Codonopsis, Chinese yam and minced pork congee
Rice, codonopsis and dried yam go into the rice cooker overnight; in the morning, stir in minced pork for a warming, qi-boosting bowl.
- 1 hr 40 min
- Serves 2
- Simmer
- Easy
Why it suits you: Grain Rain is wet and heavy with damp, and qi-deficient people already have a weak digestion, so damp leaves them even more tired and off their food. Codonopsis boosts qi, yam strengthens the spleen and the pork congee is easy to digest — a warm start to the day.
Method
Prep 10 min · Cook 90 min- 1The night before, rinse the rice and put it in the rice cooker with the codonopsis, yam and water on the porridge programme, timed to finish in the morning.
- 2Mix the pork with the soy sauce, cornflour and a splash of water and keep it in the fridge overnight.
- 3In the morning bring the congee back to the boil, add the ginger, then break the pork into the pot with chopsticks and simmer for 3 minutes until cooked.
- 4Season with salt and scatter with spring onion. The codonopsis is fine to eat too.
Cautions
- Leave out the codonopsis when you have a cold, fever or sore throat.
Chef's tips
- Coating the pork in a little cornflour and water keeps it silky in the congee.
The TCM view
Codonopsis is sweet and neutral, boosting qi and strengthening the spleen and lungs. Chinese yam is sweet and neutral, tonifying the spleen and stomach and supporting the lungs. Pork is sweet, salty and neutral, nourishing and moistening. Ginger warms the middle and settles the stomach. A gentle tonic in line with Grain Rain's aim of strengthening the spleen and resolving damp.
