Chinese Yam and Dry-Fried Hyacinth Bean Congee

Why people make this congee

Rotavirus is a highly contagious illness that spreads quickly through kindergartens and childcare settings. Infected children typically experience strong vomiting and diarrhoea for two to three days, making it nearly impossible to keep any food down. The most urgent concern during the acute phase is dehydration — which requires medical attention. But once the worst has passed, children usually have almost no appetite for several days. This is when a plain, nourishing congee comes in. Light, digestible foods like thin porridge, plain bread, or clear noodle broth are ideal at this stage. This congee, using Chinese yam and dry-fried hyacinth beans with rice, is a traditional post-illness food that helps gently warm and restore spleen and stomach function, ease residual bloating, and coax back a reluctant appetite.

Method

1. Rinse the Chinese yam and hyacinth beans. Soak briefly in cool water, then drain.
2. Rinse the white rice.
3. Place all ingredients into a pot and cover with water (more water for thinner congee, less for thicker).
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
5. Cook until the rice has broken down into a soft, smooth congee — approximately 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Serve warm. Can be eaten for 2–3 consecutive days until the child’s appetite and stools normalise.

Nourilo’s Tips

For any household where a child has contracted rotavirus, hygiene is paramount — disinfect contaminated surfaces and objects with a 1:49 bleach-to-water solution (this is stronger than the 1:99 dilution typically used for general cleaning). This congee is also suitable for any adult suffering from diarrhoea and digestive weakness. For everyday use as a family porridge, you can add a handful of adzuki beans (chi xiao dou), lotus seeds (lian zi), and coix seeds (yi mi) for extra spleen-strengthening benefit. If a child also has very poor appetite, adding 11 g of chicken gizzard lining (ji nei jin) and 6 red dates to the pot can further help.