Congee, a simple rice porridge, is a common staple and comfort food across Asia. If you love rice dishes like risotto, you’ll love congee. The foundation of a good congee is a rich stock - beef, chicken, duck, pork, shellfish, even vegetable - and the consistency can be as thick or thin as you please. The protein can range from the simple (roast chicken) to the more complex in flavor (marinated meats). The addition of Asian vegetables like bok choy, mizuna (Japanese mustard greens), or shiitake mushrooms are just a few on the long list of delicious options to add to a bowl of congee. We love topping our congee with a soft-cooked egg, crispy fried shallots, and toasted sesame seeds.
Below are 5 of our favorite congee recipes from our community contributors. We hope you enjoy this one-pot meal as much as we do!
Fish Congee
From My Cooking Hut
This simple and delicious congee features tender white fish that is first marinated in oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and Chinese rice wine, then added to a porridge that is fragrant with fresh ginger and spring onions.
Mushroom and Cabbage Brown Rice Congee
From Integral Living & Eating
We love this vegetarian (and vegan) version that uses healthy brown rice instead of white. Brown rice does take a lot longer to cook, especially to get it to that nice “mushy” consistency necessary for a porridge, but it’s worth the wait. Shredded cabbage, garlic, fresh ginger, and green onions are added along with flavorful sesame oil and soy sauce.
Minced Carrot and Peanut Porridge
From Yin Homemade
It's amazing how just a few simple ingredients can be transformed into something so flavorful. And who would have guessed carrots and peanuts would be so tasty in a soup?
Prawn Congee
From Smoky Wok
This scrumptious Prawn Congee recipe from Smoky Wok is simple yet oh, so flavorful. And who wouldn’t love a comforting porridge loaded with sweet, fat tiger prawns!?
Brown Rice Congee with Soft Boiled Egg and Pickled Turmeric (featured at top)
This brown rice porridge recipe is so simple yet full of flavor, and wonderful when topped with tangy pickled aromatics, or try with your favorite garnishes.
