Congee & Porridge

Laba Eight-Treasure Congee

Name: Laba Eight-Treasure Congee
Prep time: 8 h
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 10 h
Yield: 1.2–1.8 L / 1 pot
Cuisine: Asian, Wellness
Ingredients: White rice — 2 tbsp; Glutinous rice — 2 tbsp; Millet — 2 tbsp; Black / purple rice — 2 tbsp; Job's tears / pearl barley — 2 tbsp; Kidney beans, choice of: white kidney bean / red kidney bean / adzuki bean — 2 tbsp total; Green mung beans — 1 tbsp; Raw peanuts, skin-on — 1 oz (30 g); Walnut kernels — 1 oz (30 g); Dried longan flesh — 10 pieces (30 g); Lotus seeds — 1 oz (30 g); Dried lily bulb — 1 tbsp; Dried red dates / jujubes, pitted — 8 pieces (24 g); Raisins — 1 tbsp; Chestnuts, peeled — 6–8 pieces (48–64 g); Water — approximately 3× the volume of all combined ingredients

traditionally used to warm the stomach and dispel cold in winter

By Bro Niu · Registered Nutritionist & TCM Practitioner

Prep: 8 hr
Cook: 2 hr
Total: 10 hr
Makes: 1.2–1.8 L

Respiratory & Lung Wellness Digestive Wellness Everyday Balance

Why people make this congee

Every winter on Laba Day — the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month — families across China simmer a big pot of this multi-ingredient porridge. The idea is beautifully simple: combine whatever warming grains, hearty beans, and nourishing nuts you have on hand, slow-cook them until the whole pot becomes a fragrant, thick, comforting porridge, and share it with the people you love. It is the kind of dish that warms you from the inside out on the coldest days of the year. Traditional food therapy considers this combination to be supportive of the spleen and stomach, and gentle enough for the whole family.

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Frequently asked questions

When is Laba Eight-Treasure Congee traditionally enjoyed?

This congee is traditionally eaten on Laba Day — the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month — when families across China simmer a pot of this multi-ingredient porridge to share during the coldest days of the year.

Is this congee considered gentle enough for children and the elderly?

According to traditional food therapy, this combination of warming grains, beans, nuts, and dried fruits is considered gentle enough for the whole family.

What do the grains, beans, and nuts in this congee traditionally do?

Traditional food therapy considers this combination to be supportive of the spleen and stomach, and commonly associated with supporting overall vitality during cold weather as part of a balanced diet.

How long does this congee take to prepare, and how much does it make?

The recipe requires soaking the beans overnight (about 8 hours), followed by approximately 1.5 to 2 hours of cooking, for a total time of around 10 hours. It yields approximately 1.2 to 1.8 litres — roughly one pot.

Why is it important to soak the beans the night before?

The beans (kidney beans, adzuki beans, and mung beans) are much harder than the grains and need a head start; skipping the overnight soak means the beans will take at least 2 hours longer to soften, significantly extending the total cook time.

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