Niki's Notes
Whenever I have a cold, the weather turns wintry or I am simply feeling a little low, this is one of my favourite comfort foods. Congee is a soothing savoury Chinese rice porridge, often served for breakfast or when someone needs something warm and nourishing. It may look simple, but it is anything but bland.
Make a batch and keep the leftovers in the fridge, ready to warm gently on the hob whenever you need them.
Rice porridges are eaten in many different forms across Asia, with recipes, textures and toppings varying from place to place. This is my own simple, home-style chicken version, and it works just as well for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or a late-night snack.
Congee is traditionally simmered slowly until the rice breaks down and becomes soft and creamy, usually taking hours, so by using an Instant Pot or pressure cooker it will give you that comforting texture much quicker.
This recipe is designed for the smaller 2.8 litre Instant Pot, but you can use the same quantities in a larger pressure cooker.
It is a big hug in a bowl. Enjoy!
Method
Pressure cook the congee
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Fill the Instant Pot
Place the raw chicken thighs, jasmine rice, chicken stock, water, ginger and garlic into the Instant Pot. Stir briefly to combine.
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Cook under pressure
Secure the lid, set the valve to sealing and cook on High Pressure for 25 minutes.
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Allow a partial natural release
When cooking finishes, leave the pressure to release naturally for 10 to 15 minutes. Carefully release any remaining pressure before opening the lid.
Finish and serve
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Shred the chicken
Lift the chicken thighs out of the pot and shred them with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the congee and stir thoroughly.
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Adjust the consistency
Check the texture and stir in a splash of hot water or chicken stock if the congee is thicker than desired.
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Serve
Spoon the congee into bowls and serve with soy sauce and chopped spring onions.
Nutrition
Estimated values per serving.
- Calories
- 255 kcal
- Protein
- 18g
- Carbs
- 22g
- Fat
- 10g
- Fibre
- 1g