8 treasures congee is a great option for a quick and healthy meal. As a university student, planning/cooking meals for yourself that are healthy, delicious, and taste like home can be a challenge — especially when you have schoolwork and other ‘adulting’ to do. (One pro of #covid19 quarantine at home with mom + dad: not needing to do my own laundry.)

Luckily, my mom has graciously shared her really easy congee recipe that you can make in the Instant Pot! Traditionally, 8 Treasures Congee (八宝粥 or bā bǎo zhōu in Mandarin) is called such because it contains 8 ingredients. These are typically a combination of whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, and/or dried fruit. Moreover, this recipe is nut-free (hello nut allergy gang). However, feel free to add in some peanuts if you would like to stay true to tradition.

This congee is a treasure chest of nutrients (pun intended). The variety of whole grains and rices are a great source of complex carbohydrates and come with a punch of fibre and B-vitamins. Goji berries provide Vitamin C and antioxidants, and the dried fruits add a touch of sweetness.

If you find that it comes out a little watery, pour into a container and leave it in the fridge overnight. This helps the starches from the grains mix in with and thicken the liquid. Reheat in a pot on the stove or in the microwave to boil off more water until you reach the desired thickness.

Have any questions or suggestions? Leave a comment below!

8 Treasures Congee (Chinese Porridge), Instant Pot Recipe

Recipe by Sophia HouCourse: SidesCuisine: ChineseDifficulty: Easy

Servings

5

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

A quick and easy recipe for a healthy and delicious 8 Treasures Congee. Share your creation and tag @hou_bakes on Instagram!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup 10 Multigrain Rice blend*

• 2-3 tbsp dry red beans

• 2-3 tbsp black rice

• 2-3 tbsp sticky/glutinous rice

• 1 tbsp dried Goji berries

• 3-4 dried red dates

• 6-8 dried Longan fruit

• 2 tbsp millet

• 5 cups water

Directions

• Wash Goji berries, dates, and Longan separately.
• Combine all ingredients in an 8qt Instant Pot. Rinse and drain any debris.
• Fill to the pot to the 5 cups line with water.
• On “Porridge” mode, set timer for 40min. Allow natural release, and keep warm until served.
• Can be kept refrigerated for up to 1 week. Reheat in a small pot on the stovetop or in the microwave; add water as needed if congee becomes too thick.

Notes

• *You can use any multigrain rice blend you wish. We use something similar to this: https://www.tntsupermarket.com/70805301-t%26t-10-multigrain-rice.html

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Looking for another easy Chinese recipe? Try this 2-ingredient Char Siu Pork.