Water Chestnut and Poria Congee

Why people make this congee

The water chestnut is crisp, sweet, and so versatile it has earned the nickname “underground snow pear.” When choosing, look for firm, unblemished ones — discard any with yellowed or damaged flesh. Water chestnut is cooling — traditionally it clears heat, generates fluids, moves phlegm and calms a hot, agitated chest. Poria, besides settling damp, has a quieting quality. Together in a congee they make a soothing bowl for those whose mood swings easily and who feel restless and quick to anger.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Good for people who feel hot-headed, restless and easily irritated, with mood that swings.
• Gentle and clear — fine for young and old.
• Water chestnuts must be cooked, not raw; once peeled, cut away or discard any yellowed flesh.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Water chestnut (ma ti): cooling; traditionally clears heat, generates fluids and settles a hot, agitated chest.
• Poria (fu ling): traditionally strengthens the spleen, drains damp and calms the mind.
• White rice: the soft, comforting base of the congee.

Ingredients (2–3 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Water chestnuts	6–8	peeled, washed, sliced thin
Poria	~38 g	soaked, washed, in a tea bag
White rice	~75 g	washed
Rock sugar	to taste	added at the end

Method

1. Peel and wash the water chestnuts; slice thin.
2. Soak and wash the poria and put it in a tea bag.
3. Wash the rice.
4. Put water chestnut, poria and rice in a rice cooker and cook to a smooth, suitably thick congee.
5. Stir in rock sugar until dissolved, and serve.

Bro Niu’s tips

This congee is clear and gently sweet, fine for all ages. Remember water chestnuts are a water plant prone to parasites — never eat them raw. After peeling, if you see the flesh has yellowed, cut that part away or discard it.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (KH): I felt dizzy after eating broccoli last night, and often feel light-headed when standing up. Is it a weak spleen and stomach? What helps? Bro Niu: It may not be the broccoli — many things cause dizziness (high or low blood pressure, anaemia). Best to first check your blood pressure and look at lip and nail colour for pallor before choosing a food remedy.
• Q (reader): It is probably low blood pressure — I have long run low, and feel dizzy after bending to wash my hair. What helps? Bro Niu: For dizziness with low blood pressure, try dang shen and huang jing 5 qian each, rou gui 2 qian, 5 red dates and gan cao 2 qian in 5 bowls of water down to 2 bowls — every other day for two weeks.
• Q (Xiao Ling): My 13-year-old sweats heavily at night soaking his clothes, sleeps poorly, feels tired, and is losing hair, with pimples by the nose. Any food remedy? Bro Niu: Pimples on the nose suggest lung heat; night sweats suggest yin deficiency. Try green-kernel black soybeans ~38 g, mulberry 5 qian, fu xiao mai 5 qian and 6 nan zao in 5 bowls of water down to 2 — three servings, taken over time, to help the night sweats and hair.

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Published November 7, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.