Apple, Red Date and Glutinous Rice Sweet Congee

Why people make this congee

Hong Kong is a fruit paradise, and apples are everywhere — crisp, sweet and easy. Apples are essentially purine-free, so for people managing gout, eating more apples is traditionally associated with less uric-acid build-up and helping the body clear uric acid. Cooked with red dates, glutinous rice and slab sugar into a sweet congee, it’s a comforting bowl traditionally said to nourish the heart and spleen while being friendly for those watching uric acid.

Method

1. Peel, core and dice the apples; pit the red dates.
2. Add the washed glutinous rice and water, and simmer into a congee of medium thickness.
3. Stir in slab sugar until dissolved. Eat as you like.

Nourilo’s Tips

The slab sugar in the photo is red-date slab sugar, with a lovely date aroma — available in supermarkets. This congee is also traditionally said to benefit those with high blood pressure or high blood lipids.