Congee & Porridge
Chestnut and Red Date Congee
Traditionally used to support the spleen and stomach and nourish in early pregnancy
Why people make this congee
Now and then Bro Niu 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.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits women in early pregnancy as a gentle, nourishing breakfast; also good for older folks with a weak, achy lower back and frequent urination.
- Eat chestnuts in moderation — about 5 at a time is plenty, chewing slowly — or they can sit heavily on the stomach. In pregnancy, any bleeding or abdominal pain needs a doctor’s attention.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Chestnuts (li zi): traditionally used to strengthen the spleen and stomach and support the kidneys and lower back.
- Red dates (hong zao): warming and sweet, traditionally used to nourish the blood and harmonise the congee.
- White rice (bai mi): the easy-to-digest congee base that carries the nourishment.
Ingredients (2–3 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chestnuts | 10 | blanched and peeled |
| Red dates | 8 | pitted |
| White rice | ~75 g (2 liang) | rinsed |
Method
- Drop the chestnuts into boiling water for 2 minutes, then lift out and peel off the skins.
- Add the rinsed red dates and rice with water and cook into a thick, smooth congee.
- Eat as desired.
Bro Niu’s tips
Chestnut congee is also traditionally used for older folks with a weak, achy lower back and legs, and frequent urination. Chestnuts are good for you, but don’t eat too many at once — about 5 is enough, eaten slowly — so they don’t burden the stomach.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (yy): I’m newly pregnant. For convenience, can I use dried chestnuts? And as I tend toward yin-deficiency with heat, would southern dates (nan zao) suit better than red dates? Bro Niu: Dried chestnuts are fine. Southern dates suit yin-deficient, heat-prone constitutions better — you can use them in place of red dates.
- Q (Yan): In early pregnancy, can I use date-palm dates (jujube/dates) in place of red dates? Do I need to remove the seeds? Bro Niu: Yes, you can use them in place of red dates — and do remove the pits.
- Q (fanny221): For a pregnancy soup — green and red radish, dried fig, pork shin and tangerine peel — is that all right? What else is beneficial? Bro Niu: Green-and-red radish, pork shin and fig soup is fine in pregnancy. Chayote, tofu and fresh fish soup is also good.
Published September 29, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
