Cold Dew · Breakfast · Blood Stasis
Chestnut, black bean & minced pork congee
A warming rice-cooker congee of sweet chestnuts, black beans and minced pork with ginger — ready when you wake up.
- 1 hr 10 min
- Serves 2
- Simmer
- Easy
WarmingMoves bloodWarms kidneys & spleen
Why it suits you: Blood Stasis means feeling the cold and sluggish circulation. Black beans move blood and chestnuts warm the kidneys and support digestion; with pork and ginger, a hot bowl of congee warms you through as Cold Dew mornings turn cooler.
Method
Prep 10 min · Cook 60 min- 1The night before, soak the black beans, and marinate the pork with the soy sauce and a little cornflour and refrigerate.
- 2Put the rice, black beans, chestnuts and water in the rice cooker on the porridge setting, with the timer set for the morning.
- 3In the morning, bring the congee to the boil in a pan, stir in the pork to break it up, add the ginger and cook for 3–4 minutes, then season with salt.
Chef's tips
- Dry-toast the black beans before soaking for a nuttier congee.
The TCM view
Black beans are sweet and neutral, moving blood and supporting the kidneys; chestnuts are sweet and warm and strengthen the kidneys and spleen; pork is sweet, salty and neutral and moistens; ginger is pungent and warm and dispels cold. Warming without drying, it keeps blood moving.
