Congee & Porridge

Yam, Peanut, Red Date and Purple Glutinous Rice Congee

traditionally used to nourish qi and blood after birth, and to support breast milk production

In short: Yam, Peanut, Red Date and Purple Glutinous Rice Congee is a congee & porridge that traditionally used to nourish qi and blood after birth, and to support breast milk production. It is most often made for women's wellness, energy & vitality, blood nourishment. Total time about 1 hr 50 min. Key ingredients: chinese yam, red dates, brown sugar.

Prep
20 min
Cook
1 hr 30 min
Total
1 hr 50 min
Makes
1.2 L
Yam, Peanut, Red Date and Purple Glutinous Rice Congee

Why people make this congee

After giving birth, some new mothers find that their milk supply is slow to come in — sometimes due to blood and energy depletion during labour, and sometimes simply because of tension and anxiety. Traditional Chinese food therapy has long held that nurturing the spleen and stomach, replenishing qi and blood, and keeping the mind calm are the most important things a new mother can do to encourage milk flow. This purple-hued congee, with its gentle sweetness from red dates and peanuts, is one of Nourilo’s recommendations for exactly that purpose. It is also genuinely delicious — hearty and comforting, not medicinal-tasting at all.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Red dates · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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