I have always considered myself quite a nice person. I like food of all shapes, flavours and colours. From every country and continent. I don’t discriminate, I am an equal opportunity eater. It’s only the doctors who say I’m intolerant. And certain foods who refuse to tolerate me. They certainly refuse to recognise and respect my right to eat them without major physical discomfort and distress.


Gluten and lactose are not my friends.


Despite the negative attitudes surrounding me from many of those I love best, (cakes, ice cream, hot toast) I decided to become a chef. Not always easy when you live in a bread and milk filled world. I like to think that this has helped me become a better person as I embrace my differences and refuse to let the gluten get me down. I believe InTolerance. I am the InTolerant Chef.

Food should not be about what you can’t eat, but what you can and what you enjoy eating. This blog is about my journey of cooking and eating and discovery. It’s not a definitive guide to allergy awareness nor do my intolerances make me an expert. Your body is your responsibility, not mine. I only know what works for me.


I can tell you this..... No glutens were harmed in the making of this website.

August 27, 2013

Cosy Chicken Congee



Poor littlej is sick in bed

The warmer weather seems to have stirred up any latent flu bugs and in a desperate effort to get as many victims as possible, they are jumping on anyone foolish enough to have run 3.5kms in sleet last week for school athletics before staying up to 1am to finish off a Science project....  Oh dear, at least she'll learn her lesson before college when pressure and performance really start to pile on


Eating really hasn't been fun between sniffles and sneezing, so to coax her to partake of some nourishment I put together one of the ultimate comfort foods out there- Congee
So warming, so soothing, not much chewing or digestive energy required, and did I mention delicious? Perfect invalid food, or for when you just want a big bowl of hugs instead


Congee has so many variations, but I stuck to a very basic one with chicken stock, ginger and spring onion being the main flavouring. The thickness of the soup or porridge is also open to interpretation, but I favour a fairly thick mix and use a 1:12 ratio of rice to stock to make mine juuuuust riiiight

Cosy Chicken Congee

1/2 cup Jasmine Rice
6 cups Chicken Stock
2 or three Spring Onions
thumb size piece of Ginger
1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
big pinch White Pepper
Toppings to taste- keep reading





Peel the ginger, then cut it into nice thin matchsticks. Give the spring onions a bit of a bash with your knife just to encourage them to give up their yumminess during cooking




Pop the rice and sesame oil in your rice cooker (or pot) and give it a good mix through, then add in everything else and stir once or twice




Pop the lid on, set and forget! I love using my rice cooker this way, it's such a gentle way of cooking and I don't have to fuss with it at all. If you are using the stove top instead, you need to very gently and slowly simmer your congee for at least an hour or until the rice really starts to break down and loose it's shape definition




My rice cooker takes three cooking cycles to get the congee the way I like it. As you can see it bubbles away getting quite thick and gluggy- but don't worry, that's the right consistency




This is the congee after cooking, each little rice grain is desperately trying to maintain it's structurally integrity, but you can see it's a losing battle




Now give the congee a good brisk stir and glorious gloopiness will result. See the lovey golden strands of ginger? They are nice and soft as well and add a lovely subtle sweetness when you bite into them



If you're not sick and have a decent appetite, one of the really fun things about congee is the toppings! You can jazz it up any way you want, but some of my favourites are: drizzling with gf soy sauce, a few drops of sesame oil, finely sliced spring onions, coriander, sliced boiled eggs, crispy fried onion and garlic. You can also include sliced chicken, pork or fish, fried tofu or just about anything that takes your fancy- Yummo!




So Dear Readers, would this tempt your appetite and what's your tried-and-true recipe for the flu?








29 comments:

  1. Perfect, now I can make it at home! Love this. Hope little j is all better soon. I am ALL about the ginger when I'm sick.
    Heidi xo

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    1. Thanks Heidi! Ginger is such a great addition to everything and it always makes me feel better too :)

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  2. Bec, this sounds wonderful.... must admit I have never tried congee, but now that you've shown me how to make it, I just might!

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    1. So simple but so yummy Lizzy! Let me know how you get on :)

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  3. I tried congee for the first time, breakfast buffet as the hotel we were staying at in Hong Kong. I wasn't able to stomach it first thing for breakfast, but tried it again later on for lunch and it was delicious! Thanks for posting this, brought back memories :)

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    1. How funny Lisa, my husband was the same in Singapore- he couldn't handle curry or laksa for breakfast but I loved it!

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  4. You taught me something today. I've never heard of congee and it looks like I've been missing out. This sounds like a bowl of comfort and would be perfect for the chilly days that are soon to arrive here. Thanks for the lesson. I can't wait to give it a try. :)

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    1. I hope you give it a try John, it's perfect for the chilly weather- and extra yummy too!

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  5. This is my favourite dish when I'm sick. I also make a beeline for one congee store when I'm in Hong Kong! :D

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    1. Perfect comfort food indeed Lorraine, this is just the type of food I crave when I'm sick too. I'd love to try the one from Hong Kong- I wonder if they do take-out? :) x

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  6. Darling, are you SURE you're not Chinese? I grew up eating this for breakfast! :) Feel better soon LittleJ! xx

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    1. Only through wistful thinking Celia! I was born in Singapore though- does that count? :) xox

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  7. poor little one! Hope she feels better soon

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    1. Aww thanks Lisa! She's definitely on the mend now though- thanks to antibiotics and congee of course! :)

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  8. ooh, do you think this could be cooked in a crock pot? I don't have a rice cooker & know I'll never do it on the stovetop

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    1. I think that's a great idea Ista! It should work really well and you could put it on at night ready for a delicious breakfast too!

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  9. I've never thought to make congee in a rice cooker before but it makes perfect sense I guess! I've never made it at home before but I do eat it quite a bit so maybe it's about time. Thanks for the photos!

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    1. Definitley time to give it a try at home Nancy! Let me know how you get on- good luck :)

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  10. I'm sorry to hear Littlej isn't well. But this congee would be very nourishing and I bet she enjoyed it. The flavour in the rice must be wonderful xx

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    1. Thanks sweetie, she's on the mend at last. I don't need to be sick to enjoy this type of dish though, and the better the stock the better the finished product. I want to do one with roast duck stock next- yummo! xox

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  11. Sorry the littlie is unwell but I'm sure this chicken congee made her smile - a little.

    It sounds so comforting.

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  12. Chicken and ginger are always a good combo but Im sorry to say Im not a congee convert.

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    1. What a shame Simcha- my Dad wouldn't like the texture either though, he likes things with chew!

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  13. Oh you are such a lovely Mum. I love congee. Never think to make it though. I'd like it if I come and visit you providing it's not 40 degrees. Hope the sniffles subside soon

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    1. Thanks Tania! You're welcome any time, and I'll make it for you whenever you like- don't worry I have airconditioning so it will still be fine :)xox

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  14. i could eat congee everyday and not get sick of it! yum~

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  15. Such wondrous comfort food. Brings out the 1/4 Chinese in me ;)

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