Congee porridge
May 31, 2009
Okay, so some of you loyal fans may have noticed that I am once again posting congee, aka rice porridge, as the Winter recipe for the season.
It is simply one of the nicest things you can do for yourself throughout the cold months. As explained last year, when acclimating to the cold season, it is important to warm ourselves at the core, but not in our extremities. When we create excess heat, it actually makes the cold weather feel that much harsher. Congee is the perfect dish for achieving this interior/exterior balance of warmth.
If you didn’t try it last winter, give it a whirl. The Fall is a great time to stash away dried fruits and nuts for use during the winter. If you don’t have your own garden harvest, be sure and check out your own winter farmers markets!!
For individuals with compromised digestion, flu, or other deficient illnesses, congee is amazing. Cook with ghee and honey to inhibit vomiting, relieve dryness in throat and dry coughing, rehydrate and strengthen.
1 cup rinsed brown rice (can also use other rice varieties, millet, barley, quinoa and many other grains)
4 - 5 cups water
Desired spices: cinnamon, honey, dried fruit, sage, endless possibilities
Stove: Use 4 cups water cover and cook on lowest heat possible for 4 - 6 hours. Add water as needed.
Crock Pot or Rice Cooker: Use 5 cups water and cook on low for 8 hours or over night.
Experiment!! Some people like their congee soupy and others like it thick enough to stick to the walls…be sure to play around adding more or less water each time you make it until you find a consistency that is right for you. Even more fun, next time you’re at an authentic Chinese Restaurant, see if they have congee on the menu and try it!!
Recipe Properties & Info
Brown Rice
Neutral. Enters the spleen and stomach channels and tonifies Qi and Blood. The East has long regarded brown rice for its ability to resolve blood sugar imbalances, especially those related to Diabetes. It resolves digestive issues caused by over-eating and stress, and relieves diarrhea as well as constipation. Phytonutrients include: Vitamin B, iron, Vitamin E, amino and linoleic acids. Brown rice (organic) is extremely mineral rich and extremely crucial to our modern culture where most of our food and water sources are sterile and stripped of minerals. High in both selenium and magnesium, which are two of the most crucial minerals we can ingest. Consuming a deficient amount of either of these two minerals can lead to some of the most common imbalances found in Western culture such as thyroid issues, obesity, heart disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, premature aging, osteoporosis and multiple sclerosis.
Water
As water quality can be as diverse as the patterns of snowflakes, it is difficult to assign properties to it. In general water effects all of the channels of the body and is cooling, removing excess heat often caused from the over consumption of food, especially meat. When the body has an adequate supply of water, everything flows smoothly and Qi can flow throughout in a harmonious manner. An adequately hydrated person is graceful and calm in contrast to someone who is off-balance and irritable. Cooking with an ample amount of water is one of the most strengthening things you can do for your kidneys. Soups, beans and grains cooked in a large volume of water during the winter months will help support the immune system in addition to reducing digestive heat generated from that holiday meal at grandma’s.
It is generally best to avoid water consumption 1/2 hour before and after meal times. If water is to be used during a meal time it is best in small quantities and best when warm.
Customize Your Congee
Ideas to Fit Your Winter Needs
Almonds
Neutral. Enters Lung, Large Intestine and Spleen. Tonifies Qi and Jing. A great source for protein (18%), almonds are the only nut that is Alkalizing. Helps reduce LDL (bad) Cholesterol levels. Considered a cancer inhibitor. Helps relieve constipation and balance out various intestinal issues. Almonds are building and great for people with arthritis, osteoperosis, and MS, as well as general reproductive and nervous system issues. Phytonutrients include: phytosterol (anti-carcinogen), vitamin E, B vitamins, iron, and calcium.
Pumpkin Seeds
Warm. Enters Large Intestine, Spleen and Stomach. Great for people with water retentions issues such a bloating and edema. They are one of my favorite sources of Omega-3 fatty acids and being comprised of 29% protein, they make a good snack for people on the go. Recent studies show that pumpkin seeds can play a role alleviating prostate complaints including urinating difficulties associated with prostate hyperplasia. The amino acid, Cucurbitin, found in pumpkin seeds is effective for killing intestinal parasites, worms and vermin. Thus they have long been used in Mexico and Central America as a folk remedy and are most effective in the early stages of schistomiasis and prophylactic to traveler’s diarrhea.
Walnuts
Warm. Enter Kidney, Lung, Small and Large Intestines. Another wonderful source for Omega-3’s, walnuts are full of the “good” fats poly-unsaturated and mono-unsaturated. Great for counteracting cold and resolving phlegm issues. Walnuts strengthen the kidney and lungs, which is vital for people with heart disease or other heart related issues. Research shows that walnuts can help to prevent heart disease and lower blood pressure by removing plaque build-up from your arteries and veins. Walnuts can also help alleviate pain, especially those aches and quirks that show up during the cold winter months. High in fiber, protein, Vitamin E, B-6, folacin and thiamine.
Apricots
Neutral. Enter the Large Intestine, Lungs and stomach. Long ago, Chinese brides nibbled on apricots to enhance fertility. Today research shows the effectiveness for this remedy is due to the high mineral content in apricots, especially of those important for reproduction. In general apricots have a lubricating effect on the lungs and colon and are used for dry throat, dry coughs, bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, and dry constipation. Superior source of Vitamin A and carotene. It’s alpha, beta, gamma, and delta carotenoids serve as an antioxidant and protect DNA from free radical damage. Dried apricots are a good source of iron, cobalt, and copper and are an effective remedy for anemia.
Blueberries
Cooling. Enters Lung, Spleen and Stomach. Blueberries are busy little things; they detoxify, remove and alleviate water retention issues, restore the kidneys and spleen from damage caused by overeating and stress, support blood and liver function, enhance/build eyesight, treat urinary infections, prevent heart disease, protect against macular degeneration, aid in preventing Alzheimer’s and Dementia, and MORE! As they are a cooling food one might ask, “Why would you want to eat blueberries in the winter?” For persons who tend to be warm all the time (the ones wearing flip-flops in the mid-December) using a cooling food can help regulate them. For the rest of us it will actually help us acclimate to the cold weather- cooling us down just enough so that the cold doesn’t feel so harsh. Blueberries are also useful in treating diarrhea and like many berries help reduce the risk of heart disease. Phytonutrients include: Vitamins C , A & E, manganese and both soluble and insoluble fiber.
Cherries
Warm. Enters the Heart, Spleen, Stomach, Liver, Lung & Kidney channels. Tonifying to the Qi and Blood. One of the few fruits that is considered both cleansing AND building….Cherries remove excess body acids and blood stagnation (as seen by purple in the tongue) while strengthening the liver and the kidneys. Exciting new research shows that cherries are high in Melatonin- a powerful anti-oxidant essential to many healthy functions in the body- primarily sleep cycles and pancreas function. Anthocyanins, which create the red pigment in the fruit, have shown to inhibit arterial disease as well as adult onset Diabetes. For the anemic or generally deficient person, cherries are great for building the blood. Healthy blood leads to healthy bones…which could also explain why cherries are great for arthritis and osteoporosis. Many folk remedies utilize cherries in treating impotence and involuntary seminal emission. Cherries are also widely known for relieving gout and numbness in the limbs. To top it off they are an excellent source of iron, moderate source of phosphorus, potassium, calcium and Vitamin A all of which play a role in preventing premature aging.
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