Cantonese Jok - Rice Porridge Soup - Congee

This is probably the single most soothing, safe, and nutritious bowl of soup for people with IBS. It's also known as rice congee. It is a wonderful staple and something you might want to make on a weekly basis. Most Chinese people have a bowl for breakfast every morning – not a bad idea at all.

This recipe comes from Sifu Winchell Woo, my husband's Kung Fu teacher in Springfield, Massachusetts. Sifu is a renowned chef and it is quite an honor that he allowed me to use his recipe – so enjoy it!

Makes 4 Servings, easily doubled or tripled

1 cup short grain white rice, rinsed and drained
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon peanut or canola oil
1/4 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

For serving:

finely chopped scallions
white pepper
cooked shrimp
soy sauce
toasted sesame oil

Put rice in a small bowl and cover with water. Mix in baking soda, salt, and peanut oil. Let stand at room temperature overnight.

In a large stockpot bring 12 (yes, 12) cups water to a boil and add to rice mixture. Cook at a low boil, uncovered, until the mixture starts to thicken. Reduce heat to a bare simmer, add sesame oil, and cook until mixture is the consistency of porridge. Serve plain or topped with scallions, white pepper, cooked shrimp, soy sauce, and sesame oil to taste.


All recipes included in Eating for Irritable Bowel Syndrome have a nutritional analysis per serving of calories, protein, percentage of calories from protein, carbohydrates, percentage of calories from carbohydrates, total fat, percentage of calories from fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and total dietary fiber. (Analysis provided by NutriBase Nutrition Manager software.)

All content is copyrighted by Heather Van Vorous and MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED without permission.