Shi-fan, or “water rice”, is a thin porridge made primarily from rice and water, typically eaten for breakfast
What are the health benefits?
-Easy to digest and to absorb its nutrients
-Strengthens both Qi and Blood, often used as preventative medicine
-Tones and harmonizes the digestive system, also known as the Middle Burner
-Helps to promote urination
-Can add other ingredients to change/enhance medicinal properties
Medicinal properties of foods that can be added to congee:
| Dry Ginger Congee | Deficient and cold digestive issues such as diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion |
| Scallion Bulb Congee | Treats Cold Diarrhea in the elderly |
| Carrot Congee | Treats abdominal digestion with gas, helps to relieve cough |
| Cinnamon Congee | Warms the interior, promotes Qi circulation |
| Red Date Congee | Nourishes Blood, soothes the nerves, aids in indigestion due to deficiency |
| Aduki Bean Congee | Removes Damp; useful for edema, gout, Kidney and Bladder issues |
| Celery Congee | Cooling, lowers blood pressure |
| Mung Bean Congee | Cooling, treats Summer Heat |
| Kidney Congee | Nourishes Kidneys, useful in deficiency conditions of impotence, chronic low back pain, weak knees |
| Black Sesame Seed Congee | Moistens intestines, treats rheumatism |
| Sweet Rice Congee | Vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion |
Recipe:
In a lidded pot, mix 1 cup rice with 5-6 cups water (and any additional ingredients) over the lowest flame. Simmer for 4-6 hours. You can also use a crockpot on the lowest setting (use more water). Congee can be reheated.
