Congee

Congee
Chinese rice congee with rousong and zha cai (coriander in side bowl)
Chinese name
Chinese	粥
Transliterations Hakka - Romanization zuk5 (IPA: [tsūk]) Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin zhōu Wu - Shanghainese romanization tzoq (IPA: [tsɔ́ʔ]) Cantonese - Jyutping zuk1 - IPA [tʃók] - Taishanese Jyutping zuk1 (IPA: [tsūk])
Min Chinese name
Chinese	糜
Transliterations Min - Hokkien POJ môai/mê/bôe/bê
Filipino name
Tagalog	lúgao
Japanese name
Kanji	1. 粥 2. 白粥
Hiragana	1. かゆ 2. しらがゆ
Transliterations - Revised Hepburn 1. kayu 2. shiragayu
Korean name
Hangul	죽
Hanja	粥
Transliterations - Revised Romanization juk - McCune- Reischauer chuk
Malay name
Malay	bubur
Portuguese name
Portuguese	canja
Thai name
Thai	โจ๊ก chok
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese	cháo
Spanish name
Spanish	arroz caldo
Khmer name
Khmer	បបរ bâbâr (IPA: [bɑˈbɑː])
Indonesian name
Indonesian	bubur
Javanese name
Javanese	bubur
Bangla name
Bangla	কান্জি/কন্জি-জাউ kandʒi/kondʒi jaou (IPA: [kɒndʒi dʒaw])
Burmese name
Burmese	ဆန်ပြုတ် san byoke
Hindi name
Hindi	गांजी ganji
Malayalam name
Malayalam	കഞ്ഞി kanji
Tagalog name
Tagalog	lugaw or
Tamil name
Tamil	kanji=கஞ்சி
Telugu name
Telugu	ghanji

Rice congee (pronounced /ˈkɒndʒiː/) is a type of rice porridge that is eaten in many Asian countries, made by prolonged boiling of rice in copious water, with flavorings. The word congee is possibly derived from the Dravidian language Tamil word கஞ்சி kanji.^[1][2] The Sinhalese word is Kanda.

In some cultures congee is eaten primarily as a breakfast food or late supper; in others it is eaten as a substitute for rice at other meals. It is often considered particularly suitable for the sick as a mild, easily digestible, food.

Congee can be made in a pot or in a rice cooker. Some rice cookers have a "congee" setting, allowing congee to be cooked for breakfast overnight.

Variations

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, Congee-known as Konji Jaou or Kanji Jaou (depending on pronounciation)- along with Panta Bhat, is popular throughout the whole country, more so in rural areas than urban. It is made by repeatedly boiling rice in large quantities of water. The result is a thick white broth. Its consistency and colour is dictated by the water-to-rice ratio (which can be from 5:1 to 13:1) and the various types of rice used. Glutinous rice is often used in Sylhet and Khulna which makes the broth quite distinct from other types in the country. It is usually served for breakfast with lime, salt, chilli and fried onions. On its own, it is fed to the unwell as it is believed to be beneficial to the digestive system.

Burma

In Burma rice congee is called san byohk: literally "rice boiled". It is very thin and plain, often made with just rice and water but sometimes with chicken or pork stock and served with a simple garnish of chopped spring onions and crispy fried onions. As in other Asian countries, san byohk is considered lu ma mar zar ("food for the unwell"), and given to people who are sick.

Cambodia

In Cambodia rice congee (babaw) is widely eaten for breakfast. Plain congee is typically eaten with salted eggs, pickled vegetables, or dried fish. Chicken congee, pig's blood congee, and seafood congee are also commonly eaten.

China

There are many regional variations of Chinese congees (Chinese: 粥; pinyin: zhōu). For example, to make Cantonese congee, white rice is boiled in many times its weight of water for a long time until the rice breaks down and becomes a fairly thick white porridge.^[3] Congees made in other regions may use different types of rice with different quantities of water, producing congees of different consistency.

Congee is often eaten with zha cai, salted duck eggs, lettuce and dace (Cirrhinus chinensis) paste, bamboo shoots, youtiao, rousong, pickled tofu, wheat gluten, with other condiments, meat or century eggs.

Other seasonings, such as white pepper and soy sauce, may be added. Grilled fish may be mixed in to provide a different texture.

Congee is often eaten with fried bread sticks known as youtiao. Congee with youtiao is commonly eaten as breakfast in many areas in China. Congee can be left watery, or can be drained so that it has a texture similar to Western oatmeal porridge. Congee can also be made from brown rice, although this is less common and takes longer to cook.

Besides being an everyday meal, congee is considered to be food therapy for the unwell. Ingredients can be determined by their supposed therapeutic value as well as flavor.

The origin of congee is unknown, but from many historical accounts it was usually served during times of famine, or when numerous patrons visited the temples, as a way to stretch the rice supply to feed more people.

In China congee has also been used to feed young infants. However, the cooking time is much longer than for okayu and, because it is for infants, the congee is not seasoned with salt or any other flavoring. Often it is mixed with pre-steamed and deboned fish.

Congee can also be made from other grains, like cornmeal, millet, barley, and sorghum. These are common in the north of China , where rice does not grow as well as other grains suited for a colder climate. Multigrain congee mixes are sold in the health food sections of Chinese supermarkets. Congee with mung beans is usually eaten with sugar, like red bean congee.

India

Udupi rice ganji is a variant made by Kannada-speaking, Tulu-speaking or Konkani people in and around Udupi and Mangalore (Karnataka, South India). Here parboiled rice (Kocheel akki in Kannada, oorpel aari in Tulu or ukadey tandool in Konkani) is steamed with a small amount of water. Fresh coconut is grated and the resulting milk skimmed and added to the ganji (called pej in Konkani), which is served hot with fish curry, coconut chutney, or Indian pickles.

In Tamil Nadu and Kerala a plain rice porridge, or the thick supernatant water on overcooked rice, is called 'kanji' with no stress on either syllable (or both short syllables in the Tamil system based on duration of sounds). In Andhra Pradesh state it is called ganji in Telugu and mostly eaten by the very poor.

Indonesia

Bubur ayam, Indonesian chicken congee.

In Indonesia congee is called "bubur". It is a favourite breakfast food, and many food vendors pass through the streets at dawn, calling "bubur", to sell it to householders. A popular version is "bubur ayam", which is congee with shredded chicken meat. It is also served with many condiments, such as green onion, crispy fried shallot, fried soybean, Chinese crullers (You tiao, known as cakwe in Indonesia),both salty and sweet soy sauce, and sometimes it is topped with yellow chicken broth & kerupuk (Indonesian style crackers). Unlike many other Indonesian dishes, it is not spicy; sambal or chili paste is served separately.

The food hawkers sometimes have sate to go with it, made from quail egg or chicken intestine, liver, gizzard, or heart.

In another region of Indonesia, Manado, it is very popular with Tinutuan or bubur Manado (Manadonese porridge), another porridge with ample vegetables. It is a bit different from the one which is sold in Java island. It is made from rice porridge and enhanced with water spinach or kangkung, corn kernels, yam or sweet potato, dried salty fish, lemon basil or kemangi leaves, and melinjo or gnetum gnemon leaves.

Japan

Okayu (also kayu) is the name for the type of congee eaten in Japan,^[4] which is considerably thicker than congee produced in other cultures. For example, a Cantonese-style congee typically uses a water-to-rice ratio of 12:1, but okayu typically uses ratios of 5:1 (zen-gayu) or 7:1 (shichibu-gayu). Also, its cooking time is shorter than other types of congee: okayu is cooked for about 30 minutes, while Cantonese congees cook for an hour or more.

Okayu (お粥^?) may be made with just rice and water, and is often seasoned with salt. Beaten eggs could be beaten into it to thicken it into gruel. Toppings may be added to enhance flavour; negi (a type of green onion), salmon, roe, ginger, and umeboshi (pickled ume fruit) are among the most common. Miso or chicken stock may be used to flavor the broth. Most Japanese electric rice cookers have a setting for okayu.

In Japan okayu is popularly known as a food served to the ill. Because it is soft and easily digestible, okayu is the first solid food served to Japanese infants; it is used to help with the transition from liquids to the thicker rice dishes which constitute much of the Japanese diet. It is also commonly eaten by the elderly for the same reasons.

A type of okayu called nanakusa-gayu (七草粥, "Seven Herb Porridge") is traditionally eaten on 7 January with special herbs that protect against evils and invite good luck and longevity in the new year. As a simple, light dish, nanakusagayu serves as a break from the many heavy dishes eaten over the Japanese New Year.

Korea

A bowl of Korean take-out olgaengi (melanian snail) juk

In Korea the dish goes by the name juk ([tɕuk]) derived from the Chinese language in which juk [jook] means the same thing. There are more than forty varieties of juk mentioned in old documents.^[5] Depending on the ingredients and consistency, juk can be considered as a food for recuperation (much like chicken soup in modern American culture), a delicacy, or food during famine and war.^[5]

The most general form of juk is simply called heen juk (흰죽, white juk), which is made from plain white rice. Other varieties include different ingredients such as milk, vegetables, seafood, nuts and other grains. Being largely unflavored, it is served together with a number of more flavorful side dishes such as jeotgal, various types of kimchi, pickled cuttlefish, spicy octopus, and other side-dishes.

Notable varieties include jatjuk made from finely-ground pine nuts, jeonbokjuk made with abalones, yulmujuk made from Job's Tears, and patjuk made from red beans.

Juk is considered the ideal choice of food for babies,^[6] the ill or elderly as it is easily eaten and digested. It is sold commercially by many juk chain stores in South Korea and is a common take-out dish.^[7]

Philippines

Filipino Arroz Caldo - Lugao

Arroz caldo

Lúgao (alternately spelled "lugaw" or "lugau") is the Filipino name for congee. Otherwise similar to Cantonese-style congee, lúgao is typically thicker, retaining the shape of the rice but with a similar texture. It is boiled with strips of fresh ginger. Other flavors may be added according to taste. Most often it is topped with scallions and served with crispy fried garlic. As with okayu, fish or chicken stock may be used to flavor the broth. Lúgao can also be served with tokwa't baboy (diced tofu and pork), goto (beef tripe), utak (pig's brain), dila (pork tongue), litid (beef ligaments), and with calamansi, fish sauce, and soy sauce. It is often served to the ill and the elderly, and is favored among Pinoys living abroad in colder climates because it is warm, soft, and easily digestible.

Some provinces prefer the Spanish-influenced arroz caldo (literally broth rice), which is often thought to be a European dish because of its name. Arroz caldo is actually a Chinese congee that was adapted to the tastes of the Spanish colonial settlers who patronized Chinese restaurants in the Philippines.

Arroz caldo is most usually spiced with saffron and black pepper in place of or in addition to the more traditional ginger and scallion. Arroz caldo more closely resembles risotto than congee, from which it can be distinguished by the bright yellow saffron hue and the larger pieces of meat. Arroz caldo is more popular among people of Ilokano heritage, although those of other provinces such as Cebu often eat it with the addition of Philippine prawns, olive oil, bay leaf, and Chinese sausage.

Portugal

In Portugal there is a traditional soup made of rice and chicken meat that is named Canja (very similar pronunciation to congee). The rice is not cooked for as long as in Asian congee, so it is very soft but not disintegrated. Traditionally, a boiling fowl containing small immature eggs is used; the eggs are carefully boiled and served in the canja. This soup is sometimes served with a fresh mint leaf on top. Canja is traditionally given to people recovering from disease, as in Asia, and is strongly valued as comfort food. In some regions of Portugal; there is even an ancient custom of feeding the mother a strict diet of canja in the first weeks after childbirth. Canja is also eaten traditionally in Brasil and Cabo Verde, formerly Portuguese colonies.

Taiwan

In Taiwan congee is prepared in the same way as in Fujian Province, China, and consists of rice and water, with few other ingredients. Sweet potato is often added for taste, and eggs are sometimes beaten into it to thicken it to a gruel. As in China, congee is often served to the ill and those with difficulty chewing. A variety of side dishes are often served with congee as well.

Thailand

In Thailand, rice congee is known as "chok" (โจ๊ก, IPA: [tɕóːk]) and is often served as breakfast with a raw or partially-cooked egg added. Minced pork or beef is usually added, and the dish is usually topped with a small version of youtiao (known as pathongko by Thais), garlic, slivered ginger, and spicy pickles such as pickled radish and chopped spring onions. Although it is more popular as a breakfast dish, many stores specializing in congee sell it throughout the day. Variations in the meat and toppings are also frequently found.

Vietnam

Cháo lòng heo

In Vietnam rice congee is called cháo. It is sometimes cooked with pandan leaves or Asian green beans. In its simplest form (plain rice porridge) it is a food for times of famine and hardship, when rice is not abundant. Or, as is especially common among Buddhist monks, nuns and lay people, it can be a simple breakfast food eaten with pickled vegetables or fermented tofu. Despite its humble ubiquity among the poor, it is also popular as a main entre when cooked with a variety of meats. For example, Cháo gà is a variety of cháo cooked with chicken, garlic, and ginger. The rice porridge is cooked in the broth in which a whole chicken had been boiled, and once the chicken is cooked, the meat is sliced and layered on a bed of shredded uncooked cabbage, sliced onions and drizzled with a vinegar-based sauce, to be eaten as a side dish to the porridge. Other combinations include "Cháo vịt", (duck porridge) which is cooked in the same fashion as the chicken porridge, but with duck. "Cháo lòng heo" is made with "lòng heo" (a variety of pork entrails, including sliced cakes of congealed pork blood). It is also common to eat cháo during an illness, as it is believed the porridge is easy to digest and yet fortifying. For such purposes, the Cháo is sometimes cooked with roasted white rice, giving the porridge broth a more nuanced body and a subtle nutty flavor. On a related note, in some parts of Vietnam local customs call for making Cháo for death anniversary ceremonies, during which it is offered to fortify the spirits of the dead. (This tradition, however, is not widely practiced and seems to contradict the general principle of providing only the best food for one's ancestors).

See also

• Porridge
• Red bean soup
• Rice pudding
• Khichdi
• Gruel
• Japanese cuisine
• Filipino cuisine
• Bengali cuisine
• Tamil cuisine
• Thayir sadam
• Udupi cuisine

References