Eight-Treasure Porridge (養生八寶粥)

Traditionally this healthy Eight-Treasure Porridge is eaten on the Laba Festival, the eighth day of the La Month (i.e. the twelfth month of the Chinese lunar calendar). As for myself, I love to eat it whenever I like throughout the year.

Well, if you’re living in an area where it’s cold, this dessert soup is a good treat warming yourself up, as well as absolutely guilt-free. The ingredients used are nutrient-rich, good to our body. Chinese Yam can help lower blood sugar and blood pressure, sooth mood and get better sleep.

Best of all, it’s very easy to make. Simply soak and wash the ingredients, then pop them in a large pot. There you go.

All you need is to put all the ingredients into a large pot. Simmer until all ingredients become tender. There you go.

Eight-Treasure Porridge Recipe (Printable recipe)
By Christine’s Recipes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Chinese
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 1½ hrs
Yield: 5 to 6 serves

Ingredients:

• 70 gm red beans
• 55 gm black glutinous rice (aka black sticky rice)
• 60 gm mung beans
• 40 gm peanuts
• 40 gm lotus seeds
• 40 gm pearl barley
• 10 gm red dates, deseeded
• 40 gm dried longan
• 2 L water
• 150 gm chinese yam
• 160 gm rock sugar, or to taste

Method:

1. Soak the red beans over night, or at least 3 hours. As for black glutinous rice, mung beans, peanuts, lotus seeds and pearl barley, soak for 1 hour. Drain the soaked ingredients well. Set aside.
2. Place 2 liters of water into the inner pot of a thermal cooker. Put in all ingredients, except the Chinese yam and dried longan. After bringing it to a boil, cook further 15 minutes. Transfer the inner pot inside the cooker, covered and let it sit for 1 hour. If not using a thermal cooker, you can use a regular deep pot instead. After it boils, reduce heat to low and cook for about 1½ hours until all ingredients are softened. Occasionally stir to prevent from sticking to bottom.
3. Peel and cut the Chinese yam into dices. Remember to put on a pair of gloves as its sticky juice might cause skin allergy.
4. Take the inner pot out from the thermal cooker. Add the Chinese yam and dried longan. Cook on stove until the yam is softened, about 20 minutes. Add rock sugar and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Done. Serve hot.

Notes：

• What I love to use my thermal cooker is saving time and energy as it doesn’t need a power cord or constant stove heat.
• The ingredients used in making this dish are very flexible. You can adjust the amount of each ingredient according to your preference.
• If you don’t use a thermal cooker, a heavy-based deep pot can be used instead. The power of every stove is very different. Be sure that there’s enough water inside. Replenish some boiling water if needed.
• Chinese yam is available at Asian grocers.