Chicken porridge or chicken congee comes in a near second after chicken soup as the most popular food in dietary therapy.
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.
Watery congee with shredded chicken
The 6 recipes listed here are great for anyone recovering from illnesses. They are also gentle enough to be treated as general tonics for health maintenance. You can use leftover chicken in these recipes too. Skip the steps that are meant for cooking the chicken.
How do you add the leftover chicken? You can remove the meat from the bones. Add the bones to the pot when cooking the congee to add more flavour. Remove the bones before serving. Shred or chop the meat roughly and stir them in the hot congee. Or you can skip the removing step and just add the chicken in large pieces to the pot when cooking.
1. Chicken porridge with solomon's seal
This chicken porridge recipe uses some solomon's seal, a chinese herb which is also known as polygonatum odoratum. Solomon's seal and chicken goes well together. They are commonly paired in herbal preparations. Solomon's seal can be eaten but you may not like it because it is tasteless.
Substitute the water with soup stock to enhance the flavour of the porridge.
Ingredients
1 cup of rice
12 cups of soup stock
225g chicken thigh
40g solomon's seal 玉竹 (yu zhu)
1 tbsp cornstarch
Directions
Soak the solomon's seal with cold water. Drain and cut into shorter strips
Cut the chicken into slices, mix in the cornstarch. Blanch quickly in hot water
Bring the soup stock to a boil, add the rice. Bring back to a boil
Lower the heat, add the solomon's seal and simmer for 50 minutes
Add the chicken pieces and cook for another 10 minutes
2. Chicken rice porridge with corn
Ingredients
1 cup of rice porridge
150g chicken breast, shredded
1/2 can cream of corn
1 cup chicken stock
Salt to taste
Directions
Bring the soup stock, rice porridge, cream of corn and chicken breast to a boil in a soup pot
Cook for about 10 minutes
Add salt to taste
Serve
3. Chicken congee with Chinese mushroom and chicken
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
Pinch of salt
8 cups of plain rice porridge
Directions
Wash the chinese mushrooms
Remove the chicken bones and cut the chicken into pieces
Marinate chicken with salt and cornstarch
Cook 8 cups of rice porridge
Add the mushroom and chicken
Cook for another 15 minutes
Add salt to taste
4. Chicken porridge with ginseng
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 or 1 ginseng tea bag
1 tsp goji berries
2 pieces of ginger, julienned
1 cup of rice
8 cups of soup stock
Salt and pepper
Directions
Wash and soak the goji berries till soft
Wash the chicken thigh and cut into big pieces
Parboil the chicken pieces
Wash and soak the rice for 30 minutes
Place the rice in a pot and add the soup stock
Bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer
Add the ginseng root and goji berries
When the porridge is done, add the chicken
Cook till the chicken is done
add the salt and pepper to taste
Sprinkle the julienned ginger before serving
5. Chicken congee with dried magnolia flowers
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 flowers 玉兰花
1 cup rice
8 cups soup stock
1 stalk spring onion
Salt and pepper
Directions
Wash the spring onion and chop finely
Wash and soak the magnolia flowers.
Wash the chicken breast and dice finely
Wash and soak the rice for 30 minutes
Place the rice in a pot and add the soup stock
Bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer
When the porridge is done, add the magnolia flowers and chicken
Cook till the flowers are soft and chicken is done
Add the salt and pepper
Sprinkle the chopped spring onion before serving
6. Chicken congee with peanuts
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
Wash and chop the spring onion
Wash and soak the peanuts for 30 minutes
Wash the chicken and slice into thin strips
Wash and soak the rice for 30 minutes or longer
Place the rice in a pot and add the soup stock
Bring this to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer
I am flattered that people think my content is good enough to re-use. Please follow the instructions on my copyright policy page on how you can repost or re-use. Please do not re-use until you have read my copyright notice.
Pictures appearing on this page are not necessarily mine. Click on the image to the original source.
There are affiliate links on this website. If you use the links to make purchases, I get paid a small amount for the sale - at no extra cost to you. I appreciate the support! [Amazon, Shopee]