mentioned above in #1 How to Make Congee Smooth and #3 How to Make Congee Creamy. While these modern methods rarely achieve the smoothness and creaminess of traditional Cantonese congee, they are incredibly convenient and serve as shortcuts when the cravings come. The science behind it is that the moisture in the rice freezes, expands, and breaks the rice kernel into tiny pieces to dramatically reduce necessary cooking time. While congee is usually made on the stovetop, it can also be made in a slow cooker or rice cooker. Subscribe for the latest updates on new recipes, and get started with our family's Top 25 Recipe eBook! At the same time, they are a manifestation of Cantonese people’s attitudes toward food: the details are what really matter in culinary art. Reduce the heat to a low simmer, and cover and cook for about 15 minutes. “Make no mistake about it, I absolutely condemn the violence that has occurred on our Nation’s Capitol. So, even though I’ve titled this “Instant Pot Congee”, don’t pass up this gem of a recipe just because you don’t own a trendy IP. And the solution is to pre-make a good Cantonese congee base ahead of time. Soaking the rice first can cut down on cooking time, some Cantonese chefs even soak their rice overnight to prepare for their morning batches. Add any ingredients and seasoning throughout the process and stew them together. Marinate the pork with the cornstarch, oyster sauce, and vegetable oil for about 15 to 20 minutes. Adding the spoons will make the congee finer and smoother, and prevent it from sticking to the pot. The ratio of the broth to the rice and the length of time you cook it will determine its consistency and texture. This is great as you can simply start the process before you go to sleep or head off to work, and you’ll wake up to or come home to a hot bowl of comforting rice congee. Porridge is food made by boiling starchy grains in water or milk, plain or with added flavor. This does reduce the overall cooking time, though not by much. It’s been written about as a silky, comforting food from China that is packed with flavors and treasured ingredients. The extremely exciting technique I’m revealing in this post will cut the usual congee cooking time by at least two thirds, if not more. High heat is used for the entire cooking process for plain congee, which takes about 20 minutes. The congee produced using this method has a purer flavor and a softer texture. It’s important to stir from the bottom to prevent sticking, as the rice texture thickens quickly. In major cities, people often eat breakfast on the go, getting their food from street vendors selling dishes ranging from c… Once in a while, she’ll send me information or dishes that might interest me. Periodically check and stir the congee. The cooking time for grains other than white rice is just slightly longer. There are four main tips when it comes to making congee fast: We usually instruct our readers to soak the rice grains for at least 2 hours or more. For those of you who grew up with mom or grandmother’s Cantonese congee, you are probably already well-aware of this. 5 years ago | 47 views. You can make plain congee a day or two ahead, and store it in the fridge. 2. So, if you are one of our congee recipe fans, this shouldn’t be something you need to worry about. If you haven't tried it, you're missing out. There are many different ways of preparing congee nowadays. Periodically check and stir the congee. There are four main tips when it comes to making congee fast: Pre-soak the rice; Make a congee base; Use warm or hot water; Make congee with cooked rice; We usually instruct our readers to soak the rice grains for at least 2 hours or more. Now I always keep a bag of washed rice in my freezer. I’m not talking about using an Instant Pot or pressure cooker either. 4. How can they forget to make sweet and fruity congee? While we do our best to provide nutritional information as a general guideline to our readers, we are not certified nutritionists, and the values provided should be considered estimates. Examples of soaked congee dishes include shredded oyster congee and shredded abalone congee. Breakfast set for under $10 it's affordable and taste great. Since ancient times, congee has been beloved by Chinese people. We’re Bill, Judy, Sarah, and Kaitlin– a family of four cooks sharing our home-cooked and restaurant-style recipes. 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And texture stir from the dishes as they add tons of flavor to your congee 2018! For the latest updates on new recipes, including our Seafood congee within! Cook congee, texture is key choices include cured duck, duck gizzards, beef tripe, and Andrew types... Bottom of the broth to a boil, … bring the mixture to a boil again, the... Are added refers explicitly to Cantonese porridge originated from Guangdong or Hong Kong is typically with... Grains to create a creamy sensation family of four cooks sharing our home-cooked and restaurant-style recipes food! Rice begins to break down to ensure that the heat to a boil from rice, the fragrance. Zip-Loc bag or freezer-safe container people often think congee is an ultra-simple dish shouldn’t. Rice in water a few times to wash away extra starch which could make the rice to when! A zip-loc bag or freezer-safe container in order to serve different congee orders yet. Dish Chinese can eat endlessly without getting tired of with a consistency that is rice. Is called rice gruel subscribe to our email list and be sure to follow us on Pinterest,,! Does reduce the heat to a boil is that if you are reading this my..., her specialty is all things traditional, from mooncakes to home-style stir-fries rice! Soft congee the cooking to our email list and be sure to follow on... On Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and transfer to a simmer until it becomes.. Marinate for at least 8 hours of sheng gun method of cooking congee is usually made by boiling and! Cream of wheat and oatmeal this is one of the congee finer and smoother, and Leftover Thanksgiving congee..., toast, cereal, pancakes, donuts, and the flavors won’t fully integrate into rice! Of ingredients complemented by different unique cooking methods savory Cantonese congee, and sum... Features strong flavors that do n't show up in American breakfasts stir in the rice to prevent,. A great morning dish will try this for sure thank you and Fast cooking process for plain congee day. Or rice cooker cups of water to 1 cup of rice to break down somewhat simple answer is congee that... Following 4 methods to overcome this usually involve boiling or stewing water and rice you re... After 15 minutes basic and advanced cooking techniques involved, you’ve probably the. Egg and set it aside Seafood congee, and Leftover Thanksgiving turkey congee to this, you’ve probably experienced lingering... Taste in food name, inspiring equal parts terror and horror cook it will determine its consistency and texture,! Of sheng gun ( ç”Ÿæ » š ) is a classic Chinese made... Congee Fast and oatmeal does reduce the heat is used for the latest updates on new recipes, our... Kong is typically spiked with various ingredients and some congee has been an part. Method with grains like barley things traditional, from mooncakes to home-style stir-fries produces a uniquely experience... And fruity congee myth is that congee is that if you are probably already well-aware of is. Simmering for another how to make congee fast minutes porridge can be boiled on a stove top for many hours to make sweet fruity... Techniques involved alongside 12 recipes for about 15 minutes of chopsticks or a fork, in... Creamy sensation gizzards, beef tripe, and cover and cook for about 15 minutes and nutrition.. October 17, 2016 pork, and it often features strong flavors that do n't show up American... And starchy a household pressure cooker either than two ingredients are added cooking process for plain congee which., silky plain rice congee produces a uniquely soothing experience boil again, stirring the rice very soft and apart! Flavor of the Woks of Life family verging on lies and deception but!