Congee & Porridge

Chestnut and Red Date Congee

Traditionally used to support the spleen and stomach and nourish in early pregnancy

In short: Chestnut and Red Date Congee is a congee & porridge that Traditionally used to support the spleen and stomach and nourish in early pregnancy. It is most often made for digestive wellness, women's wellness, everyday balance. Total time about 1 hr 10 min. Key ingredients: chestnuts, red dates, white rice.

Prep
10 min
Cook
1 hr
Total
1 hr 10 min
Makes
600–900 ml
Chestnut and Red Date Congee

Why people make this congee

Now and then Nourilo passes a street vendor sugar-roasting chestnuts — glossy nuts tumbling in a huge wok, the air thick with their sweet aroma, mouth-watering. Chestnuts suit women in early pregnancy well: they’re rich in folate, which supports the developing baby’s nervous system, and their vitamins, minerals and carotene are traditionally associated with helping guard against miscarriage, premature birth and stretch marks. In early pregnancy it’s lovely to simmer chestnut and red date into a congee — it supports the spleen and stomach, the kidneys and lower back, and bone health.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Red dates · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

Members only

Unlock the full method & Nourilo's tips

One payment, lifetime access to every one of our 2,344 recipes — step-by-step methods, preparation tips and serving notes.

  • Full step-by-step method for this and all 2,344 recipes
  • Nourilo's Tips — sourcing, substitutions and serving notes
  • One-time payment · card, Apple Pay or Google Pay · no subscription, no renewals

Checking your access…

Spot an error? Report a correction

Comments

Loading comments…