4cupschicken stock(recipe included below, or use your favorite good quality chicken broth/stock)
Chicken Stock:
1.5 - 2lbs. (680-900g)raw chicken pieces, bone-in can use any combination of wings, thighs, drums, etc.
6cupswater
1knobfresh ginger, about the size of a lemonpeeled and cut into 2-3 chunks
½onioncut into chunks
1teaspoonsalt
Instructions
Chicken Stock (if making your own):
Put all chicken stock ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to a gentle boil and remove the scum that floats to the surface using a mesh skimmer or flat spoon.
Once the scum stops appearing, reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot, leaving a small gap open.
Simmer for approximately 1.5 -2 hours.
Remove the chicken pieces. Remove the meat from the pieces (if any) and set aside for later use.
Remove all solids from the stock and discard. You should have about 4 cups of stock remaining.
Rice Porridge Congee:
Combine the uncooked rice, 3 cups of water, and oil in a bowl and let soak for 1-2 hours.
Soak the dried bean curd sticks in warm water until re-hydrated and soft, about 1-2 hours.
Once dried bean curd has softened, drain well and cut into either narrow strips or 1-2" lengths.
Add entire rice, water, oil mixture and the hydrated bean curd to a pot with 4 cups of chicken stock. (If making your own chicken stock with the recipe included here, simply add the water and rice to the same pot that you made the chicken stock.)
Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Reduce heat to a simmer and cover the pot, leaving a small gap open.
Simmer for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Stir well.
Add any of the reserved chicken meat back into the rice porridge congee, if desired. Stir to combine.
Serve hot.
Notes
The chicken stock recipe included above should make the right amount needed for the rice porridge congee without any leftover.
If the rice porridge congee gets too thick, you can dilute it with some water.
The rice porridge will thicken, even with the heat off.
Garnish your rice porridge congee with chopped green onions, white pepper, soy sauce, chili sauce, or pickled vegetables, if desired.
You can also add beef balls or fish to your congee instead of chicken.