Chicken porridge is comforting

Chicken porridge comes in a near second after chicken soup as the most popular food in dietary therapy.

Chicken is a very popular ingredient for porridge, second only to pork.

Chicken congee is gentle on the digestive system and the carbohydrates from the rice serves as a good energy source. Sometimes, I prefer chicken congee to chicken soup because of the extra soothing effect of rice porridge on my stomach.

The recipes listed are great for anyone recovering from illnesses. They are also gentle and can be treated as general tonics for health maintenance.

If you have leftover chicken, they make great leftover chicken recipes too. Skip those steps that are meant for cooking the chicken.

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Chicken porridge with solomon's seal

This chicken porridge recipe uses some solomon's seal, a chinese herb. Solomon's seal and chicken goes well together. They are commonly paired in herbal preparations.

Substitute the water with soup stock to enhance the flavour of the porridge.

Solomon's seal can be eaten but you may not like it because it is tasteless.

Ingredients
1 cup of rice
12 cups of soup stock
225g chicken thigh
40g solomon's seal (yu zhu 玉竹)
cornstarch

Directions

1. Soak the solomon's seal with cold water. Drain and cut into shorter strips
2. Cut the chicken into slices, mix in the cornstarch. Blanch quickly in hot water
3. Boil the water, add the rice. Bring back to a boil
4. Lower heat, add the solomon's seal and simmer for 50 minutes
5. Add the chicken pieces and cook for another 10 minutes

Chicken porridge with corn

Ingredients
1 cup of rice porridge
150g chicken breast, shredded
1/2 can cream of corn
1 cup of chicken stock
Salt to taste

Directions

1. Bring the soup stock, rice porridge, cream of corn and chicken breast to a boil in a soup pot
2. Cook for about 10 minutes
3. Add salt to taste
4. Serve

Chicken porridge with mushroom

This congee dish uses pre-cooked rice porridge. Prepare and cook the congee in the morning and come back after work to add the rest of the ingredients for a comforting light dinner.

Ingredients
75g fresh chinese mushrooms
300g chicken thigh
8 cups of plain rice porridge

Seasonings
pinch of salt

Directions

1. Wash the chinese mushrooms
2. Remove the chicken bones and cut the chicken into pieces
3. Marinate chicken with salt and cornstarch
4. Cook 8 cups of rice porridge
5. Add the mushroom and chicken
6. Cook for another 15 minutes
7. Add salt to taste

Ginseng chicken porridge recipe

Ginseng is a prized herb in chinese cooking. It is considered a tonic for the heart. People who are feeling weak and tired would benefit from it. But those who are suffering from insomnia and colds should avoid it.

If you have never tried using ginseng before, you can start by using ginseng tea bags instead. Add a teabag to the pot of soup and cook together.

Ingredients
200g chicken thigh
50g ginseng root 人参 / 1 ginseng tea bag
1 tsp goji berries 枸杞子
2 pieces of ginger, julienned
1 cup of rice
8 cups of soup stock
salt and pepper

Directions

1. Wash and soak the goji berries till soft
2. Wash the chicken thigh and cut into big pieces
3. Parboil the chicken pieces
4. Wash and soak the rice for 30 minutes
5. Place the rice in a pot and add the soup stock
6. Bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer
7. Add the ginseng root and goji berries
8. When the porridge is done, add the chicken
9. Cook till the chicken is done
10. Add the salt and pepper
11. Sprinkle the julienned ginger before serving

Magnolia chicken porridge

Magnolia contains high levels of vitamin A and calcium. It is therefore good for the eyes and bones.

Ingredients
100g chicken breast
100g dried magnolia 玉兰花
1 cup of rice
8 cups of soup stock
1 stalk spring onion
salt and pepper

Directions

1. Wash the spring onion and chop finely
2. Wash and soak the magnolia. Cut into shorter strips
3. Wash the chicken breast and dice finely
4. Wash and soak the rice for 30 minutes
5. Place the rice in a pot and add the soup stock
6. Bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer
7. When the porridge is done, add the magnolia and chicken
8. Cook till magnolia is soft and chicken is done
9. Add the salt and pepper
10. Sprinkle the chopped spring onion before serving

Peanut chicken porridge

This porridge is good for growing teens and the elderly. It can help lower cholesterol and prevent the hardening of the arteries.

Peanuts contains high level of mono-unsaturated, poly-unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E.

Ingredients
100g chicken breast
50g peanuts (dried but not roasted)
1 stalk of spring onion
1 cup of rice
8 cups of soup stock
salt and pepper

Directions

1. Wash and chop the spring onion
2. Wash and soak the peanuts for 30 minutes
3. Wash the chicken and slice into thin strips
4. Parboil the chicken strips
5. Wash and soak the rice for 30 minutes
6. Place the rice in a pot and add the soup stock
7. Bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer
8. Add the peanuts and chicken
9. Cook till the chicken is done
10. Add the salt and pepper
11. Sprinkle the chopped spring onion before serving

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