Black Bean, Walnut and Black Brown Rice Congee

Why people make this congee

Sometimes life piles on all at once — work stress, strained relationships, a general sense that things aren’t going your way. Traditional food therapy recognises that our emotional state is connected to the body’s nutritional balance, and that deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals can contribute to low mood. This richly coloured congee, packed with whole grains, legumes and healthy fats, is designed to nourish the body from the inside out. It won’t replace professional care for serious low mood, but as a daily warming bowl, it offers genuine nutritional value alongside the comfort of a home-cooked meal.

Method

1. Rinse and soak all ingredients separately for 30–60 minutes. Pit the red dates.
2. Place all ingredients except the rock sugar into a pot with 2.4 L of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until the congee thickens and reduces to about 1.2–1.5 L.
4. Stir in rock sugar to taste and cook until dissolved.
5. Serve warm. Eat as a meal — the congee is filling and satisfying on its own.

Nourilo’s Tips

This congee has a lovely earthy sweetness from the black rice and dates. Any whole grain or coarse grain can be used — black glutinous rice, brown rice, red rice — they all work well. Eating this regularly is associated in traditional food therapy with nourishing the five organs, lifting mood, and supporting healthy blood pressure and cholesterol. Pregnant women should swap out the raw Job’s tears for red beans.