How to Make Rice Porridge (Congee) (2024)

FAQs

What is the ratio of rice to water for congee? ›

Thick congee – For 1/2 cup rice you will need 4 cups of water in the Instant Pot, or 8 cups of water for the stovetop. It will yield a result like creamy oatmeal. Medium-thick congee – For 1/2 cup rice, you will need 5 cups of water in the Instant Pot and 10 cups of water for the stovetop.

So, congee is a type of rice porridge, but not all rice porridge is congee-like the way all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. Jook gets a step more specific: It's the English translation of the Cantonese name for rice porridge.

Beancurd skin is the secret ingredient to ensuring the texture of each bowl of congee comes out right. Adding the beancurd skin helps to make the rice grains mushy, and thus easier to cook down to a smooth consistency.

If the consistency is too thin, let it simmer uncovered for longer and the water will naturally evaporate out. After you have simmered the rice for 30-40 minutes, you will want to break up the grains of rice which will release more starches to thicken it. Otherwise, you would just be eating rice with water.

Soaking the rice grains helps hydrate them, softening them more quickly in the porridge. A last-minute addition of finely minced raw garlic adds a subtle punch of flavor.

One particular benefit is hydration, due to the amount of water absorbed by the rice grains throughout the cooking process. Chicken stock or bone broth, which is the second key ingredient for congee, is also hydrating and provides a rich source of collagen.

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.

WHY IT'S HEALTHY: Congee has a greater water-to-rice ratio than steamed rice. Every 100g of congee has about 65 calories and 7.5g carbohydrate. The same amount of white rice has 140 calories and 31g carbohydrate. TRY IT AT HOME: For homemade congee, use brown rice or whole grain as they are healthier.

How to thicken up congee? ›

Whisking the congee is our secret for making restaurant-quality congee that's full-bodied and almost-creamy. This technique will help break down more of the rice grains and let those starches out to thicken the congee.

It can be made with broth for a richer soup, and with fish, diced chicken or tofu for extra protein. To give additional flavor to the soup, incorporate scallions, sh*take mushrooms, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and pepper.

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.

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.

For tender grains of rice that easily separate, such as in a pilaf, use 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice. You can also use another liquid like stock in this 2:1 ratio. For slightly chewier, fluffy white rice, use 1 1/2 cups of water for every cup of rice, or a 1.5:1 ratio.

Then, measure the proper water to rice ratio.

Measure 1 1/2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon olive oil for every cup of uncooked rice. (1 cup dry rice yields about 3 cups cooked.) Combine the rice, oil, and water in a medium saucepan, and stir to combine.

To cook long-grained white rice on the stove, use a 2 to 1 water to rice ratio. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. You can add an optional pinch of salt if you wish.

I typically use an 8 to 1 rice to water ratio. Sometimes I add a bit more water if it isnt smooth enough but its essentially done in an hour or so. I usually cook some chicken in the congee and may add some chicken powder as well. Serve with scallions and soy sauce/sesame oil.