Food as Medicine: Eight Treasure Congee

Bethesda Acupuncture
2 days ago
4 min read

Eight Treasure Congee is a fantastic dish for whenever you feel you need a little boost of health and nourishment. While it is commonly associated with the Laba Festival in winter, the eight ingredients are symbolic, relating to abundance and good fortune. Crafted with a combination of grains, beans, nuts, and dried fruits, common components often include various types of rice, red beans, mung beans, peanuts, lotus seeds, and dates. This dish is designed to support overall health and well-being. The ingredients used can help to calm the body, support the immune system, and nourish vital energy.

With the ability to be customized for the season and the option to make it in a rice cooker with the porridge setting, it’s a fantastic choice for busy summer nights! Plus, it can be enjoyed chilled the next morning as a cooling and soothing breakfast. For this summer version, we use a combination of black rice, mung beans, walnuts, Chinese jujubes, and goji berries. We’ve also included dried lily slices, lotus seeds, quinoa, and Chinese yam.

The health benefits of these ingredients are numerous. They can aid with:

Preventing cell damage through their high antioxidant content
Aiding in weight management by supporting metabolic health
Improving digestive function, promoting better nutrient absorption and gut health
Lowering the risk of heart disease and diabetes by helping regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels

What makes these ingredients especially powerful is the presence of bioactive compounds. These natural compounds are involved in a wide range of protective functions which amplify the aforementioned health benefits.

These functions include, but are not limited to:

Antioxidant activity, which helps combat oxidative stress
Antitumor properties, offering potential cancer-fighting benefits
Liver protection, supporting detoxification and organ function
Anti-inflammatory effects, which can reduce chronic inflammation
Antimicrobial and antiviral actions, boosting the body’s defenses against illness

As you cook and savor this comforting and delicious dish, or share it with family and friends, know that you're not just indulging in tradition, you're giving your body a gift of health, healing, and balance!

Eight Treasure Congee

Ingredients

2 tbsp mung beans
1/4 cup black rice
1/4 cup lotus seeds
2 tbsp dried lily slices
1 slice dried Chinese yam (Shan Yao)
3 tbsp raw walnuts
1/4 cup quinoa
1/4 cup glutinous rice
5-6 Chinese jujubes, pitted
8-12 cups of water
Goji berries to garnish

Directions

Soak the mung beans, black rice, glutinous rice, lotus seeds, dried lily slices and dried yam in water overnight
Thoroughly rinse quinoa, and the pre-soaked ingredients prior to cooking
In a large pot, combine all ingredients and cover with 8 - 12 cups of water
Bring to a rolling boil over high heat
Reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 60 - 90 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking
The congee is ready when the grains are soft and it has a creamy consistency. If it becomes too thick while simmering, add additional water
Ladle into bowls, top with goji berries, and enjoy!
1. You may also let the congee chill, and then refrigerate to enjoy for breakfast the next morning!

Notes

This delicious congee can also be made in a rice cooker, using the porridge setting
Weee! is an online market that carries a large variety of Asian ingredients, a great alternative if you cannot find something on Amazon or in your local Asian grocery store!

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References:

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Villarino CBJ, Alikpala HMA, Begonia AF, et al. Quality and health dimensions of pulse-based dairy alternatives with chickpeas, lupins and mung beans. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2024;64(8):2375-2421. doi:10.1080/10408398.2022.2123777

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